Week 25—Wednesday Matthew 20:20-28
Matthew 20:20-28
DELEGATED AUTHORITY, OR AUTHORITY WON?
According to Matthew, the last temptation which the Tempter presented to Jesus was this, after showing him the kingdoms of the world: “To you I will give all this authority and their glory; for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will” (Luke 4:5-6). The authority was to be granted from the outside by the will of another—“I will give it to whom I will.” That was a delegated authority—it was the word of authority become word—it was not authority won from within, not the Word become flesh.
That was rejected. Then this at the very end of Jesus’ life: “Full authority in heaven and on earth has been committed to me” (Matt. 28:18, NEB). This “authority” included heaven as well as earth—it was universal. That kind of authority could not be delegated—it had to be inherent, from within. It could not be the word of authority become word—someone else’s word, even God’s word. It had to become flesh, from within, or it wouldn’t be authority.
Jesus won that authority by his alignment with the will of God and by his being what he was—it was both inherent and won, because of what he was and because of what he did. And because he was God and because he became human and obeyed all the laws of the universe, he therefore won the backing of those laws. The servant of all became the greatest of all. He lost his life and found it again. “Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord” (Phil. 2:9-11). This authority included heaven, earth, and under the earth—Satan’s abode! He refused earthly authority and gained all worlds.
O Jesus Christ, you are Lord—Lord with a Lordship that is the Word of Lordship become flesh—it is real and not imposed. So we bow to that Lordship with a glad, free heart. In winning your Lordship you have won us. We love you. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: I will not ask that authority be given me, but will ask for an opportunity to earn authority.