Authority from Humility

by Timothy Howe

This past week Christian celebrated the seminal event in Christianity, the Resurrection of Jesus. Everything in the faith revolves around the death, burial, and resurrection of the Messiah. The entire week functions as a time of celebration. We reflect on the triumphal entry on Palm Sunday and the role of Jesus as King over all. We consider Jesus’ reinterpretation of the Passover Meal on Thursday. Our hearts are broken on Good Friday. Hope floods our souls on Resurrection Sunday.

So Much More. Reread the Passion Story

Yet, these are just the highlights of the week. There is so much action and teaching packed into the week that might get lost in the greater movement. Now, Post-Resurrection Sunday, would be a good time to go back and read some of the teachings and stories of Passion Week.

One of those perhaps overlooked moments occurs at the very beginning of the week. Jesus has just entered into the city at the acclaim of the crowds shouting, “God saves us, God saves us” – the literal translation of Hosanna.

Jesus Exerts Authority 

Matthew describes how He heads directly for the Temple and cleanses it of unholy practices. He certainly overturned the apple cart and got the attention of the religious leaders. Jesus returned to the Temple the next morning and began teaching whereupon the religious approached him questioning His authority for his actions and teachings.

And when he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?

Matthew 21:23 ESV

No Answer

Jesus does not answer their question directly but continues teaching, and his teaching is not pleasant to the ears of the leaders. He tells the parables of the two sons, the wicked tenants, and the wedding feast of the guests who refused to come. Each of these parables describes the rejection of the people who assumed they were God’s chosen people. Jesus affirms His authority through teachings that confounded His critics.

And no one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.

Matthew 22:46

Authority from Humility

He would go on to demonstrate His ultimate authority in the most expected way – by dying on the cross. The Apostle Paul explains how His authority comes from the most unexpected places, from His humility.

¹So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, ² complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. ³ Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. ⁴ Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. ⁵ Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, ⁷ but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. ⁸ And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. ⁹ Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, ¹⁰ so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:1-11

Jesus never declared verbally from where He received His authority. He made the case that He had the authority through His powerful teachings and even more powerful actions. His life exhibited the origination of authority. 

May we recognize His true authority in our lives.