DAD'S RAMBLINGS – POWER AND AUTHORITY
"Now it happened on one of those days, as He taught the people in the temple and preached the gospel, that the chief priests and the scribes, together with the elders, confronted Him and spoke to Him saying, 'Tell us, by what authority are You doing these things? Or who is he who gave you this authority?' " (Luke 20:1-2).
The question about authority is a legitimate question. If someone tells me to do something, I want to know who gives them the authority to do it. Jesus did works of power but He also spoke with authority. There are two Greek words that are sometimes used interchangeably, but they have different flavors. The Greek word for "authority" is exousia – the right or permission to do something. The Greek word for power is "dynamis" which means "strength, power, or ability." For example, I have the power or ability to drive a car. But unless I have the permission or right to drive a car because I have been given a license to do it by the government, I am driving unlawfully. Even though I have the power to drive a car, I can be ticketed by the police unless I have the authority to drive.
Jesus had the power to do miracles and cast out demons. But He also had the authority – the right or permission – to do them. His authority came from God the Father who vested Him with the right to do works of power.
Power and authority go together. Remember the confrontation between Jesus and Pilate. Pilate said, "Do you not know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release you?" (John 19:10). The Greek word in both cases is exousia. Pilate had the authority given to him by Rome to declare the death penalty or set Jesus free. But he also had the power because of the legions of soldiers at his command. Jesus answered Pilate by saying that Pilate had no authority at all except what was given by God (vs. 11). Pilate had both the authority and power to execute judgment. As Teddy Roosevelt said, "Walk softly but carry a big stick." That is, act with authority because you have the power of a good army to back you up.
Jesus spoke with power and authority. The people recognized it. The record says, "He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes" (Matthew 7:29). Jesus spoke with authority because He had the backing of heaven. We can speak with authority if we have the backing of God's Word.
Power and authority are not antithetical. We can have both. When Jesus sent His disciples out to do ministry, He gave them power (dunamis) and authority (exousia) (Luke 9:1). Jesus said that His disciples would receive dunamis power to be witnesses after they received the gift of the Holy Spirit. But that power is in the context of Christ's authority. Jesus said, " 'All authority (exousia) has been given to Me in heaven and on earth' " (Matthew 28:18). He also said, "As the Father has sent me, so also I send you" (John 20:21). He has given us both authority and power to go in His name.
Authority is not shown by how loud a person speaks. Nor does the persuasiveness of a person's words do not guarantee authority. The basis for authority is the power behind the speech. A policeman speaks with authority because the badge indicates he does not speak on his own strength, but the power of the government that backs him. We have a real problem in America because the police are not supported by the political leaders, so they are powerless to do their job.. I have heard teachers yell because they had no authority. I have heard teachers speak softy and I knew they had authority. It is really sad when teachers have the responsibility of a classroom, but have neither the power nor authority to control the class because they have no backing from the principal.
Both power and authority are necessary. Power without authority leads to abuse. Authority without power is empty words. It takes both. When someone orders me to do something, I can legitimately ask, "By what authority are you speaking?" If it is by their own authority, I can legitimately say "no." When we pray in the name of Jesus and in accordance with God's Word, we are praying with both His authority and power.
Love, Dad
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