Authority. When you hear that word what comes to mind? I think of power, the leader, rulemaker, and strength. Over and over again in the Bible Jesus is said to have authority. Whether they are talking about the way Jesus taught with authority, his authority over unclean spirits, or his power to forgive sins, the authority of Jesus was both intriguing and threatening to the people living in the time of Jesus. 

The Greek word for authority is the word exousia. It has many meanings. We are going to take a look at 5 of the definitions over the next several weeks.  

1. Power of choice, liberty of doing as one pleases
2. Physical and mental power; the ability or strength with which one is endued, which he either possesses or exercises
3. The power of authority aka influence and of right aka privilege
4. The power of the rule or government (the power of him whose will and commands must be submitted to by others and obeyed)
5. The sign of regal authority, a crown

Let’s break each one down, and see how Jesus showed authority in each of these areas. Then we will look at how this cycle of Jesus applies to you and me today. 

Power of choice, liberty of doing as one pleases

Jesus has the power to choose to do whatever he wants. He demonstrated this fact when he healed the man who was lowered through the roof. If you recall there were so many people listening to Jesus teach, that there wasn’t any room for the friends of a man who was paralyzed to talk to Jesus. What do they do? They tear open the roof and lower the man down to Jesus. We will pick up the story in Mark 2:5

“And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”  Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”  And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’?  But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.”  And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!” Mark‬ ‭2‬:‭5‬-‭12‬ ‭(ESV)‬‬

Just like that Jesus demonstrated the exousia power he had to not just heal the man physically, but to heal him spiritually. Jesus has the power and liberty over both the physical and spiritual realms. He has the power to see that this man didn’t just need physical healing, but more importantly he needed spiritual healing. It’s clear this man’s real problem is not physical, but spiritual. When the spiritual part of this man was healed, his physical body followed suit and was also healed. Brett and I have seen this principle in action a lot lately. The physical follows the spiritual. If your spirit has been hurt, it often times cycles through the physical. 

Jesus Calms the Storm

Let’s look at one more example of Jesus showing us the authority to do what he wants done. This example is found in Mark 4:35-41. 

“On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”” Mark‬ ‭4‬:‭35‬-‭41‬ ‭(ESV‬‬)

I believe this storm was sent by Satan to destroy the ministry of Jesus. It was sent to attempt to kill those on board the ship because Jesus and his followers were starting to really be a burden to the plans of Satan to keep people in bondage. However, something that Satan forgot was that Jesus has the authority to make the storm not just stop, but become still. 

Some might make this into a metaphor for your life. They would say, “What is the storm in your life? Jesus has the authority to calm that storm and make your life peaceful.” This is a true statement. Want to know something else Jesus is teaching us in this demonstration of power and authority? Jesus gives us authority to actually calm the physical storms that come against us from the enemy. When witchcraft is used to manipulate the weather, we have been given the authority to stop it. Whatever Jesus does in the physical is an example of the same power and authority he gives to us. Remember what Jesus said in John:  

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.” John‬ ‭14‬:‭12‬ ‭(ESV‬‬)

Jesus told us we will do the same works he did. Not only that but we will do greater works than he did. I’m not sure what those greater works are, but I am always asking Jesus to show me what those works are because I want to do them!

Jesus, as God, has the authority to do whatever he wants. He has the ability to see things in the physical as they truly are. He sees how the spiritual affects the physical, and has the wisdom and knowledge to know how to correct the spiritual so that the solution also changes the physical. Remember the physical follows the spiritual. 

Next week will going to look at the next two definitions of what this rich, Greek word for authority means. I hope you will join me!