The Final Authority

“…Do you not know that I have authority to release you and the authority to crucify you?” Jesus answered him.
“You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given to you from above.”
John 19: 10, 11 (ESV)

Regardless of his circumstances Jesus doesn’t mince his words. He speaks the whole truth all the time. And as he so clearly stated to Pontius Pilate, all authority ultimately rests in the hands of God. Nothing befalls us that God isn’t acutely aware of and nothing can happen to us that God doesn’t pre-ordain. Such was the case involving Jesus standing before Pilate, in which God had a very specific plan and purpose for Jesus’ life that needed to be completed. Pilate’s earthly position of authority was part of that plan, so Jesus, with his immeasurable power held in check, obediently submitted to it.

Similarly, God has a plan and purpose for our own lives. And, as with the situation involving Jesus before Pilate, in which he humbly walked in full submission to the Father, we too should surrender authority over our own lives to Jesus and follow his instructions regardless of our circumstances.

If Jesus hadn’t followed God’s directions explicitly, God’s plan of redemption for the entire world would never have been carried through to fruition. And while our individual purpose in life may not be as profoundly weighty as Jesus’ was; when our position in the Body of Christ is taken in context, we too have an important role to perform that helps magnify God’s earthly influence. But it requires our heartfelt submission to God and to those he has justly placed in authority over us. Otherwise, our lives would be meaningless, wasted on selfish and frivolous interests.

Jesus forthrightly verified, in that fateful response to Pilate’s life or death question, that, in reality, God has all authority. We should, therefore, remind ourselves of that everyday by stepping out confidently in faith knowing that God will faithfully guide and care for us on our own journey. Unlike Jesus, however, our sacrifice is a living sacrifice, in which we set our lives apart for Jesus by surrendering to his supreme authority.

Dear Father, while we know that you justly administer all power and have complete and final authority over our lives, help us willingly submit to those that you have placed in provisional authority over us that your plan and purpose for our lives may be made complete. Amen.