9/16/12-THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS-devotional

Luke 20:1-18
Key Verse: 20:17

Kevin Jesmer NIU UBF       Sunday, September 16, 2012

“Jesus looked directly at them and asked, “Then what is the meaning of that which is written: “‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’?”

Lord…thank you for the home group. Thank you for the sincerity of those whom attended. Please help us to spur each other onto the things you would have us do. Please help us to know Jesus more deeply. Please help us to follow Jesus more deeply. Help Ted and Dawn and be great house group leader endowed with the wisdom of Christ. Please grant me one word of God to hold onto. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen!

Part 1: By Whose Authority? (1-8).

Verse 1-8, “One day as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courts and proclaiming the good news, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, together with the elders, came up to him. 2 “Tell us by what authority you are doing these things,” they said. “Who gave you this authority?” 3 He replied, “I will also ask you a question. Tell me: 4 John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or of human origin?” 5 They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Why didn’t you believe him?’ 6 But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ all the people will stone us, because they are persuaded that John was a prophet.” 7 So they answered, “We don’t know where it was from.” 8 Jesus said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”

The exchange between the representatives of the Sanhedrin and Jesus illustrates our personal struggle between sinful human ambition and the divine will of God. The issue was not really about by whose authority Jesus cast merchants out of the temple, but a question of whose authority the Sanhedrin wanted to submit to – their own or God’s? There were some who wanted to submit to God’s authority. Those with open hearts readily recognized John the Baptist as a prophet of God and John’s testimony that Jesus was the Messiah. They were on the verge of submitting their lives to God. But the teachers of the law were looking for every excuse not to obey Jesus. As a result the Jewish leaders missed all the benefits of repentance because they wouldn’t submit to the Lord’s authority.

Does Jesus have authority in your life? Do we recognize that authority? What do you do when you are confronted with the word of God, when you hear the still small voice of God whispering in your ear? Do we stop and recognize who is communicating to our hearts or do we cast it off as trivial? People sometimes try to reject the word of God at work in their hearts. They say, “Why should I change my own ideas and plans for what God wants? Why do I have to take the hard way? Why do I need to deny myself of anything? Who is this Jesus? How do I know that the Bible is true?” They are basically asking, “With what authority are you doing these things?”

Jesus has God’s authority! On the mount of transfiguration, Jesus revealed his glorious transfigured identity. He is the glorious Creator of the universe. He is the Christ. He has all the authority from the Father. He demonstrated that authority again and again. He healed the sick and raised the dead. His miracles and works and words demonstrate his authority. The voice from heave even said, “This is my Son, listen to him.” I need to listen to Jesus’ words. I need to accept them as they are, the very words of God. Then his words will have power. His words will transform my heart and life. I pray for my kids to all accept the very words of Jesus and the word of God may grow and transform them from within. May the students of NIU and the people of DeKalb all accept the word of God as the words of God.

Part 2: Jesus Is The Cornerstone (9-18).

Verse 9-18, “He went on to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, rented it to some farmers and went away for a long time. 10 At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants so they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 11 He sent another servant, but that one also they beat and treated shamefully and sent away empty-handed. 12 He sent still a third, and they wounded him and threw him out. 13 “Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my son, whom I love; perhaps they will respect him.’ 14 “But when the tenants saw him, they talked the matter over. ‘This is the heir,’ they said. ‘Let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ 15 So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. “What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16 He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others.” When the people heard this, they said, “God forbid!” 17 Jesus looked directly at them and asked, “Then what is the meaning of that which is written: “‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’? 18 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.”

This parable shows what happens when people reject the authority of Jesus. Eventually they reject Jesus all together. They will try to eliminate Jesus all together. Just as the owner sought fruit from his own vineyard, God is seeking the fruit of repentance from his own people. God sent many prophets to Israel, but they were often rejected and persecuted. Finally, out of his great love and patience, God sent his Son Jesus. Jesus came to seek and to save the lost. Rejection of this divine grace leads to judgment.

Is Jesus the cornerstone upon which our lives are built, or the stone that trips and crushes? I can see here that there is not much choice. I must accept Jesus for who he is or there will be much suffering. Not so much from God, but suffering from living outside of Jesus Christ. As there are death and taxes, so too will people stumble and fall when they do not accept Jesus for who he is, the Christ of God. There may be direct judgment at times. The point is, accept Jesus. Lord, I want to accept you as the Christ. I want to have the right relationship with you and accept your authority fully.
Prayer: Lord, grant us repentant hearts by accepting your authority.

One Word: Accept the authority of Jesus and experience God’s salvation,