Authority

"Then the Jews demanded of him, “What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” The Jews replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” But the temple he had spoken of was his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the Scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken."
John 2:18-22

I'm no expert in law. In fact everything I learned about the law, I learned from TV cop shows (gotta love my generation ;) That's why I know what Mendoza rights are - that's where the police officer warns the arrested perpetrator of their protective rights. They always warn them something like this, "You have the right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law." I suspect the purpose of this practice is to protect the accused from some type of self-incrimination, or perhaps police baiting.

I find it interesting in this passage of Scripture that Jesus (at the beginning of His ministry - immediately after cleaning out the temple) says one sentence that said so much in so many different ways to so many different people.

"Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days," was Jesus' response to the Jews who had demanded a sign to prove some type of authority after trashing their commercial interests. Jesus, of course was foretelling His death and resurrection - a clear cut sign of His authority to do whatever He pleased. Indeed, anyone who has the power to rise up from the grave, has the very authority of God. This would be THE miraculous sign of miraculous signs. The disciples put two and two together after the death and resurrection of Jesus. They recalled this very statement of Jesus and finally believed. For them, this statement of Jesus was life, and a reminder that their LORD has authority over this place and their lives.

I find it interesting that later on in Jesus' story, during His trial, that this statement comes up again - only this time not to champion His authority over the grave, but, ironically, to convict Him to it. Matthew 26 tells of Jesus' trial before the Sanhedrin. They had had enough of Him and were looking to have Him killed. Trouble was, they couldn't find any condemning evidence against Him.

"The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward and declared, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’ ”

The bit of "evidence" that eventually led Jesus to the cross was this same statement - a statement claiming authority in equality with the One True God. Jesus' statement of loving authority was comfort to the disciples yet blasphemy to the Jews. In fact, as Jesus hang suffering on the cross, painstakingly bearing the punishment for our sin, the Jews mocked Him and added to His suffering by shouting out derisively, "Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!"

Thanks be to God, He did not succumb to the taunts, but suffered and died to fulfill His statement of authority. Jesus willingly gave up His Mendoza rights in order to die for us.

How much authority have you given Jesus in your own life? Are you constantly asking Him for signs or proofs in order to validate His authority? Jesus' words are gold and true, and His authority is blessed and right.

O LORD, do assert your authority in my life, and aid me in removing any doubt or roadblocks that I have built up, that are preventing me from experiencing the joy and peace of Your resurrection.

Be God's, Scott