Revolution Era

At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, 'This fellow is blaspheming!'

Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, 'Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, "Your sins are forgiven," or to say, "Get up and walk"? 'But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins....' Then he said to the paralytic, "Get up, take your mat and go home.'" And the man got up and went home. When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to men."

This is a passage we are all familiar with, providing you've been around the Faith for no great length of time. Today, however, as I came across these familiar words something I had never noticed before jumped out at me. It wasn't that Jesus knew the thoughts of the Pharisees, nor that he 'killed two birds with one stone', so-to-speak. What has had to be the most profound insight into the Kingdom of God from this passage was found in a mere word, an afterthought really.

Matthew 9:8, "When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to men."

We need to understand and appreciate that Matthew wrote this years after the fact, and in hindsight. And this reality is exemplified here. He gives is a third person perspective on the reaction the crowd had to what had just taken place. They saw, were filled with awe, and they praised God. But then look at what happens next: Matthew shifts from play-by-play to commentary: "[God] had given such authority to men". This was Matthew's insight into the moment, speaking after the ressurection and the endowment of the Holy Spirit upon his life.

I guarantee you that the crowds were not aware of the fact that God would give such authority to men. In fact, neither is much of the church 2000 years later. Matthew just leaked a bit of insight into a reality in history that has been made available to all who beleive: The authority Jesus moved in to command the paralytic to be healed is the same authority God Himself has given to men and women who call Christ their Lord. It doesn't say that God gave this authority to Jesus - it's a no-brainer that he had it. The verb tense is past, meaning He has already given it, and the subject is plural, meaning many people have been given this authority.

When did this happen then, you might ask? One chapter later, it seems:

Matthew 10:1, "He called his tweleve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness."

Then, Jesus follows with these words:

Matthew 10:7-8, "As you go, preach this message: 'The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have recieved, free give."

It is only because we have the same authority that Jesus had to establish the Kingdom of Heaven on earth, that caused Jesus to give us the responsibility of doing what he did. You can't have authority without responsibility. "That was only for the disciples, though", you may say. Hmmm, nope.

Matthew 28:18-19, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations".

If all authority is Jesus', and we are co-heirs with Him, guess who else has all authority? Still not convinced?

Matthew 16:19, "I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, what you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and what you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

Luke 10:18-19, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to... overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you."

"Well if this is all true, how come I don't see this authority in my day to day life?", you may ask. Jesus once said, "When the son of man comes, will he find faith on the earth?" (Lk 18:8). In other words, to the measure you believe you have what God has given you determines the measure you see it in your life. What do I mean?

Mark 16:17, "And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons, they will speak in new tongues... they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."

So who are these "who believe"? Is it those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God, or that he is our Saviour? If that were the case, all 2 Billion Christians on the planet would he moving in signs and wonders. We know that isn't the case. So, who are these "who believe"? It is those who believe that these signs will follow them. In other words, if you don't have faith for the signs, or think that the miraculous was only for the Disciples, then the signs of authority from the Kingdom of Heaven through Jesus' name won't be accompanying you! But, if you believe that God has given you authority, for today, to do the things Jesus entrusted you to do, namely: preach that God's Kingdom is here, and set free those who are captives of Satan's Kingdom by freeing them from sickness, demon possession, and death - if you accept the responsibility to carry out these commands and you believe you are authorized by Heaven to advance God's Kingdom over the earth, then these signs will follow you because you believe they will.

Many people today walk in this authority, daily. But multitudes don't. But what if I want to start? I need to begin to believe that they will follow me. I need to allow Holy Spirit opportunities to minister though me to those who don't know Jesus. I need to get over the fear of failure, rejection, and ridicule if I'm to contend for what is rightfully mine. Does it happen overnight? For some, it has. For most however, it comes as they press in for it, as they contend, as they don't lose hope after they've prayed for 50 people and not seen one of them healed. Many of us are one prayer away from a breakthrough. As Jesus illustrated in Luke 18:1-8, it was the persistence of the widow that brought about justice and the right to have what she legally deserved. Jesus never explained why this is how it is sometimes, but he did tell us what to do: persevere, and do not lose heart.

With all this in mind, let's look over Matthew 9:5-8 on last time:

"Which is easier: to say, "Your sins are forgiven," or to say, "Get up and walk"? 'But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins....' Then he said to the paralytic, "Get up, take your mat and go home.'" And the man got up and went home. When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to men."

The authority to say to someone, "be healed", and then see them healed, is the authority God has made available to all of us. Jesus was clear about it, and even Matthew here alludes to it. Fear and unbelief will always rob you of your destiny, and keep you from your full inheritance. More than ever, the people of this earth need us to realize who we are. We are the only ones with the keys of the Kingdom, which is the key to their freedom. Jesus commissioned us to go after them and set them free and bring them into His Kingdom. Even creation "waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed... in hope that creation itself will be liberated from it's bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God," (Rom 8:19-12).

I'll close with these words:

"I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe," (Eph 1:18-19).

~ Leo.