Loving Authority - Katy Foster
“Tell us, by what authority are You doing these things?” (Luke 20:2 NKJV) asked the elders and scribes to Jesus. As these men stood, facing Jesus, what do you think Jesus was thinking?
We know His eyes saw the formation of the earth. He personally knew Abraham, Noah, and David. He knew love. His life had been prophesized hundreds of years before, numerous times. He knew the outcome of His own life on earth. He knew the depths of the sea and the depths of the Holy Spirit. He knew all that was beyond our galaxy. He knew these men, all about them. He knew their calloused hearts.
Jesus could have chuckled, or given the authoritative answer, “Because I said so!” Yet it’s possible that their testing words of unbelief pierced His heart as excruciating as the piercings of His hands and feet on the cross. They were without Him, and it hurt, because Jesus loved them. He took the time and gave these men an eye-opening parable, in hopes to reveal their hearts and give them a fear of the LORD.
He saw the formation of us as well. He sees our hearts. If you’ve wondered if anyone has prayed for you, know that Jesus has. In John 17, Jesus prayed, “none of them is lost,…they may have joy fulfilled in themselves,…keep them from the evil one,…Sanctify them by Your truth,…may be with Me where I am,…”
His authority is His love for you. “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:17NKJV
Faithful submission to our Authority, our LORD, heals all, even doubting calloused hearts.
Katy Foster, of Georgia, is author of From a Boy to a Godly Man series. Contact
