So many in the modern world pay regard to the analyst, the specialist in the field with years of study behind them. They are given great respect and esteem. But when we meet another specialist in the same field, we give him (or her) the same respect too, regardless of whether the two agree or differ.
Too much credibility is given on the basis of academic study, in preference to direct experience. The Internet has a huge danger, because everything there is seen or read. We can build up a view of the world without being able to test the authority of the author. Is the author to be trusted? Does he or she know whatever is claimed by direct, personal experience? The warning is against relying on the immense fund of data, information, knowledge, to be found at our PC as the sum of all things.
If you study the life of Jesus of Nazareth in the Gospels, almost the first thing that hits you is the authority he had. It amazed every one. Here are just a few extracts with examples of this word as the key concept, which not only surprised, but even offended, his contemporaries.
After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"
As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him.
When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.
They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. [Mark 1:14-22]
A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on.
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."
Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, "Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?"
Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, "Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, `Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, `Get up, take your mat and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...." He said to the paralytic, "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home."
He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!" [Mark 2:1-12]
Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them, saying: "Blessed are..
You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, `Do not...
But I tell you ...
You have heard that it was said, `Do not...
But I tell you...
It has been said, `Anyone who...
But I tell you...
Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, `Do not...
But I tell you...
You have heard that it was said...
But I tell you...
When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law. [Matt 5-7 extracts]
When Jesus had finished saying all this in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. There a centurion's servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, "This man deserves to have you do this, because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue." So Jesus went with them.
He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: "Lord, don't trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, `Go,' and he goes; and that one, `Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, `Do this,' and he does it."
When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, "I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel." Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well. [Luke 7:1-10]
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
The Pharisees challenged him, "Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid."
Jesus answered, "Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going. You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. But if I do judge, my decisions are right, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid. I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me." Then they asked him, "Where is your father?" "You do not know me or my Father," Jesus replied. "If you knew me, you would know my Father also."
He spoke these words while teaching in the temple area near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized him, because his time had not yet come. [John 8:12-20]
The key issue, and the one for which, effectively, he was condemned, was the authority he claimed.
This aspect of Jesus' teaching is easily overlooked. It is fashionable to suggest that Jesus was a great moral teacher, remembering sayings like 'Love your neighbour' (which he was quoting, actually, rather than originating). The extent to which he offended his contemporaries is lost. But read any one of the Gospels, especially that of John, from start to finish, and a proper understanding of this factor will emerge.
A lot of the church has lost this offensive authority, and is seen by the majority nowadays as an irrelevance. Many of its spokesmen see themselves either as dedicated to providing an uplifting ritual for those already inside, or as political commentators, or social therapists.
Those few who have direct knowledge of the spiritual dimension, who have experienced things deeply which they know are not counterfeit, have a duty to speak about them with authority. If one is not challenging, one is not doing anything useful.
If you, dear reader, are outside, and want to find a true haven for your soul, search out those with authority. Test what they say carefully, and make sure their claims are not spurious. You are looking for some one who knows, some one who has been to the top of the mountain, not just an self-proclaiming 'expert'. You must turn away from your PC and meet real people at this point of your quest.
This is a dangerous road to travel on, of course, for there are many examples of those who claim authority when they do not possess it. But it is the only road to the ultimate source of all authority. His true followers have received (in a small measure, and in a fallible container) the essential authority He alone can give. If you recognise it at any point in your life, do not let it slip past you.
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