Submit to Jesus' Authority

In Mark 11:27-33 the religious leaders (members of the Jewish Sanhedrin) challenged Jesus' authority after He rid the temple of the moneychangers and merchants who were defrauding worshipers for financial gain.  They were doing really well before Jesus showed up, but now their corrupt moneymaking business has been busted.  Rather than humbling themselves and submitting to Jesus they chose to rebel against Him.  They were more concerned with preserving their power, their wealth, their lives than they were discovering the truth.

Before we throw the religious leaders "under the bus" we need to take a long, prayerful look at our own lives.  Everyone challenges Jesus' authority.  The question is: How have you (or are you) challenging Jesus' authority in your life?

You challenge Jesus' authority when you:

(1) reject biblical truth - When you reject the Bible and it's teachings you challenge Jesus' authority.  Jesus is the Incarnate Word of God. (cf. John 1:14)

(2) remake "Jesus" - Many people today wrongly think they are submitting to Jesus when in reality they are following a "Jesus" that is vastly different than the Jesus of the Bible.  We must resist the temptation to turn Jesus into a "moral politician" or "spiritual guru" simply because we feel strongly about politics or love "spirituality."

(3) refuse to admit you're wrong - When people refuse to take responsibility for their sin they are challenging Jesus' authority because they think they know better than Jesus does.  Anytime we allow something else or even someone else to take the position of authority in our life we are refusing to submit to Jesus.

Rather than challenging Jesus' authority we need to submit to Jesus because He alone has all authority.  In Matthew 28:18 Jesus said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me."  Colossians 1:16-23 clearly describes Jesus' authority and power.  He is preeminent, second to none!

Submit to Jesus' authority by:
 - submitting to God and His Word (James 4:7)
 - submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ (Ephesians 5:21)
 - submitting to those in authority over us (Hebrews 13:17)