Jesus opens the way to authority

Every day we’re asking four questions about part of the Bible. Today Bern Leckie answers:

What did I like about today's passage?

I love that in these ancient conversations we can recognise some of the biggest arguments of today, like who has authority and whose word we can really trust. These were massive issues in the Israel of Jesus’ time, overseen by governors ruled and taxed by Rome, looking for the kingdom and saviour long promised in scripture to free them, but having plenty of time to argue while they waited about what God wanted and how to live.

In a culture like this, authority was a privilege which had to be fought for. It was sometimes earned with talent but just as often traded as favours to prop up other leaders, and usually shown off with status symbols of expensive clothes, buildings, places of honour. Who paid for this pricey game? Ultimately, the taxpayers with no authority to challenge corruption.

I love how Jesus disrupts this structure in every possible way by claiming higher authority and, by making himself accessible to anyone who will call him Lord, subverting the system which gave power to corrupt authorities. Jesus’ genius in this is not like a military leader, arming people for a violent revolution, but as a spiritual leader, changing how people see the issues which cause conflicts.

For example, I love how Jesus wants to change our relationship with money. He doesn’t carry the resentment most of the country had about being taxed, so he can freely love, stay with and change the life of a tax collector. He turns a tricky question about tax into a non-issue for people who value God’s blessings more than cash and don’t confuse the two. His stories show that when we are ruled by stress about money and possessions, we miss the life we could enjoy by being ruled by God and, under his authority, investing in people.

What did it show me about Father God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit?

Jesus chooses not to look like a traditional authority, but people recognise that he rules because of the miraculous life changes which come from following him.

He also shows authority through opening up the meaning of scripture, making it accessible to more than a few privileged, highly educated teachers and showing how it points to him as the ultimate authority.

Now that God has made authority accessible and understandable in human form, we are no longer bound to fail through inability to buy influence or to grasp and live by religious laws.

What am I going to do differently as a result?

Thank God for making Jesus and his way of life open and affordable to me.

Who am I going to share this with?

The people I follow Jesus with.