Powerful Authority
Some years back there was a great disaster at sea. A tourist boat, loaded with cars and holidaymakers, had failed to shut its doors properly. The water began to pour in and the boat began to sink. Panic set in. People were screaming as the happy, relaxed atmosphere of the ship turned in minutes into something worse than a horror movie.
All at once one man – not a member of the crew – took charge. In a clear voice he gave orders, telling people what to do. Relief mixed with the panic as people realised someone at last was in charge, and many managed to reach lifeboats they would otherwise have missed in the dark and the rush. The man himself made his way down to the people trapped in the hold. There he formed a human bridge: holding on with one hand to the ladder and with the other to part of the ship that was nearly submerged, people literally crawled over him to safety.
When the nightmare was over, the man himself was found to have drowned. He had given his life in using the authority he had assumed – the authority by which many were saved.
When Jesus began His earthly ministry the religious leaders were indignant. Here was a complete unknown taking authority over both sickness and demons and setting people free. Even His preaching was with authority.
His death was seemingly the death of an ordinary man but yet the most unselfish death ever. He died our death, the death we deserved. He took our sin and suffered under the weight of God’s judgement – but not for anything He had done. He died for our sin and His death has brought salvation to millions over the past two thousand years. Here is your Saviour. Here is Jesus.
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