Have you ever noticed that some people seem to command more respect than others? Jesus did, but he also spoke as one with authority and that drove some people crazy, especially the chief priests, teachers of the law, which included the Pharisees, Sadducees and the elders. They just couldn't stand the fact that people would listen attentively to Jesus and at the same time stop listening to them.

There's nothing worse than a teacher who can't get anyone to listen to what they have to say. More time than not, they talk louder trying to force people to listen, but normally become more frustrated the longer they fail to get their point across. Jesus on the other hand, effectively spoke to large crowds who were usually misled by bad instruction and confused. He did this while the ones who spread the false teaching were standing in the back of the room waiting to hear him make a mistake so they could point it out to the people.

In Matthew 28:18 we learn that all authority belongs to Jesus and to the believers to whom he gives it. And what does a person do with this authority he gives? The work includes making disciples through baptizing them and teaching them what Jesus taught us in his word.

Now that you know you have authority and what you should be doing with it, ask yourself this question: Does anyone know you have it or are you keeping it a secret?

1. Pray Through the Word - 365 devotionals on the subject of prayer by James R. Green (Gen 35; Ps 56; Mk11:27-33)
2. Scripture comes from the Holy Bible, New International Version; (c)1978 by New York International Bible Society

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