His Authority

After defeating Satan in the wilderness, Jesus began proclaiming the “Good News” of the Kingdom in Galilee – “The season is fulfilled, the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe the gospel.” Although the clause “Kingdom of God” was a summary statement that meant different things to different people, Jesus identified his mission with the glorious “Son of Man” figure described in the Book of Daniel.

In the town of Capernaum, he entered the synagogue and taught about the Kingdom. But something about how he taught astonished his audience: “He taught them as one who has authority, and not as the Scribes.”

[Photo by Wolfgang Lutz on Unsplash]

The Scribes would cite historical and legal precedents to validate their propositions, the “Traditions of the Elders.” They were not known for issuing clear or innovative declarations based on their authority.

Jesus delivered a man from an “unclean spirit.” Amazed, the men in the synagogue asked questions concerning what they had seen. “What is this? He commands even the unclean spirits with authority, and they obey him.” His audience recognized his “authority” but did not understand its source - (Mark 1:21-27).

Some days later, a paralytic man was brought to Jesus by his friends, no doubt expecting him to heal the afflicted man. Rather than only heal the man, he declared his sins “discharged.” The “Scribes” were indignant. After all, who could forgive sins “but God alone.”

His declaration was an act of presumption if not blasphemy, at least in the eyes of many that day. He had discharged the debt of sin on his authority apart from the Temple rituals required under the Torah.

Jesus challenged his critics. “Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, your sins are forgiven, or to say, Rise, take up your couch and walk?” Either statement was easy to say. Both were impossible to do without Divine authority. However, he did not ask which task was easier to do, but which one was easier “to say.”

It is easy to proclaim the forgiveness of sins since no one can verify the validity of your claim from observable evidence. To say the paralytic was “healed” was far more difficult since confirmation would be immediate and obvious. If Jesus could demonstrate his authority to heal, it would demonstrate his authority to proclaim the “forgiveness of sins.” This is precisely what he did:

• “But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on the earth, he said to the paralytic, Rise, take up your couch and go your way to your house. And he arose and, immediately, taking up the couch, he went forth before all.”

This is the first recorded instance where Jesus called himself the “Son of Man.” He did not say that he had “authority,” but that the “Son of Man has authority,” in this case, the authority to discharge or “forgive” sins.

THE SON OF MAN

This is the self-designation used most often by Jesus in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. As the “Son of Man,” he had the authority to “discharge” the debt of sins, cast out demons, and so on.

The term “Son of Man” is from Daniel’s vision in which he saw “one like a Son of Man on the clouds of heaven” approaching the “Ancient of Days.” From Him, the “Son of Man” received “dominion” and the Kingdom so that all “peoples, nations, and men of every tongue might serve him” (Daniel 7:13-14).

In Chapter 7 of Daniel, the English word “dominion” translates the Aramaic word ‘sholtan,’ meaning “dominion, sovereignty” - the right and authority to rule.  Jesus was claiming not only the authority to reign over the Kingdom but also left us no doubt about the source of his authority, the “Ancient of Days.”

That was why he had the “authority to forgive sins.” The “Son of Man” received sovereignty over an everlasting kingdom, “and it will not be destroyed.” His authority was from God, and according to the prophecy in Daniel, there were no limits on the extent of his dominion. It extended over all the peoples of the Earth, and it would endure forever.

Certainly, the Torah provided the sacrificial rituals necessary to cleanse ritual defilement and atone for sins, and the “Scribes” were not completely wrong to ask, “Who can forgive sins except God?”

However, they had witnessed something unprecedented. That is why the crowd glorified God, “since He had given such authority to men.” By doing so, they acknowledged his dominion and “served” him, the “Son of Man.”

[Photo by Xavier von Erlach on Unsplash]

Jesus was well within his rights to declare anyone’s sins “forgiven” whether the person had undergone the required Temple rituals. The “Son of Man” could issue authoritative declarations on Earth about sin, ritual purity, dietary restrictions, and even the Sabbath Day (“for the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath” - Mark 2:23-28, 7:14-23).

By identifying himself as the “Son of Man,” he identified the source and extent of his authority. Moreover, his claim was validated by healing the paralytic and delivering others from demons.

However, being the “Son of Man” was not all glory. Later, he would reveal the true significance of his calling when he combined the figure of the “Son of Man” with Isaiah’s ‘Suffering Servant’ - for the “Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of the chief priests and scribes who would condemn him to death, and hand him over to the Gentiles for execution.” The one appointed to rule over God’s kingdom would first “give his life a ransom for many” before taking his seat on the Throne of David.

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• Rend the Heavens! - (The Spirit of God and the voice from heaven confirmed the calling and identity of Jesus – Son, Messiah, and Servant of the LORD)