The Authority Of the Name Of Jesus

We're starting a sermon series that will run through December, six months focused on the name of Jesus. Why so long? Because the name of Jesus is kind of a big deal. It's definitive, not debatable.

If you miss these first messages, you'll wrestle with everything else that's coming. There's a foundational principle you must understand first: the authority of Jesus.

Authority is the God-given right and power to lead, govern, or command, which should be exercised responsibly in obedience to God's sovereignty. All authority starts and ends at God's sovereignty. Anything outside that is no longer biblical authority.

My authority as a pastor, your authority as a husband, wife, or boss, it only extends to the point that we fall under God's sovereignty. When we step outside that, our authority ceases.

In Luke 3:16, John the Baptist is in the river baptizing people. Jesus is on the riverbank. John says, "I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."

John recognizes what's about to come, someone operating on a completely different playing field. That's authority.

Then Jesus walks into the river to be baptized. Luke 3:21-22 says the heavens opened, the Holy Spirit descended on Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came from heaven: "You are my beloved son with whom I am well pleased."

This is a big moment. God steals the show. He publicly empowers Jesus with all His divine authority. The dove, a physical representation of the Holy Spirit, lands on Jesus. The Father is empowering the Son.

And God does something He only does about five times in the Bible: He speaks audibly in a public way. When God intervenes audibly, you better listen because it has massive importance. He says publicly for everyone to hear, "This is my son, my beloved, who I'm well pleased."

God audibly empowered the authority of Jesus in this moment.

After baptism, Jesus goes to the wilderness for 40 days where Satan himself—not a lackey, not demons, but Satan, tests Him. Why? Because Satan recognized the authority that just descended onto earth. He knew if he could get Jesus there, everything changes.

Jesus is tempted in all things, then returns "in authority and power of spirit." He defeated Satan in temptation. That's authority.

When Jesus comes out of the desert, He walks into a synagogue. They hand Him a scroll, Isaiah 61. He reads: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recover the sight of the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

Then Jesus makes a declaration: "Today this scripture has been fulfilled even as you have heard it being read."

He's reading about the coming Messiah and declaring it's now fulfilled. People were amazed because "he spoke with authority." Definitive authority over everything God gave Him purview to do.

In John 5:19-23, Jesus makes a profound statement: "The Son can do nothing of himself unless it's something he sees the Father doing. For whatever things the Father does, the Son also does in the same way."

If you've seen Jesus, you've seen the Father. What the Son does is what the Father does. What the Father loves is what the Son loves. They are connected.

But here's the big statement in verse 22: "For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son."

Who's your judge? It's Jesus. All sin debt, everything God needed paid, was paid for by Jesus at that defining moment on the cross. God is satisfied. Someday when you stand before judgment, Jesus will be on that throne simply asking, "Did you know me?"

That's a pretty big authority. All authority of your salvation was handed over to Jesus.

Jesus's authority extends beyond salvation:

Authority over nature. Mark 4:39 - He's sleeping in a boat during a storm. Disciples are scared. Jesus stands up and says, "Peace, be still." The storm stopped. Not "Could you maybe die down?" Definitive authority with a simple rebuke.

Authority over sin and disease. He healed paralysis, forgave the woman caught in adultery, spoke over sickness. Not one time did He say, "Maybe we'll see if God..." He spoke and it was done.

Authority over demonic forces. Mark 1:23-27 - A demon-possessed man sees Jesus walk in and freaks out: "Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God!" Jesus hadn't even spoken yet. The demon recognized His authority without Jesus doing anything.

Jesus rebuked him: "Silence, come out of him." He was speaking with authority. So even demons recognize Jesus's authority. Do we?

Authority over death. He raised Jairus's daughter, the widow's son, Lazarus. Then ultimately died, went into hell, grabbed the keys, and walked out alive Himself. Definitive authority over death and the grave.

Philippians 2:9-11: "Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed upon him the name that is above every other name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow in heaven, on earth, and under the earth."

There is no other name that will ever come close to the authority given to Jesus.

Jesus today sits at the right hand of the Father, a place of reverence and honor. And here's what He's doing:

• Pouring out over you (Acts 2:33)
• Singing over you
• Interceding for you (Romans 8:34)

We can rest knowing Jesus sits beside the Father fighting for you today. If Jesus said it, it's done. You've already been forgiven. It's not "if He will do it." It's done.