Today I learn more about the
immense authority of the Lord Jesus. I also find how strong the rejection He
had from the religious people, the Pharisees, who I thought should easily
welcome Him beforehand. This is a long passage to cover – Matthew 12:1-30, but
let’s look at some major facts.
First, He is the Lord over any religious
laws. The Pharisees and the Jewish in general held the Law of Moses strictly which
interprets the Ten Commandments e.g., how to act on the Sabbath. One cannot
work or gain food during that day, whereas Jesus’ disciples were hungry, and
began to pluck heads of grain and eat. He reminded the Pharisees that a long
time ago David and his followers entered the House of God and took the sacred
bread who was only for the Priests and ate them when they were desperate of
hunger. Also how the Priests in the temple were working although it was Sabbath
and were not guilty.
Sometimes, someone can be very
legalistic, holding tightly to a rule, for the sake of the rule itself. But the
reason mostly for gaining private praise for accomplishing hard challenges. Jesus
said, “I desire mercy and not sacrifice”. Jesus sees beyond the matter. There
are people in need who require immediate response. His authority over the law is the
utmost because actually all those rules serve God for a noble purpose – not the
other way around.
Second, He is the Lord over any diseases
or infirmities. While complaining the Pharisees over their narrow mind – which
actually was wicked as they wanted to accuse Him by trapping Him for healing
people on the Sabbath, He restored the withered hand of the man to be whole
again instantly. He was omnipotent yet loving that He showed compassion for the
sick. A great multitude then followed Him and He healed them all. Again, the
Lord Jesus emphasizes on mercy than merely following a rule.
Third, He is the Lord over demons
or satanic power. He released a man from a demon-possessed condition and at the
same time healed him from being blind and mute. Still the Pharisees accused Him
of casting out demons by another stronger demon, Beelzebub. It was hard for
them to accept Jesus as the Son of God despite His incredible power and
authority that He had performed over and over. They chose not to believe, even
were against Him and plotted His death.
Verse 30, the end of this passage, Jesus
said, “Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with
me is actually working against me.” There’s no in-between option
in following Jesus. Either we are with Him or against Him. He wants true
followers, true believers, true disciples.
How about us? We must be careful
with our own rationale and logic because faith is the only way to accept God
and His work. “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone
who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who
earnestly seek him.” (Hebrew 11:6).
We could also be overshadowed
with our daily burdens, life challenges and difficulties that hinder us from
believing in the power of Jesus Christ. Verse 21 beautifully says, “And his
name will be the hope of all the world.” Amen! You are our hope. To You, dear Lord Jesus, be glory both
now and forever.
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