"By What Authority?"

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Authority is a topic of great concern to many people. Just the mention of the word conjures up many and various images and concepts in the mind. Authority is important, but is also easily abused and often mis-handled.

On one hand, we want people to speak and act with authority. When a public figure or a researcher makes a statement, it is assumed, generally, that he has the authority to make the statement, and the expertise and data to substantiate it. Based on an authoritative statement from the experts, we make a decision. When the Congress passes legislation or the president gives an order, they do it on the basis of the authority vested in them by the people of the United States of America.

On the other hand, much of the political rhetoric these days centers around who has the authority to do what. Does the president have the constitutional authority to force his policies? Does the Supreme Court have the authority to hand down this or that ruling? Does the federal government have the authority to force its will on the states? A base of authority is what separates irrational, wild guessing from reasoned, informed decisions.

The question “by what authority?” is not a new one, by any means. The Jews come to Jesus with this question when He upsets the tables of the money-changers and drives out the merchants from the Temple. Pontius Pilate will attempt to assert his authority over Jesus when the Jews bring Him in to be crucified, and Jesus will put him in his place.

The question of authority is also commonly asked in the Church. In every human organization, someone must be “in charge”. So who is that in the Church? By what right does the pastor say the things he says and do the things he does? Under whose direction do things happen around here?

So, let us consider by what authority the pastor pronounces Holy Absolution. By all outward appearances, this flesh-and-blood human standing here has no more standing that any of you to forgive sins and pronounce the Absolution of God. How can a sinner forgive the sins of another sinner? What is it that I have to say to you that you cannot do for yourself? After all, you have the Word of God – read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest it for yourself! The Word of God is of no private interpretation, nor is it the property of any particular exclusive class or group.

However, the Absolution is no ordinary word. “I forgive you all your sins” is not the same as “good morning”. When the Lord speaks, it is a performative act. God's Word does what He says. He says, “I forgive you”, and you are indeed forgiven. And, wonder of wonders, the Lord chooses to speak through the human mouth of His called and ordained servant to pronounce that Word to you. The Lord Jesus gives His apostles and pastors the authority to speak for Him, on the basis of His Word. As the Scriptures declare, when the called and ordained servant of the Word announces the grace of God to you, you can be certain that it is as true in heaven as if Christ Himself had spoken to you.

So who is “in charge” around here? Many other church bodies answer that question in a variety of ways. Some say the Pope is the final authority over matters in the church. Others say the local council of presbyters. Still others say that the congregation's voters' assembly is the last word. We believe that while human beings administer the temporal affairs of the congregation, the Lord of the Church governs His Church. The Word of the Lord speaks, and we listen. The Lord has given His Church, so that through His instruments, we might receive His Gifts. For the Church is not simply a social club, but the place where the Lord Himself is present to give Himself to you. According to the Augsburg Confession, the official confession of our faith, “The Church is the congregation of saints, in which the Gospel is rightly taught and the Sacraments are rightly administered.” (AC VII). The ministry of the Gospel was instituted so that, through means, the Holy Spirit might work faith and the forgiveness of sins be given.

All these kinds of questions of authority, whether valid or not, often serve to reveal the pride that lurks within sinful hearts. You like to question the authority of those who act, just as the leaders of the Jews did, because you wish you had the authority given to those God has called on your behalf. You do not want someone to have the authority to forgive your sins, because you would prefer not to confess them in the first place.

For the leaders of the Jews, this pride led to a gross case of breaking the Eighth Commandment. When they could not corner Jesus about the source of His authority, they lied in order to avoid confessing their sin. They could not say that John's authority came from heaven, for what right would they have had to challenge him, then? They could not say that it came from men, because they knew that to be a lie. Therefore, they lied and said they did not know. The leaders bore false testimony and gave false witness because it suited their political needs and covered their butts.

Furthermore, the leaders of the Jews transgressed the Eighth Commandment by usurping the authority to judge. Who is to judge the Lord of Hosts? In the case of the chief priests and the elders, they had decided that the traditions of the rabbis prevailed over the Word of the Lord. They craved power and authority and status, and were willing to lie to the Lord's face in order to preserve it.

Guard against the crafts and assaults of the devil in questions of authority. Pride causes conceit, for those in authority and for those under authority. Those in the places of leadership are tempted to lead according to their own will and judgment, rather than the will of God and the Word of God. Those under authority are tempted to rise up against those who govern them and throw off the yoke God has laid upon them. You who lead would like to put down all who question you. You who follow would like to challenge those who lead at every turn.

However, Jesus answers the question of authority posed by the elders without actually answering their question. By refusing to submit to the questioning of the elders, Jesus asserts that He has authority over them, just has He has authority over all mankind, since all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Him.

Jesus has authority from above, since He is from above. He is the man come down from heaven, the very Son of God. He need not submit to the questioning of any human mind and mouth because the Lord of Hosts answers to no one.

However, the Lord chooses not to answer the challenges to His authority through a show of might, but through the greatest show of weakness. The Lord God of heaven and earth emptied Himself of the form of God and took up the form of a servant. The master of the universe submitted to human authorities and the laws of nature. Jesus asserted His authority by giving Himself over to be crucified and to die. Then, on the third day, He demonstrated His final and complete authority over life and death by rising from the dead, thereby defeating sin, death, and the devil.

Therefore, because Jesus is the final authority over all things, the means of grace which He gives are also authoritative. His Word is reliable and certain. What He says, is. When the God who made the heavens and the earth by the Word of His mouth speaks, it is true and certain. What is written in His Scriptures is authoritative because the God who spoke it is the authority.

Likewise, the forgiveness declared in the name of Jesus is authoritative. When the called minister of God forgives your sins, “this is just as valid and certain, even in heaven, as if Christ our dear Lord dealt with us Himself.” (SC V). It is not simply a wish, or even just a declarative statement. The Absolution proclaimed in Jesus' name does what it says. By a word, your sins are indeed forgiven.

The Holy Sacraments, given by command and according to the promise of our Lord, really and truly deliver what they promise – the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation. Christ our Lord Himself is truly present in the waters of the font and in the bread and wine on your lips. By His Holy Spirit, He grants you the faith to receive the gift of grace and mercy which flows through these human means. In the Words of Institution, Jesus Himself comes and gives Himself to you in body and soul, that you may be filled with Him and cleansed by the forgiveness of your sins.

Jesus' authority is still living and active in His Church today, and shall be as long as the Church on earth exists. When His ministers preach the Word, you hear the voice of Christ, the living voice of the Gospel. When His ministers baptize, absolve, and give the Supper, you witness and receive the forgiveness granted by His authority according to His command. The Church stands and falls by the Word of the Lord.

Christ's Church rejoices in the authority of Jesus, because in it we hear His Word and are absolved. According to His Word we live, in His Word we die, and His Word remains forever. As Ezekiel said to the people of old, get yourself a new heart. Hear the Word of the Lord and believe it, for Christ's sake. Speak the Word of truth which builds up the body of Christ. Do not place yourself in the judgment seat, but submit to those God has placed over you, and think the best of all around you. The Word of Christ dwells richly in you, forgiving your sins, and moving you to put the best construction on all things and to love those who love you and those who hate you. On the authority of Christ, think the best of all people, because He has forgiven them, just as He has forgiven you.

What God ordains is always good:

He never will deceive me;

He leads me in His righteous way,

And never will He leave me.

I take content

What He has sent;

His hand that sends me sadness

Will turn my tears to gladness (LSB 760:2).

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.