In the United States of America, who is the top authority in wartime? Who is the man who has final say over troop action, battle decisions, and whether we move against an enemy or back down in the face of superior forces?
Most of us know this answer. It is, of course, the President of the United States. He is our commander-in-chief. Whatever his background, whether civilian or military, all of our country’s military might defers to his decisions. From the private just pledging his allegiance to the Air Force to the General of the Army in wartime, all must bow to the President’s higher power.
In our spiritual walk, it is very much the same. Whether we are a newly-forgiven convert or a televangelist thumping one hand against another in our religious fervor, we do not have the final authority on all things spiritual. There is a higher authority that rules over all that we say and do.
Of course we know who we’re talking about. Without question, it is Jesus.
But, wait! Jesus would disagree with that. He says so in the Word.
In John 7:16, Jesus stands in the temple and begins teaching. To his detractors, he calls out, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me.”
In those words Jesus shifts the limelight off his face and onto the person of God, his Father. He is in essence telling the crowd that they can pay attention to him or not, but they cannot skirt the authority of the one who sent him, and that is God.
Later, in John 20:17, Mary Magdalene stands outside Jesus’ tomb. He appears to her, and when she recognizes him, he tells her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ”
Even when in the midst of his greatest works, Jesus always made the connection between him and the Father very clear. His words always pointed toward heaven. He never claimed the ultimate authority. Instead, he turned others’ eyes to God for all their answers.
The disciples understood this concept without question. In Acts 2:22, Luke, attributed with writing this incredible portrayal of the apostles and all their deeds, proclaims, “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know...”
Let’s focus on five of Luke’s words:
...that God did through him...
There we have it. Luke makes it clear who is our commander-in-chief.
We might revere Jesus, as we rightly should. The Holy Spirit is certainly a mighty person of God. However, the highest authority of all is the God who sent them to us.
We believe in the godhead, the 3-in-1. Still, we must remember what Jesus said, “My Father…is greater than all.” Read about it in John 10:29. We don’t dare doubt the spoken word of the Christ, who is Jesus, sent from God the Father to redeem all humanity by his death on the cross.
God is truly the highest authority, over even Jesus, whom we hold high above all men.
When we truly need results, let’s send our prayers straight to the top of the ladder. There is no higher authority.
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