Question Concerning the Authority of Jesus

Driving home: This Jewish judicial and religious body, no longer had the authority, to exercise capital punishment.

The analogy of a police officer raising his hand and stopping a car illustrates the concept of authority as the right to act and the power attending that right, helping to define the term 'authority' in the context of the sermon.

Now the word authority, as used here, and in most places in scripture, refers to the right to act, and the power which attends that right. We recognize, when a man in a blue uniform, steps out of a car, and raises his hand, we recognize the symbols, of his authority, that is his right, our vehicle, and to ask for our driver's license, and our registration, and our insurance card. It used to be simple, only two things, now three. But we recognize his right to act.

20:35 - 21:18 Read in full sermon

The point: Flee from willful blindness and run to Christ, asking Him to anoint your eyes that you may see.

The metaphor of someone looking at the sun but denying its existence illustrates willful blindness, leading to judicial blindness where God eventually blinds those who refuse to see the light of the gospel.

What a horrible doctrine that when men will look up into the sun day after day and say, I see no light, see no sun in the sky, I see no heavenly orb diffusing light in one.

57:51 - 58:08 Read in full sermon

The point: Flee from willful blindness and run to Christ, asking Him to anoint your eyes that you may see.

The example of parents whose love and patience can only be explained by God's saving grace at work in their hearts serves as an illustration of God's light and grace surrounding individuals, even those who refuse to believe.

Though I feel its rays upon its beams burn, I'm to be blind. Face of light blinds them so that coming out of some dark cavern and crying, oh, that I might see the light. Snow, I've ripped your eyeballs. I've had mercy on some of you sitting here this morning.

58:11 - 58:51 Read in full sermon

The point: Flee from willful blindness and run to Christ, asking Him to anoint your eyes that you may see.

The example of blasphemers, drunkards, and self-righteous individuals transformed into humble, loving followers of Christ illustrates the powerful evidence of the gospel that some still refuse to acknowledge.

Oh, God has done many things before your eyes, surrounding you with parents for whom there's no explanation, but that saving grace has flowed down from the Son of God into their hearts. The love and the patience they show to you as children, there's no explanation for it, but God's grace at work in that. You see men and women who were once blasphemers and, cursers and potheads and drunkards and lechers and self-righteous, religious,

58:53 - 59:31 Read in full sermon