This week we begin worship with:
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
It is often said, when you see the word "therefore" you should look and see what it is there for!
Verse 19 starts with the phrase "Go therefore". The reason we are to "go" is in verse 18 that "All authority" was given to Jesus. So, let's briefly look at "authority":
- While the KJV translates it in our verse as "power" is it not dynamis, which is oft heard in sermon illustrations from which we get dynamite, where the source of authority is the individual's power.
- While it is true, this is not kratos, which is often used in doxologies as "dominion" (1 Timothy 6:16; 1 Peter 4:11; 1 Peter 5:11; Jude 1:25; Revelation 1:6; Revelation 5:13), where the source of authority is the hierarchy of business or government (The pyramid they sit upon gives them their authority).
- While again true, this is not ischys, where the source of authority is one's skill and ability, like the captain of a team.
This word is exousia, which has its roots in law.
Previously the Sanhedrin was the arbitrator of law (Matthew 12:10, 12:12, 12:2, 12:4, 14:4, 19:3, 20:15, 22:17).
Now, Jesus is the judge! He will sit on the throne of judgement.
Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.
This is the reason we "Go".
No comments:
Post a Comment