Not by Strength but by Authority

by David Ritchie
Published May 30, 2006

Being in the back row our seat numbers were called first as the boarding of the aircraft started. It was good to get boarded and seated although it became rather a long seat waiting for the other passengers to fill the seats working from back to front. Most people in our section were settled but there was some movement with the people in the two seats in front of us, but it was short lived and the passengers were soon settled and reading.

Glancing around later I noted one solitary figure steadily making her way back through the plane looking at all the seat numbers. Those in the two seats in front of us kept their heads down as she stopped and read the sign with seat numbers on them. However she eventually spoke to one of the men and after some discussion among themselves they moved around leaving an empty seat next to the aisle.

By now the airhostess had arrived and was trying to get things sorted out and on making no progress verbally she did an examination of the woman's tickets. Within minutes the lady who arrived late was in her rightful seat by the window and the others were left to juggle their seating arrangements among the seats left.

The hostess was a petite pretty woman who certainly would not have been able to move the men using her own strength, however when faced with their opposition, she drew from her authority not her strength. The uniform she wore, the position she held was evidence of the authority she had been given.

When the airhostess arrived to sort out the dispute between the passengers she did not present a certificate or point to her uniform. No, she carried her authority with her, the people although much stronger, submitted to her authority without a fight. Likewise on numerous occasions we read of Jesus' authority and how people and demons alike had to yield when his authority was displayed.

Authority is something that is always bestowed by a higher power. Every one of the Gospels in the bible relates how the Pharisees and religious leaders of the day challenged Jesus' authority. Incidentally most of the rulers and academics of this present world still challenge that authority.

However unlike the airhostess he did not wear a uniform as a badge of his authority, there were times when he laid his authority aside and choose not to use it. E.G. He displayed it to the men who presented the woman caught in adultery, but when his authority had dismissed all the men and the woman was left alone, he displayed his mercy. His authority could have condemned her, but he said, "Go and sin no more."

These are the last words recorded of Jesus in Mathew 28 v 18 "I have been given complete authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Like the little airhostess let us carry the authority bestowed by Jesus and minister into the lives of those who know neither God nor his salvation.

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