Authority and Submission

I got pulled over by the local constabulary the other day. As providence would have it (I almost said luckily) I was actually late for a funeral. "You're conducting the funeral?" asked the officer. "Yes I am." He shook his head and said something like "at this kind of speed (over 60 in a 30 zone I'm ashamed to admit) you're lucky its not your funeral". He actually let me off with a warning and let me know that this was an unheard of mercy. "I don't give breaks on speeding like this". When you pray at the funeral, say a prayer of thanks". (I didn't wait to get there)

I was, of course, very submissive to this officer. I saw the lights flashing, noticed his badge and uniform and dutifully pulled over, produced my license when asked, etc. It made me think a bit about issues of authority and submission.

Last night at a weekly Bible study in which we have been studying the Gospel of Matthew we came (providentially) upon an interesting exchange in Mt. 21:23ff. in which the question of the authority of Jesus is raised by the chief priests and elders. These guys were having a hard time with submission. This account follows the triumphal entry, the cleansing of the temple and the healing of a number of “lame and blind” after which Jesus accepts the praise of children (vv. 14-16). (The lights were flashing big time!)

Because these civic and spiritual leaders are unwilling to submit to Jesus’ authority, i.e., to acknowledge both its divine source and character, they are self-excluded from open and truthful dialogue with the Rabbi who is the truth.

Contrast the conspiratorial huddle and political considerations of these sad men with the joy of the children in the temple and of the people confessing Jesus as the Christ as He entered the city.

Those who joyfully submitted to the authority of Christ had no power of their own to protect and rejoiced to see the signs of the kingdom breaking out. The priests and elders wanted to retain their power and the advance of the kingdom was seen as a threat. They were not impressed with the healing performed by Jesus or by the cleansing of the temple, both of which are self evidently awesome.

They chose to retain their own power and as a result lost their opportunity to experience the redemptive power of the gospel which only comes to those who submit to the one whose children call Him Lord. No wonder Jesus was soon to cry out

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not! See, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'"
(Matthew 23:37-39)