Authority of Christ

The authority of Christ is a central theme in the New Testament, reflecting His divine nature and His role as the Messiah. Jesus' authority is evident in His teachings, miracles, and His power over nature, demons, and even death. In Matthew 28:18, Jesus declares, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me." This statement underscores His supreme authority over all creation, a divine prerogative that affirms His unique position as the Son of God.

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus exercises authority in various ways. In Mark 1:27, the people are amazed at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, not as the scribes. His authority is further demonstrated in His ability to forgive sins, as seen in Mark 2:10-12, where He heals a paralytic and declares, "But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins..." This act not only confirms His authority but also His divine nature, as only God can forgive sins.

Jesus' authority extends over the spiritual realm, as He commands unclean spirits and they obey Him (Mark 1:27). His authority over nature is displayed when He calms the storm in Mark 4:39, saying, "Peace, be still!" and the wind ceases. Furthermore, His authority over life and death is evident in the raising of Lazarus (John 11:43-44) and His own resurrection, which He foretold in John 10:18, "No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again."

Divinity of Christ

The divinity of Christ is a foundational doctrine of Christianity, affirming that Jesus is fully God and fully man. The Gospel of John opens with a profound declaration of Christ's divine nature: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1). This passage identifies Jesus as the eternal Word, coexistent with God and Himself God.

Jesus' divinity is further affirmed through His self-identification with God. In John 8:58, Jesus states, "Truly, truly, I tell you, before Abraham was born, I am!" This declaration echoes the divine name revealed to Moses in Exodus 3:14, "I AM WHO I AM," and asserts His preexistence and oneness with the Father. The reaction of the Jewish leaders, who sought to stone Him for blasphemy, indicates their understanding of His claim to divinity.

The New Testament writers consistently affirm Christ's divine nature. In Colossians 2:9, Paul writes, "For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form." This verse emphasizes that Jesus embodies the complete nature of God. Similarly, Hebrews 1:3 describes the Son as "the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of His nature," further attesting to His divine essence.

The worship of Jesus by His followers also attests to His divinity. Thomas, upon seeing the risen Christ, exclaims, "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28). This confession is accepted by Jesus, who does not rebuke Thomas, thereby affirming His divine identity. The book of Revelation presents Jesus as the Alpha and Omega, a title of divinity, in Revelation 22:13, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End."

In summary, the authority and divinity of Christ are intricately linked, revealing His unique identity as the Son of God, the Savior, and the sovereign Lord over all creation. His authority in teaching, miracles, and over life and death, coupled with His divine nature as affirmed by His own words and the testimony of Scripture, form the cornerstone of Christian belief in Jesus as both fully God and fully man.