Finding Joy in the One of Authority

Posted on December 17, 2023

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Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11

Psalm 126

1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

John 1:6-8, 19-28

We are one week away from our final day of advent. The wait and anticipation is almost over. This time of year, should be a joyous time for us. For many it is and yet for others it is not. Many remember this as a time of loss and depression. For some even the lack of sunlight throughout the day is another cause for depression. However, there are many things to find joy in. After all Jesus is coming soon. Our scriptures today point us into the direction of joy. It is a joy of prophecy fulfilled. It is the joy for the one of authority.

Our reading in Isaiah 61 is the scripture that Jesus read in the Synagogue of his home town of Nazareth. The result of his reading was those uprising to stone him for blasphemy. Jesus spoke as of someone with authority. He read the scripture about himself signaling the authority that was given to him by the Father. The problem was that the people knew him since a child and knew him as Joseph’s son. They did not see him as the Son of God or understand him as so. Now suddenly this man was speaking to them with the authority of God. To them they saw someone breaking the law of God. The truth though was that they really did not know what to expect to see from the so-called Messiah. However, one thing for sure is that they were not expecting Jesus to be the Messiah. If only they knew the truth of his birth. Isaiah explains though that the year of the Lord’s favor in which Jesus has fulfilled, will be a time of joy and praise. Things will be rebuilt and the cities will be renewed. It is a time of joy for the one of authority.

John 1 starting in verse 6, we read about the one who came to testify to the light. The purpose of this testimony was so that all may believe. John says, that this man himself was not the light but he came as a witness to the light. This man was known as John the baptizer. He is called this because he lived in the wilderness and people would come to him to be baptized in water. It seems that all of his actions were causing quite a commotion because the Pharisees sent out their investigators to see exactly what was going on. You see for the past few hundred years there had been nothing but silence from the Lord. There had been no other prophets since Malachi. Therefore, when someone suddenly showed up speaking truth and as someone of authority, people were taking notice. The teachers of the Law however, had been enjoying a time of being the voice of God and suddenly it seems that this was being disrupted. These investigators ask John if he is the Messiah who they had been waiting for. John confesses to everyone openly and plainly. He says that he is not the Messiah. So, then they ask him if he is Elijah, which he says he is not. On a side note, I have always found this to be interesting that John claims not to be Elijah. The reason for this is that Jesus identifies John as Elijah. So, the question is, what is the truth. The truth is that both statements are true. In a literal sense John is not Elijah. However, in a spiritual sense, John is the Elijah figure whom the people were waiting for to fulfill the prophecy. The investigators then ask if he is the prophet which again, he says no. So, they then ask him to tell them who he is. He says that he is the one who has come to fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah. He is the one voice in the wilderness saying “prepare the way of the Lord and make straight paths for Him.”

The investigators are still puzzled. If he is not the one of authority then why is he baptizing people as if he is one of authority. John puts it simply. He is baptizing with water and water alone. However, he points out that there is someone whom they do not yet know who is the one of authority and is the messiah and the one whom they have been waiting for and John is not even worthy to untie his sandals. He is unworthy to even be a servant. This is how important this Jesus is. He is the one of authority. He is the one who we should all be finding our joy in.

It is unnatural to be joyous about authority. If we ourselves are the ones in authority and have control then I am sure we can find joy in that. However, when it comes time for us to be subject to authority it is a whole different story. That is why the Pharisees are so anxious about this noise going on in the wilderness because it feels like a possible threat to their authority. My children also have a hard time with authority at times but unless I teach them to respect authority now then they will not do so on their own later on and will may not have the same appreciation for authority when they themselves are one day in an authority position. However, the most important lesson of authority that we must teach is to honor the authority of God and honor the authority of Jesus as he is the one who has authority over our sin and over our salvation. The reason I say that we should find joy in the one of authority is because of what He has authority over. Jesus has authority over our sin and when we entrust our lives to him and believe in him then he will use this authority to wipe our sins clean and help us to sin no more. This is the reason for us to take joy in the one of authority.

Our reading from 1 Thessalonians paints a picture for how our attitudes should be in life. We are told to rejoice always and give thanks in all of our circumstances whether good or bad. I must admit that this part is very difficult. Unfortunately, I have faced many situations these past few years in which I have been put to the test in this matter. It is not always easy to rejoice and give thanks in times when you feel that Satan is really trying to knock you down. It is not a fun experience. However, in the things we can find joy in is that Satan would not be bothering us if we were not doing the things that he hates the most. If Satan is trying to knock you down then you know you are on the right path. We can find joy in that Jesus, the one in authority will help to see us through. We are told not to quench the Spirit meaning don’t try to put out the fire even if it makes you feel uncomfortable. There are some people who may be wild and on fire for God. We should not try to calm this spirit down but instead find ways to feed the flames. We are told not to treat the prophecies with contempt but to put them to the test. Validate events with the Word. If scripture backs it up then we can know it is truth. However, if scripture does not back it up then we know it is not something of authority and it is not truth. We are to hold on to the things that are good and reject what is evil. What is good and what is evil is defined by the one who is in authority.

My prayer for you this week and for this season is that you will find joy in the difficult times. I know that many of you are dealing with these hard times and it is easy to fall into depression or fear. But rejoice for the Lord has chosen you to testify to His light within the darkness that you feel. Remember that “the one who calls you is faithful,” and he will do whatever great work in you that he promises. He is able to because He is the one of authority.