Honor & Authority
More than just a good teacher
In a world where authority is often questioned and honor is seldom given, we find ourselves grappling with how to view Jesus Christ. Is He merely a good teacher, a historical figure of some importance, or is He something far more? This question isn't just academic—it strikes at the heart of our faith and shapes how we live our lives.
The Gospel of John presents us with a compelling portrait of Jesus that challenges our preconceptions. In John 5:17-23, we encounter a Jesus who makes audacious claims about His identity and authority. These aren't the words of a humble rabbi or a wise philosopher. These are the declarations of someone claiming equality with God Himself.
Jesus states, "My Father is still working, and I am working also." This simple statement carries profound implications. By calling God His Father in a personal and unique way, Jesus is asserting a level of intimacy and authority that His Jewish audience immediately recognized as a claim to divinity. They understood that Jesus was making Himself equal to God—a claim so outrageous to them that they sought to kill Him for blasphemy.
But Jesus doesn't back down. Instead, He doubles down, explaining the unified work He does with the Father. He states that He does what He sees the Father doing, sharing in the divine prerogatives of giving life and executing judgment. These are not the actions of a created being, but of one who is fully divine.
This raises a crucial question for us: Who is Jesus to you? Is He merely a therapist, offering comfort in times of trouble? Is He just a good teacher, providing moral guidance but not worthy of worship? Or is He the object of your faith, the One to whom you give the same reverence and honor as you would to God the Father?
The implications of Jesus' divinity are staggering. If Jesus is not God, then He cannot bear the full weight of our sin, He cannot be sinless, and He cannot grant eternal life. In short, if Jesus is not God, our faith crumbles, and we have no hope. But if Jesus is God, as He claims to be, then He alone can bear our sin, offer Himself as the spotless sacrifice, and give us eternal life.
Jesus goes further, asserting that He shares in the Father's work of giving life and executing judgment. He states, "Just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom He wants." This is not just a claim to divine power, but to divine sovereignty. Jesus is not acting on borrowed authority, but with the full authority of God.
Moreover, Jesus declares that the Father has given all judgment to the Son. This is a stunning shift in redemptive history. Jesus is not merely a messenger warning of coming judgment; He is the appointed judge over all. This means that our eternal destiny depends entirely on our relationship with Him. He alone can give life, and He alone will be the judge when we face our Maker.
Given these truths, how should we respond? Jesus provides a clear answer: "so that all people may honor the Son just as they honor the Father." The honor due to Jesus is not optional or of a lesser degree than that given to the Father. To honor Jesus is to honor God; to dishonor Jesus is to dishonor God.
This truth exposes the spiritual danger of rejecting or even minimizing Jesus Christ. Many claim to believe in God while ignoring or downplaying the lordship and deity of Christ. But Jesus says this is impossible. To downplay Christ's authority, deity, or role as judge and savior is to reject the God who sent Him.
The story of Polycarp, a disciple of the Apostle John, illustrates the power of truly honoring Christ. When faced with death for refusing to renounce his faith, Polycarp declared, "Eighty and six years have I served Him, and He has done me no wrong. How then can I blaspheme my King and Savior?" Polycarp's honor for the Son of God outweighed any fear of the world's disapproval or punishment. He believed that Jesus alone holds the keys of life and judgment, and that no earthly crown or comfort was worth the cost of dishonoring Him.
As we reflect on these truths, we're confronted with a necessary question: Will we honor the Son with the reverence, trust, and submission that is due to God alone? This isn't about mere lip service or wearing a Christian t-shirt. It's about believing His Word, obeying His commands, and loving His glory. It's about approaching Him in worship with the reverence due to God Himself, submitting to His teachings as the words of the divine King, and lifting Him up before a world that often treats Him as optional or offensive.
The call to honor Christ is not just a religious duty—it's an invitation to experience the fullness of life that comes from knowing and worshiping the true and living God. It's a call to trust in the One who alone can save us, to submit to the One who has all authority, and to find our ultimate purpose in glorifying the One who is worthy of all praise.
As we go about our lives, let's remember that Jesus is not just a good teacher or a historical figure. He is the eternal Son of God, co-equal with the Father in power, glory, and majesty. He is worthy of our total allegiance and obedience. May we honor Him not just with our words, but with the total surrender of our hearts and lives.
The day is coming when Christ will return and all will stand before His throne. The One who now calls us to honor Him in faith will one day call the nations to account. Will He judge us as enemies, or receive us as His beloved?
The Psalmist's words ring true: "Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts." Let us come and give honor to the Son while there is still time.
