Exousia

In the Gospel According to Luke, there is a pericope that describes Jesus of Nazareth as a enigmatic teacher and inspirational healer. He is worshipped by some and reviled by others. This passage is found in Luke 4:14 ff, a record of what happens after Jesus returns from his fast in the desert and fight with the devil.

In Luke 4:31, 4:36, and 5:24, his "authority" to teach and heal are emphasized. The Greek word is evxousi,a, a term that carries the idea of the freedom of choice, the right, or the power to perform an act or hold a position (NIDNTT, 2:606). So Jesus, in his teaching (orthodoxy) and his healing (orthopraxy), maintained the right and freedom of choice in interpreting the prophets concerning himself and proclaiming absolution of sins. His person and his work cannot be challenged if this "authority" (evxousi,a) is given to him. His hermeneutics and his miracles are beyond criticism, not because nothing lacking could be found, but simply because of his evxousi,a.

This word is used by Christ himself in Matthew 28:18. He says that all evxousi,a has been given to him from the Father. He, in turn, gives it to the disciples as the means by which they will accomplish the great commission. Through the church and her power to ordain ministers, this evxousi,a has similarly been passed down. As I ponder the future of Christendom, I believe it to be a grave necessity that lawfully ordained preachers of the gospel would apprehend the authority given to them by Christ, an authority which has its roots in Christ himself. Through prayer, Word, and sacrament, this authority must be placed before the people, not in order to hold absolute sway over the consciences of men, but in order to point back to the right and the freedom of choice of Jesus Christ to seek and save the lost.