God's Grace for YOU!

Matthew 21:23 New International Version (NIV)

The Authority of Jesus Questioned

23 Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you this authority?" Thursday, September 3 - Matthew 21:23 In his book, ​The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe​, C.S. Lewis tells about a young boy named Edmund who betrayed his siblings. In the central scene of the book, the White Witch, whose power has made it “winter in Narnia but never Christmas,” reminds Aslan, the great Lion, of the “Deep Magic” of the Law put in place by the great “Emperor Across the Sea.” This legal “Deep Magic” says that any traitor

belongs to the White Witch and is liable to death. Then Aslan and the Witch have an

intense conversation in private that leaves Aslan looking sad and defeated while the

Witch is filled with glee. Later we find out that Aslan has agreed to take the place of

Edmund in order to save the boy’s life. The Witch is thrilled to kill Aslan, instead!

Yet, after the Witch kills Aslan he is raised to new life and explains: “Though the

Witch knew the Deep Magic, there is a magic deeper still which she did not know.”

It is the deepest “magic” of all. The magic of forgiveness and grace. The authority of

Jesus is so shocking because it goes deeper and farther back beyond all other

“legal” authority. It is the truest and greatest authority of all. It is God’s grace for us.