Chapter 16—Power, Authority, and Earnestness
Positive Authority—The practical truths He uttered had a con-
vincing power, and arrested the attention of the people. Multitudes
lingered at His side, marveling at His wisdom. His manner corre-
sponded with the great truths He proclaimed. There was no apology,
no hesitancy, not the shadow of a doubt or uncertainty that it might
be other than He declared. He spoke of the earthly and the heavenly,
of the human and the divine, with positive authority; and the people
“were astonished at His doctrine; for His word was with power.”—
The
Review and Herald, July 6, 1911
.
Authority Exclusively His Own—Christ taught with authority.
The Sermon on the Mount is a wonderful production, yet so simple that
a child can study it without being misled. The mount of beatitudes is
an emblem of the high elevation on which Christ ever stood. He spoke
with an authority which was exclusively His own.—
Fundamentals of
Christian Education, 407
.
Kingly Authority Over Temple Priests—Christ spoke with the
authority of a king, and in His appearance, and in the tones of His
[90]
voice, there was that which they had no power to resist. At the word
of command they realized, as they had never realized before, their true
position as hypocrites and robbers.—
The Desire of Ages, 162
.
Irresistible Force—With clearness and power He spoke the words
that were to come down to our time as a treasure of goodness. What
precious words they were, and how full of encouragement. From
His divine lips there fell with fullness and abundant assurance the
benedictions that showed Him to be the fountain of all goodness,
and that it was His prerogative to bless and impress the minds of all
present....
There were occasions when Christ spoke with an authority that
sent His words home with irresistible force, with an overwhelming
sense of the greatness of the Speaker, and the human agencies shrunk
into nothingness in comparison with the One before them. They were
deeply moved; their minds were impressed that He was repeating the
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