All Authority

This past Thursday I had the opportunity to speak at the youth group that I help out in. I was talking about Jesus I AM statements of "I am the gate" and "I am the good shepherd" Talking in front of the whole youth group instead of doing bible study was so much more nerve racking. I am really grateful that it went well.

The interesting part was the last verses in that passage. It states

John 10:17-19

"For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me me but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from the Father."

I  called these statements Jesus' 'mic drop'. In these words Jesus is proclaiming that he has ALL authority over life and death. Jesus says that he will die and come back to life - and that coming back to life part - he is involved in that. By his own sheer power he can allow himself to come back to life. How unfathomable is that?!

Jesus has authority over death and life and everything in between. As I was reflecting on that passage a poem that I wrote came to mind (see previous post) I had given these people in my life so much authority - so much power allowing them to define me in their space. By asking that 'what if' question I gave myself the permission to take the authority that I had given these people and put it back on Jesus. The authority that really belonged to him the whole time.

When I actually let Him have that space - wow - talk about freedom. I didn't have to hide behind a mask of perfection. I didn't have to fit into a mold to feel accepted, I could simply be me.
That. is. freedom. That is pasture. Those people are still going to push me to fit the mold and/or press their expectations down onto me but! now; now I can say no. Now, in the midst of the chaos - I can find pasture.

"I am the door, if anyone enters by me, he will come and go and find pasture" vs. 7