Certainly the people were familiar, as we are, with this possession-based form of authority. And they obviously were familiar, as we are, with position-based authority. Yet Jesus’ authority was still a mystery to them because it was not derived from worldly possessions: lay before him the treasure of the Magi or strip from him his only tunic; his authority remained unchanged. Nor was Jesus’ authority derived from earthly positions: crown him King or dismiss him as a criminal; his authority remained unchanged. Jesus’ authority flowed not from possessions or positions but from submission. What
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