Page 112 - A Dissertation for Doctor of Philosophy

His message consistently overflowed through his personality, demonstrating repeatedly that his

life was an incarnation of his teaching. Thus, his message lives as an authoritative truth in the

lives of his disciples. Frederick Schroeder summarizes that “[h]is words were and remain

authoritative because he embodied in his person the truth he taught; he personified it; his life

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authenticated it.”
26
Second, Jesus’ authority is relational. Jesus retained a right and vital relationship with God.

27
28
Evidence of this took on many forms: the sense of call to mission, handing on the revelation,
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his prayer life, and so on. Above all, however, his addressing God as Father, Abba, is very

25
Frederick W. Schroeder, Preaching the Word with Authority (Philadelphia, PN: The
Westminster Press, 1954), 119.

26 The relational aspect of Jesus’ authority need to be traced both by his relationship with
God and with his people. This section will treat his relationship with God only since his
relationship with his people is dealt with the following sections of this capter.

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Mark 1:9-11 and Matt. 3:13-17.
28 Matt. 11:27 and Luke 10:22. Matthew records Jesus’ prayer, saying, “yes, Father, for
such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one
knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to
whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” (Matt. 11:26-27) Jeremias, New Testament Theology, 61.
He points out the importance of this passage that “Matthew 11:27 is a central statement about the
mission of Jesus. His Father has granted him the revelation of himself as completely as only a
father can disclose himself to his son. Therefore only Jesus can pass on to others the real
knowledge of God.”

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Luke 3:21-22, 5:12-16, 6:12-16, 9:18-22, 9:28-29, 11:1-4, Mark 1:35-38, 6:45-46,
14:32-42, 15:34. Those incidents of prayer were significant for Jesus’ life and ministry, such as
prayer at the baptism, before selecting his disciples, at the Transfiguration, in Gethsemane, and
from the cross. See R C. Bradley, Jesus: The Greatest Master Teacher of Us All (Wolfe City,
TX: The University Press, 1976), 45. He comments on Jesus’ prayer life as “Jesus realized the
need of communion with the Father, for guidance, for strength, for understanding, for direction,
and for peaceful existence in daily living.”