What Gives Jesus the Right to Counsel?
by Joe Leavell
What Gives Jesus the Right?
Sitting in the doctor’s office just waiting for the doctor can feel like hours. You’re sitting, cold and frustrated at how long you’ve been there waiting for the doctor to return with your results. You feel like someone on trial waiting for the jury to return with your fate.
Why are you there? You’ve noticed some issues for some time, but your spouse finally convinced you it may be serious enough to see someone. Is it cancer? Diabetes? Just high blood pressure? What?
In walks the doctor – impossible to read his poker face. He pulls up his little stool with wheels and says the words you didn’t want to hear. Your heart falls.
The doctor recommends canceling vacation plans and starting treatment right away. He tells you that life for you is now different – that you need to see his care as a full-time commitment. The rigorous treatment will be intense but necessary. Your entire lifestyle must also change drastically, and you must start immediately! The way you eat, the way you sleep, exercise, relationships…. everything will be impacted by this diagnosis and the treatment.
You look at the doctor dumbfounded and suddenly offended.
“How dare you!” you exclaim. “Just who do you think you are to tell me that I need to change? I came here for some help to feel better and now you want me to change my entire life around just because you tell me to?! I’ve got work to do today! I’ve got plans! I can’t cancel that just because you walk in here and tell me to! What gives you the right to tell me what to do?!”
The doctor takes a moment, lowers his head, and sighs. Patiently, he raises his head back up and says, “I know this is difficult to hear but I assure you that this is the best course of action given your condition. What qualifies me to speak with you like this?” The doctor then motions behind you to the wall that is filled with credentials and awards that the doctor has received.
You glance over and begin to read not only his information on his M.D., but several honorary doctorates that have been bestowed upon him. You see framed newspaper articles with headlines of his groundbreaking discoveries. The treatment that you would be receiving is named after him and he has saved countless lives by his work. His best-selling, Pulitzer-winning book on the subject sits on a shelf next to a picture of him being awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by the President of the United States.
The doctor then shares with you what will happen if you choose to not follow the treatment plan but that he is hopeful and confident that if you listen and follow him, you’ll make it through and be cured.
Ok, it’s an admittedly absurd example to think of finding a doctor with those levels of credentials. But think about it for a moment. Would you have confidence putting your life in this doctor’s hands?
Jesus’ Diagnosis
In the earlier chapters of the book of Revelation, the disciple John was given a vision where he stood before Jesus and Jesus commanded him to write to seven different churches in the modern region of Turkey. For many of these churches, he wrote a commendation and to all of them he gave counsel tailored to their unique situation. For example, the church that existed in Ephesus he commended for their doctrinal purity but said they had lost their first love and he counseled them to return. If they do not, they would end up losing their church. For another, in Thyatira, he commended their love for others but rebuked them for their tolerance of sexual immorality.
He gives both encouragement and seemingly harsh predictions for those who persist in their sins. In every case, his counsel commands authority and carries an air of expectation that they will listen and obey his word. If they do not, it will be to their own peril.
As you read through these letters to the churches, one can’t help but wonder, how were these words received? Did they repent where needed? Did those he encouraged feel his tenderness in his words and gain strength? But I also wonder if there wasn’t some person who asked the question, “What gives Jesus the right to tell us what to do?! He just expects us to accept his treatment plan? Life needs to be different now? Why does Jesus get to have any say over our lives at all?”
Jesus’ Credentials
Though not exhaustive, Revelation chapter one thankfully starts with a very intimidating entrance of Jesus before John. John was Jesus’ closest friend before he went to the cross but look at how he responds when He sees Jesus in his glory:
When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. (Revelation 1:17a)
What did Jesus look like that caused this kind of reaction from the disciple Jesus loved?
John describes that Jesus was, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength. Revelation 1:13-16
Jesus then provides a measure of comfort for John and reminded him of his credentials before commanding him to write the book of Revelation.
“Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this.” – Revelation 1:17b-19.
I can imagine that the eyes of fire and the ‘sharp two-edged sword’ coming out of Jesus’ mouth (however that looked) may still have been just a touch bit intimidating for John in the presence of his glorious risen King.
This passage is only one of the myriads of Scriptures that we could give that demonstrate that when Jesus speaks to His followers, he is to be listened to and obeyed.
Why?
Because Jesus is God the Son, who came in the flesh.
Because He died and rose again.
Because He is the beginning and the end.
The Right of Others to Counsel
Let’s go back to our imaginary doctor’s office for a moment. After the doctor leaves the room a nurse comes in and tells you, “Yeah, forget what the doctor said. Your problem is that you just have a low image of yourself. I know these people on Reddit, and they said that doctors like this are so judgmental. They make people feel bad about their health instead of giving them good vibes. You just have to love and accept yourself as you are. If you just love yourself enough you’ll beat this.”
Who are you going to listen to at this point – the doctor with the excessive qualifications who had difficult words for you, or the nurse whose source of knowledge seems to be social media?
The doctor has every right to give you counsel. The nurse on the other hand has no right and should be fired for giving contrary counsel.
The question with Jesus then isn’t as much, “What gives Jesus the right to counsel me?” It’s more, “What would give anyone the right to counsel differently?” No one has the credentials to match his!
The Importance of Authority in Counseling
Wherever you choose to get counsel, it is vital to know the source of their authority and their credentials. In a world where people are hurting, confused, grieving, struggling, etc. everyone has some idea for a treatment for you to get well. Yet there is only one Great Physician. All counseling then will either point to the one “Doctor” or will be a contrary voice with other ideas and practices that will lead you elsewhere.
At BCA, we do not see ourselves as doctors but as faithful nurses who are caring for the wounded underneath the Great Doctor’s loving care. We are here to help you understand his words, his ways, his world, and his love for you. We want nothing more than to see you experience freedom from the sin and weight of this life and understand his love for you. We want to walk alongside you and care for you while He treats your heart.
Please don’t come to hear our wisdom, but because we are here to caringly point you to his! After all, no one goes to a doctor’s office because the nurse can take your blood pressure. You’re there for the doctor. As the saying goes, “Jesus is the cure for what ails you.” If we should ever unintentionally undermine or point away from Jesus, please reject our counsel immediately and go with Jesus! He is your primary caretaker!
This is why we always try to be sure to base our counsel on the safety of God’s Word and His credentials over ours. We do have a significant amount of training, degrees, and experience. Yet those skills are tailored to training us to accurately, carefully, and lovingly reflect God’s heart for you because He is faithful and true.
There are many forms of counsel that leverage good best practices and natural wisdom as sources of authority, but only biblical counseling, when rightly applied, can say, “Thus says the Lord.” Scripture alone carries God’s authority and we fully embrace His diagnosis and prescription.
To conclude, here is a summary of Jesus’ qualifications. Jesus truly is better we would encourage you to trust him with your eternal soul and his care for your life.
