Article January 2, 1971 Issue

"What is your authority?"

ROBERT J. HILL

In court, the judge will sometimes ask an attorney who states a fundamental rule as governing a given situation, "What is your authority?" Then the attorney will cite as authority either a statute or a similar case decided by a high tribunal as sustaining his client's position. But this authority is often challenged by the citation of some opposing authority or contrary interpretation.

Christ Jesus expounded divine Principle. He presented his case for the efficacy of spiritual truth to govern men's lives, to heal and sustain them. When the chief priests found him teaching in the temple, they asked him, "By what authority doest thou these things?"^{ Matt. 21:23;} The record shows that he did not answer their question at this time, but on another occasion he said, "The works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me."^{ John 5:36;} It seems clear that he was citing his healing and redemptive power as proof that his position was based on divine Love. This authority cannot be challenged. It is absolute!

Acutely aware that his purpose was to bring the Christ to humanity, Jesus knew that omniscient divine Mind, God, recognizes no authority outside Himself and the realm of spiritual reality. This knowledge gave Jesus assurance to act authoritatively in going about his Father's business claiming, on behalf of divine Principle, supremacy over the debilitating beliefs of animal magnetism or mesmerism. He certainly had the highest authority for his actions. Had not God said, "This is my beloved Son: hear him"?^{ Mark 9:7;} What greater sanction could there be than that of the Supreme Being— the Principle of the universe—the basis for all law and precedent without beginning or end?