Origins...
| They arrived again in Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to Him. "By what authority are you doing these things?" they asked. "And who gave you authority to do this?" Jesus replied, "I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. John's baptism -- was it from heaven, or from men? Tell Me!" They discussed it among themselves and said, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will ask, 'Then why didn't you believe him?' But if we say, 'From men'..." (They feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet.) So they answered Jesus, "We don't know." Jesus said, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things." (Mark11:27-33) |
"How dare He cause a ruckus?
How dare He preach to them about prayer?
How dare He expose them?"
"By what authority are you doing this?"
It's a trick question and a pride question.
- Who do You think You are to oppose us? Do You know who we are?
- If Jesus claimed to act by God's authority, they could accuse Him of blasphemy or madness.
Jesus neatly exposes them by reflecting the question back at them.
"John's baptism - was it from God or human origin?"
Now bear in mind John claimed to be the forerunner of the Messiah and that Jesus was the Messiah.
- If they say "from God" then they would be compelled to honour his Messiah
- If they said "from humans" the crowd would be upset because John had baptised thousands.
So they stubbornly sit on the fence.
But this question implies a deeper question...
And it is THE ALL IMPORTANT QUESTION.
Who do you believe Jesus is?
- Is He from God - the Son of God?
- Or is He just some guru - maybe even a self-deluded one?
What authority does He have in our lives?
Figuring out who He is is crucial to this...
Or do we sit on the fence...?
