Saturday, September 22, 2012

Who said you could...?

 One day, as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes with the elders came up and said to him, “Tell us by what authority you do these things, or who it is that gave you this authority.” He answered them, “I also will ask you a question. Now tell me, was the baptism of John from heaven or from man?” And they discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From man,’ all the people will stone us to death, for they are convinced that John was a prophet.” So they answered that they did not know where it came from. And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.” (Luke 20:1-8 ESV)
The leaders rudely interrupted Jesus' teaching to challenge His authority with a two-headed question. True to form, He answers with a question that gives the answer - if they are willing to accept it. Who told Him He could waltz into Jerusalem like the King, cleanse the temple of distractions, and then teach there authoritatively as a prophet?  The Same One who told John the Baptist he could do what he did.  But then again, they would not accept him either.  "If you've got a problem, take it up with God."

No comments:

Post a Comment