What Authority?

READ

"Who do you think you are?" It's amazing how five simple words can carry so much weight. We've all been there – maybe from a teenager challenging a parent, an employee questioning a boss's decision, or someone disputing a referee's call. That's essentially what's happening in today’s passage, though the religious leaders dress it up in more sophisticated language: "By what authority are you doing these things?" The day after Jesus turned their temple commerce upside down, they were not looking for his credentials – they were looking for a way to discredit him.

Let’s take a moment to read Mark 11:27-33: 

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 of human origin? 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, ‘Of human origin’ …” (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.”

REFLECT

The scene crackles with tension. Jesus is walking through the temple courts, probably still surrounded by overturned tables from the previous day, when these religious heavyweights corner him. They're not coming in good faith for a thoughtful theological discussion – they're setting a trap. It's like watching a high-stakes chess match where every move could be fatal.

What happens next is a masterclass in handling hostile questions. Instead of falling into their trap, Jesus responds with His own question about John the Baptist's authority. It's not a deflection; it's a brilliant move that exposes the religious leaders' true motives. They're caught in what modern politicians would call a "no-win scenario." If they acknowledge John's divine authority, they must explain why they rejected Him. If they deny it, they'll face backlash from the crowds who revered John.

Watch how these religious experts squirm. These are men who have an opinion on everything from how many steps you can take on the Sabbath to which herbs need to be tithed. Yet here they are, shrugging their shoulders and mumbling, "We don't know." Their response reveals something crucial: their concern isn't with truth but with maintaining their position and power.

The irony is thick here. These men, who question Jesus's authority, demonstrate their own lack of moral authority through their calculated evasion. They're more worried about the political implications of their answer than about pursuing truth. 

What makes this exchange particularly poignant is its timing. This confrontation happens in Jesus's final week, as tensions are building toward the crucifixion. The religious leaders' question about authority isn't just about the temple cleansing – it's part of their larger strategy to eliminate Jesus. Yet Jesus stands firm, neither backing down nor falling into their trap.

We live in a time when authority is constantly questioned, yet true authority – the kind that comes from integrity, truth, and calling – is rare. Like the religious leaders, we can be more concerned with winning arguments than pursuing truth, more interested in maintaining our position than acknowledging God's authority in our lives.

Jesus's response challenges us to examine our own motives when we question authority. Are we asking out of genuine desire to understand and submit to truth? Or are we, like the religious leaders, simply looking for ways to justify our predetermined positions? It's worth noting that Jesus doesn't reject questioning itself – He takes issue with insincere questioning designed to trap rather than learn.

The passage also reminds us that true authority doesn't always look like what we expect. The religious leaders had all the traditional markers of authority – positions, titles, education – yet they lacked the genuine authority that comes from God. Jesus, who didn't fit their model of authority, demonstrated true authority through His teaching, actions, and ultimately His death and resurrection.

RESPOND

Take a moment to process what God might be leading you to do in light of what you read.

• How do you respond when facing difficult questions about your own faith? Do you engage honestly or retreat to safe, calculated answers?

• In what areas of your life might you be resisting Jesus's authority while maintaining a facade of submission?

REST

Take a moment to rest in God’s presence and consider one thing you can take away from your time reading, then close your devotional experience by praying:

Lord Jesus, forgive me for the times I've approached you with ulterior motives rather than genuine seeking. Help me to submit to your true authority in my life, even when it challenges my comfort or control. Give me courage to engage with difficult questions honestly and humility to acknowledge when I don't have all the answers. Amen.