The Gospel of Mark: Jesus' Authority Questoned

Again they came to Jerusalem. As he was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to him and said, “By what authority are you doing these things? Who gave you this authority to do them?” Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin? Answer me.” They argued with one another, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ But shall we say, ‘Of human origin’?”—they were afraid of the crowd, for all regarded John as truly a prophet. So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.” ~ Mark 11:27-33


Not even sure why the chief priests, elders, and scribes keep trying to trick Jesus. It never works.

Jesus has a way of evading trick questions. He either answers with another question or he gives an answer that will only make the questioner scratch his head guessing its meaning.

Here, though, he is clear that he will also not answer the question. Likely he knows, "what's the point?" 

What good will it do? Will any answer satisfy them?

The fact was that Jesus had been answering their questions all along. They just hadn't been listening.

Or seeing.

They had eyes that did not see and ears that did not hear.

The lacked the eyes and ears of faith.


Holy God, thank you for the gospel - the good news - of your Son. Open my mind and heart to this good news and enliven me with your Spirit of servanthood that I might share this good news with a world in need. Amen


Engagement Questions:


What is the difference between faith and knowledge? How does faith - or trust - help us to see things we might not otherwise see?

 

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