Authority Challenged (Luke 20:1-8)
In the first of five confrontations between Jesus and the religious leaders after the temple cleansing, the elders asked Jesus about His authority. Basically, they asked Him what right He had to do the things He did.
Jesus responds in a typical manner for Him. He answers their question with a question.
“Was John’s baptism from heaven or from men?” In other words, did God want people to repent and be baptized as John had preached, or was it just something he made up?
And as is so often the case with powerful men, they did not care about the truth of the answer to this question. Who cares if it was real or made up? All that mattered to them was their position and power. If they claimed the teaching of John was from God, they would have to cede power to John and Jesus. If they say it was made up, they would alienate those who were convinced of John’s truth. So, they happily declare their ignorance.
And this is why Jesus does not answer their question about His authority. They do not care where He got His power from, only that it was a threat to their power.
We can’t read any stories about the religious leaders of Jesus day and not ask ourselves the question, “Are we at all like them?”
Jesus responds in a typical manner for Him. He answers their question with a question.
“Was John’s baptism from heaven or from men?” In other words, did God want people to repent and be baptized as John had preached, or was it just something he made up?
And as is so often the case with powerful men, they did not care about the truth of the answer to this question. Who cares if it was real or made up? All that mattered to them was their position and power. If they claimed the teaching of John was from God, they would have to cede power to John and Jesus. If they say it was made up, they would alienate those who were convinced of John’s truth. So, they happily declare their ignorance.
And this is why Jesus does not answer their question about His authority. They do not care where He got His power from, only that it was a threat to their power.
We can’t read any stories about the religious leaders of Jesus day and not ask ourselves the question, “Are we at all like them?”
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