“By what authority?”

Mark 11:29-33, Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. Was the baptism of John from heaven or from man? Answer me.” And they discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ But shall we say, ‘From man’?”—they were afraid of the people, for they all held that John really was a prophet. So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

The local religious authorities were not please with Jesus teaching and repeatedly challenged him looking for a way that they could destroy him out of fear, for “all the crowd was astonished at his teaching.” Right from the first he taught not as one of the local religious leaders but as one having authority. We do know that by his own words and teaching his authority came from his Father; after his resurrection, he tells us that he has all authority given to him. Do we recognize his authority?

Guide us under your authority to do your will today!

ESV Lectionary