One day, as he was teaching the people in the temple and telling the good news, the chief priests and the scribes came with the elders and said to him, ‘Tell us, by what authority are you doing these things? Who is it who gave you this authority?’ He answered them, ‘I will also ask you a question, and you tell me: Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?’ 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, “Of human origin”, all the people will stone us; for they are convinced that John was a prophet.’ So they answered that they did not know where it came from. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.’ (Luke 20:1-8, NRSV)
Where did authority come from?
Where does authority come from?
Who do you see as an authority figure over you?
Doesn’t that change throughout your life?
I mean when I was younger I saw my parents as authority figures. However if my parents were still alive I would not see them as authority figures as I did when I was 10, or even 18. Now they are still authority figures, but not the same…
So where did Jesus get His power, is probably more close to what the Pharisees want to know. They see someone doing something that they can’t, and want to know why?
They are then asked a question in return. Where does the baptism of John come from. They are in a quandary. If they say Heaven, then why did they not believe and be baptized, but if they say human origin, then they are dissing all of the people who believe it is from Heaven and are following after John. They are worried they would lose their authority either way.
So where does your authority come from? And what authority do you see over your life?
aSacredRebel 