On one of the days when Jesus was teaching the people in the temple and proclaiming the good news, the chief priests, legal experts, and elders approached him. They said, “Tell us: What kind of authority do you have for doing these things? Who gave you this authority?” He replied, “I have a question for you. Tell me: Was John’s baptism of heavenly or of human origin?” They discussed among themselves, “If we say, ‘It’s of heavenly origin,’ he’ll say, ‘Why didn’t you believe him?’ But if we say, ‘It’s of human origin,’ all the people will stone us to death because they are convinced that John was a prophet.” They answered that they didn’t know where it came from. Then Jesus replied, “Neither will I tell you what kind of authority I have to do these things.” (Luke 20:1-8, CEB)
By what authority did Jesus do these things?
And why not answer a question with the answer that is correct according to what you think? If you are merely putting on faces to keep up appearances is there any real power? It is only perceived power and will not last so why maintain a facade any longer?
They didn’t say heaven because then they would have to answer why they didn’t get baptized, or so they think. Maybe Jesus just would have said God if they said heaven. kind of like this:
Chief priests, scribes, legal experts, and elders discuss the question and say, “John’s baptism is from Heaven.”
Jesus says, “God, the father.”
How did they know he would ask them why they didn’t get baptized. And they must have thought that it came from heaven otherwise why would they fear the people because obviously, this group of learned men would be able to explain to the simple crowd why the baptism wasn’t from heaven and of human origins.
Do not put on false pretenses. Speak the truth and never worry about remembering what you said.
Loving People. Loving God.
aSacredRebel 