They came again to Jerusalem. And as He was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to Him, and began saying to Him, "By what authority are You doing these things, or who gave You this authority to do these things?" And Jesus said to them, "I will ask you one question, and you answer Me, and then I will tell you by what authority I do these things. "Was the baptism of John from heaven, or from men? Answer Me." They began reasoning among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say, 'Then why did you not believe him?' "But shall we say, 'From men'?"--they were afraid of the people, for everyone considered John to have been a real prophet. Answering Jesus, they said, "We do not know." And Jesus said to them, "Nor will I tell you by what authority I do these things." - Mark 11:27-30 (NASB)
This story of Jesus is found within the final week of His life. As Jesus came to Jerusalem and began teaching in the temple, His teachings stirred up trouble. So much in fact that He was forced to stay outside of the city in Bethany in order to avoid the potential dangers that lurked in the darkness of the city.
As verse 27 begins, Jesus and His disciples are coming back into the city. As was His custom, Jesus once again enters the temple and this time is immediately met by several chief priests and scribes who immediately demand to know where His authority is from. Before answering though Jesus wants to find out the motivation behind this question. Why do they really want to know? Do they want to follow me or to find a way to falsely accuse Him? He had been given plenty of reasons before to assume the latter.
If Jesus was from God, they wanted Him to announce it. However, if Jesus had stated that His authority was from God they would have been forced to believe Him. They also would have not correctly understood that He Himself was God. Thus, Jesus attacks their question by asking a subsequent question. This is a technique He used often. It was not meant to detract from the question but rather to understand the motivation behind it.
There is also something else going on here. Jewish rabbinical teaching taught through a series of questions. If the rabbi asked a question. They students were expected to respond with a question. The continued questions back and forth enabled the student to discover the truth for themselves. A student who truly desired to know the answer would have learned to ask good questions. Asking good questions will enable the person to find out the answer that they are seeking.
Thus, Jesus responds with a question about John the Baptist. He was a controversial figure at the time. Many of the people thought of Him as a prophet from God. His death had only further confirmed it. The Pharisees and Sadduccees did not like him and saw him as a threat. It was John who had stated to them, "Who told you to flee from the wrath to come?" (Mt 3:7). Thus, there was obvious tension between the two sides.
Jesus uses this to find out their true intentions. "Was the baptism of John from heaven or from men?" Jesus has posed a question of logic that must be resolved. They had only two options:
1. John's baptism was from God.
If the Pharisees had chosen this option, they would have had to admit that John was a prophet. This would have also meant that as a prophet John spoke on God's behalf. Therefore, to not listen to him would be to deny God. Such an answer would have exposed their own hypocrisy and demonstrated to the people that they were not to be trusted.
Not an answer they were willing to admit.
2. John's baptism was from Men.
The second option was equally difficult for if the Pharisees had stated that John's baptism was not from God they risked being harmed by the people. The consensus of the Jewish people was that he was a prophet (Mk 11:32). Therefore, to not listen to John meant to deny that he was the one sent by God to prepare the way for the Messiah. Such an answer would have exposed their own hypocrisy and demonstrated to the people that they did not recognize John as being from God at all.
Therefore, Jesus' underlying question to them could have been re-phrased as "Do you fear God or the people more?". The Scriptures teach to clearly fear God but never to fear men.
However, they were not willing to admit their unbelief in John. Jesus asked a simple question and they were unwilling to answer it. Therefore, they were not seeking truth but rather a way to find fault in Him. Something that they had attempted time and again. For this reason, Jesus was unwilling to answer their question.
Whenever we choose to deny the truth, we choose to deny God. For many, choosing to accept Jesus as Lord is more of an attitude to deny truth than to accept it. When people are confronted with truth and do not want to accept it, they will find anything to make the obvious seem less plausible. Only those who truly desire to seek God will find Him. Only those who are coming to God with an open-mind and are open to following truth will accept it. Those who wish to deny it at all costs will demonstrate such by their answers to obvious questions like these. So, what can we apply in this passage?
1. You will not receive Christ until you… Formulate questions.
Life is full of difficult decisions. None more important than your decision of whether or not to follow Christ. Some of us have never stopped to ask ourselves these questions. What's my life all about? Is there a God? If so, what does that matter to me? Who is Jesus? Is He a liar, a lunatic, or the Lord? Answers to the truth will not be found until you formulate questions.
2. You will not receive Christ until you… Find answers.
Sometimes, we don’t like the answers we are given. Sometimes in life we receive answers that require that we act upon them. If Christianity's claims are true, we are going to have to change. If Jesus is Lord, we are going to have to confess and repent. We are going to have to turn from our current life of sin. Seek God and find out if He is real. Search the Scriptures and examine whether or not they could be true. Foster a lifestyle of loving truth. Determine before the outset that you will follow the truth whatever it might be and determine to follow through. Find the answers to the questions you have formulated.
3. You will not receive Christ until you… Follow the truth.
Finally, follow the truth. If Christianity is real, follow it. If its not, then do not. Its been said that the whole of Christianity rests upon the resurrection. Those who deny its claims often point to the resurrection. Those who accept it as historical truth defend it adamently. Find out if God is real and if Jesus was who He said He was. Use the mind that you have been given to search the Scriptures and to follow where the logical conclusions lead.
Learn to love the truth and to love logic. I pray that God will open your eyes to Him as He has opened the eyes of many, many others.
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