Receive Jesus' Authority

Mark 11:27-28 They arrived again in Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him. 28 “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you authority to do this?”
 
THE day after his temple cleansing, Jesus walked in the temple courts. Clutter cleared, the Lord has room to work. Then the opposition confronted him.
   The priests, the teachers of the law and the elders want to know how Jesus has authority to do what he has done. This is a very appropriate response to Jesus’ radical actions. We can understand this. If someone entered your church with a group of people and began to criticize the church and preach, you should quickly ask, By what authority are you doing these things?” Formal training and anointing was required to minister in the temple. On the surface, the leaders asked Jesus a good question.
   They weren’t, though, concerned about proper preaching. Their leadership’s motive in the temple was profit. They had little concern for true prophets. The Jews’ every action was to preserve their authority.
   That’s why Jesus could not directly answer them with such authoritative words as recorded in John 14:10 “Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.”  
   Jesus’ time to die was just days ahead. But it was not yet time to give the ruling Jews their excuse to arrest him. That would come under God’s authority, just as Jesus’ entire ministry had been accomplished. Day after day for three years the Son of God had pointed his disciples and all who heard him to the Father. Even more,  this has been his lifelong purpose. The very first words we hear from Jesus are in Luke 2:49 “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” The gospel also tells us: Luke 2:47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 50 But they did not understand what he was saying to them. Things hadn’t changed since Jesus’ youth. Remember Mark wrote the people were astonished at his teaching (v. 18). But the astonishment did not transfer to understanding. The Sadducees, Pharisees, elders, disciples and the crowds were still trying to understand who Jesus is and what he intended to accomplish.
   In how many ways can Jesus say he came to give life: John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. And can our Lord be more clear to declare: John 11:25 “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” Were there only a few who believed as Martha: John 11:27 “Yes, Lord,” she told him, “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.”
   For the world today and sadly for too many “churches”, the question remains of Jesus, “By what authority are you doing these things?” Fear of confronting sin keeps mankind always asking questions but never accepting the answer.
   Receive and know Jesus’ authority. This is the key to eternal life.