Which Side?

Mark 11:29-30 Jesus replied, “I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 30 John’s baptism – was it from heaven, or from men? Tell me!”
 
WHAT’S your response when someone consistently doubts you? Are you frustrated and hurt from his persistent challenges? Do you eventually break your relationship with him?  
   The Pharisees asked Jesus a good question about his authority, but he knows they will completely reject his response if he says he is the Son of God. From his first visit to Jerusalem, their reactions to him have always been laced with accusations and unbelief. Jesus has repeatedly shown heaven’s miracles come to earth. He has preached forgiveness and love. The Living Word has taught in the power of God’s Word to reveal the fulfillment of the law. Again and again and again Jesus entered the public forum to debate the self-righteous legalists. The Lord of Life offered hope to those who had no hope. Jesus’ purpose was to love his people and to save the lost. In response, the educated teachers essentially asked one question, “Who do you think you are? Who gave you the right to cleanse the temple, to judge us and to remove our source of profit?” Jesus’ direct answer to their question would only fall on very deaf ears.
   That’s why Jesus first responded to their question with his own question, “Is John’s baptism from heaven, or from men?” Jesus has drawn a line. If the teachers won’t admit John’s baptism came from heaven, then what is the point of Jesus telling them, “My authority is from heaven.” The Jews faced a dilemma:
 
Mark 11:31-33 They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ 32 But if we say, ‘From men’ . . . .” (They feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet.) 33 So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.” Jesus said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”
 
They wouldn’t listen to Jesus, so Jesus won’t tell them. There is an essential truth of God’s love for us. He goes to great effort to teach us the truth. But if we continue to reject God’s Word, keeping our ears deaf to his gracious truth, he will reject us. There will come a time when Jesus draws the line on all humankind. Those who reject the Bible’s answer to Jesus’ authority will suffer Jesus’ rejection. Those who believe the Bible’s authority will know Jesus’ eternal joy: John 3:19 “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.”
   Jesus, the Living Word, has turned on the light. Put aside the questions. Receive his answers.