This morning, we continue to walk with Jesus through the last week of his ministry. We saw last week that he drove the moneychangers and merchants out of the temple so that all people could experience the presence of God. That act caught the attention of the religious leaders, and so today we see the political fallout. To see that, let’s read Mark 11:27-33. From this passage, see two points: Derived Authority and Divine Authority.
First, from verses 27 and 28, see Derived Authority. Verse 27 says that Jesus and his disciples came again to the temple, the day after they cleared it of the wicked, and a committee of priests, scribes, and elders meet him and immediately demand to see his credentials: “By what authority do you do these things?” These three groups participated in a leadership council known as the Sanhedrin. This council was a representative body of seventy members made of priests, scholars, and aristocrats. Though Rome was the final authority in all things, the Sanhedrin was granted authority by Rome to judge local disputes. This was Rome’s attempt to keep their conquered compliant by allowing them some semblance of authority. This group that comes to Jesus is a subcommittee of the Sanhedrin. The chief priests were the religious authority. They were made up of the priestly families. Once a year, they would select a chief priest, who would carry out the temple rituals, oversee the temple treasury, and judge disputes. In the first century, though, the chief priest was not selected by a vote of the Levites, as it was in the OT, but by Rome. Former chief priests would take an advisory role within this group and maintained authority until their death. The scribes held legal authority. They were experts in the OT law, and Jewish society at large and the Sanhedrin more specifically depended on them to interpret and apply the law to cases. The elders held political authority. These elders were made up of the wealthy, aristocratic families of Jerusalem.
We find these same kinds of authority in our day. Though Americans maintain a separation between church and state, religious authority is still very real here. There are some 50 million Roman Catholics in the USA who submit to the authority of the Pope. There are around 5 million Muslims who submit to one Imam or another. Even among protestants and independent, non-denominational churches, there are church leaders who hold an outsized authority over church members. We also have legal authorities here. Policemen, attorneys, and judges all exercise this legal authority. We also have political and aristocratic authorities. We don’t have nobles, but we do have tech billionaires, hedge fund managers, and political families who manipulate markets and political opinions.
When considering the authority of this committee that comes to Jesus, or any authority, for that matter, it is important to ask, is the authority legitimate? In the US, there is no more greatly despised profession than that of the politician, and yet, the right politician can command unquestioned authority. Obama was supposed to be the first post-racial candidate who would heal America’s racial divisions, and so people jumped at the opportunity to vote for him. Trump and Pence stood before the American people and said, “We just need 15 days to slow the spread, trust us,” and everyone complied, shutting down “non-essential” businesses (including the church). Legal authorities hold great sway in our country, too. It has become popular in recent years to exercise “lawfare” against our opponents, using obscure laws to slow down or even criminally punish. Even our religious authorities hold more sway than we might admit. There are many who unquestioningly send their last dollar to a TV evangelist because he said that they would gain a blessing through it. There are scandalous examples of churches who hide their pastors’ improprieties because he “has the Spirit.”
There are two questions to ask about any authority that prove whether it is legitimate or not: where does it come from and is it exercised rightly? For the priests of Israel, we can say that their authority originally came from the right place – from God himself. The OT law established the priesthood and gave directions as to how it was to be administered. But, in Jesus’s day, the priesthood had been made illegitimate by its allegiance with Rome. The priesthood had also become illegitimate by its unbelief. The priests were part of a theological camp called the Sadducees. They only accepted the first five books of the OT, rejecting all of God’s prophets. They also used their position for personal gain. They had established a scheme to fleece people by requiring that only temple currency could be used to buy sacrifices. This is why there were moneychangers in the temple. But, as it is with money exchanges, there was always a bit left over a bit of inflation that favored the priests. The elders, too, had become illegitimate in much the same way. They benefitted from this same system. Believers coming in from all over the world could not bring their sacrificial animals with them, so they were forced to buy animals while in the temple. And, much like theme parks today that charge $4 for a fountain drink, when you were in the temple, you paid temple prices for everything. They did not love their neighbor or show compassion on the sojourner. They saw them as a chance to make a profit, and in so doing, they lost all claim to authority.
But, this is the reason they seek out Jesus. So, they ask, “By what authority do you do these things?” In other words, “We are the authority around here, and we don’t remember granting you any of what we have.” In answer to this question, Jesus exposes their illegitimate authority. To see that, consider my second point: Divine Authority, from verses 29-33. Jesus does not directly answer their question, but instead, he uses a popular rabbinical method of answering a question with a question. So, he asks, “Was the Baptism of John from heaven or from man?” He is asking about the ministry of John the Baptist, the prophet sent by God to announce the coming of the Messiah and prepare the way by calling people to repent and be baptized. Baptism was a ritual that was reserved for converts to Judaism – for Gentiles who wanted to become Jewish. Those who were born Jewish did not get baptized. They didn’t have to. So, John’s call to baptism was effectively saying that no one can be born into the new covenant that the Messiah would bring. If you would enter the new covenant, it must be through repentance and faith. This offended the religious leaders deeply because they were the children of Abraham and perfectly obedient to all of the traditions. Why would they need to come like a filthy Gentile and be baptized?
This question is a simple yes/no question, but it cannot be answered. Mark gives us their internal debate in verses 31 and 32. They realize, if they say that John’s baptism is from God, then Jesus will turn around and ask them, “Then why didn’t you get baptized?” But, they can’t answer no, either. John held a political power with the people, so to say that his baptism had no authority would start a riot. Recognize just how amazing this question is. In asking it, Jesus challenges the priestly authority. I mean, who is better suited to say whether a ministry is from God or not than a priest? He also challenges their legal authority. The scribes were famous for their riddles, as we will see over the next few weeks. And, he challenges their political authority. Who would have greater political sway over the people? The elders, or John?
Jesus ties them in such a knot that they choose to give a non-answer, saying “We do not know.” In admitting this, they lose all claim to authority. They cannot judge another ministry or adjudicate a case or control the masses, so Jesus doesn’t owe them an answer. So, he says, “Neither will I tell you where my authority comes from.” But, we know where his authority comes from. As the Messiah, Jesus has all authority. As we read from Isaiah 11 earlier, the shoot (or descendent) of Jesse (David’s father) will be led by the Spirit, like a true priest. He will understand all wisdom and have all knowledge, judging with equity, like a true lawgiver. He will rule over the earth and bring righteous judgment, like a true king. His authority is granted by God, because he is one with God.
Friend, Jesus is the ruler of all things. He has all authority, even over your soul. You can try to be like these priests, scribes, and elders, living by your own illegitimate authority, but one day, just like them, you will be judged by Christ’s true authority. Won’t you do what these leaders would not – repent and believe on Jesus Christ for salvation.
Brothers and sisters, we all have been given authority of some kind, whether you are an employer, a government official, teacher, lawyer, or parent. The most important question you can ask of that authority is whether you are exercising it in a way that is legitimate. Are you led by a desire to serve God and others? Are you carrying out your authority so that you might bring glory to God and love your neighbor?
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