By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority to do these things?

Then they came again to Jerusalem. And as He was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to Him. And they said to Him, "By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority to do these things?" But Jesus answered and said to them, "I also will ask you one question; then answer Me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things: The baptism of John -- was it from heaven or from men? Answer Me." And they reasoned within themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?' But if we say, 'From men' " -- they feared the people, for all counted John to have been a prophet indeed. So they answered and said to Jesus, "We do not know." And Jesus answered and said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."

Then He began to speak to them in parables: "A man planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a place for the wine vat and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country. Now at vintage-time he sent a servant to the vinedressers, that he might receive some of the fruit of the vineyard from the vinedressers. And they took him and beat him and sent him away empty-handed. Again he sent them another servant, and at him they threw stones, wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully treated. And again he sent another, and him they killed; and many others, beating some and killing some. Therefore still having one son, his beloved, he also sent him to them last, saying, 'they will respect my son.' But those vinedressers said among themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.' So they took him and killed him and cast him out of the vineyard. Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the vinedressers, and give the vineyard to others. Have you not even read this Scripture:

'The stone which the builders rejected

Has become the chief cornerstone.

This was the LORD's doing,

And it was marvelous in our eyes'?"

And they sought to lay hands on Him, but feared the multitude, for they knew He had spoken the parable against them. So they left Him and went away.

- Mark 11:27-12:12

Yesterday we read about Jesus' first day in Jerusalem, after His Triumphal Entry. On His way back into Jerusalem, He passes a fig tree that is in full foliage, but bears no fruit. He says, "Let no one eat fruit from you ever again." Then He and the disciples came to Jerusalem, into the temple. Jesus drove out the money changers and the dove sellers, and wouldn't let anyone carry wares for sale through the temple. He said, "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it a 'den of thieves.'" The next morning, when they all passed by the fig tree again, it had dried up from the roots. Jesus taught the disciples about faith and prayer and forgiveness: "Whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses." See The fig tree and the temple.

Then they came again to Jerusalem. And as He was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to Him. And they said to Him, "By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority to do these things?" The temple leadership are speaking about Jesus' cleansing of the temple, which was a clear messianic act, signifying Jesus' authority. He is not only actively and forcefully criticizing their practices, but challenging their authority in the temple. If He is allowed to remain, says my study bible, they are totally discredited; after the cleansing, they must destroy Him. Jesus, of course, acts on His own authority. He has not studied with a famous rabbi, does not cite others in His actions. This is something that comes from within Himself. It's a logical question.

But Jesus answered and said to them, "I also will ask you one question; then answer Me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things: The baptism of John -- was it from heaven or from men? Answer Me." And they reasoned within themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?' But if we say, 'From men' " -- they feared the people, for all counted John to have been a prophet indeed. So they answered and said to Jesus, "We do not know." And Jesus answered and said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things." Of course, John is the perfect example corresponding to Jesus' authority. Who told John he could baptize? And yet, John was a powerfully popular preacher, widely believed to have been a prophet and tremendously revered as a holy man. Where does the authority come from for the acts of the holy, the ones totally devoted to God in all humility and truth, without worldly authority from others? John, who lived a life of radical poverty, was without doubt a towering figure in the eyes of the people. My study bible says it's not always wise to answer an angry opposition's questions. Jesus defends Himself in a very swift and elegant way: He refuses to answer their question, but instead poses one Himself which confounds them and trips them up because they are too concerned over their own failings and hypocrisy. The compromised temple authorities stand in sharp contrast to the rigorously truthful and heroic figure of John the Baptist. They can't answer -- and so Jesus is neither compelled to answer. But the answers here are couched in Jesus' question: How do you name and know the authority that is of heaven? What is the difference in the authority that comes from heaven and that which comes from men? He doesn't need to answer because their authority doesn't extend that far!

Then He began to speak to them in parables: "A man planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a place for the wine vat and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country. Now at vintage-time he sent a servant to the vinedressers, that he might receive some of the fruit of the vineyard from the vinedressers. And they took him and beat him and sent him away empty-handed. Again he sent them another servant, and at him they threw stones, wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully treated. And again he sent another, and him they killed; and many others, beating some and killing some. Therefore still having one son, his beloved, he also sent him to them last, saying, 'they will respect my son.' But those vinedressers said among themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.' So they took him and killed him and cast him out of the vineyard." This powerful parable is an answer to questions of authority. It also addresses Jesus' clear delineation about questions of whether authority to do something is "from heaven" or "from men." The temple and all the vast beauty and value of Jewish spiritual heritage -- all that makes Israel -- is a great valuable property of priceless blessing. But it is not theirs to own. They didn't establish the vineyard in the parable, they didn't plow and plant the vines nor build the property. The temple authorities are stewards, vinedressers to whom the vineyard is leased, and they have care of it. But instead of doing their jobs, what they wish is to claim ownership. They pay no tribute to the owner at harvest, they produce no fruits for him, no wine. Even worse, they beat his servants, the prophets who are periodically sent for the spiritual fruits of this spiritual heritage. And finally the son is sent, and so they seek to kill Him. Their impulse for selfish ownership and exploitation is too strong to appeal to conscience and spiritual awareness of the truth about "ownership" and spiritual heritage. The parable is a reply to the questions about authority -- and at the same time it is also an assertion about the establishment of a kingdom in this world. Throughout Mark's gospel, we have observed the spiritual battle of Christ's kingdom of love breaking through into the midst of this world of oppression by the harsh forces of evil: sickness and disease, the things that bind and cripple human beings. Here, those who have rented the land of the Lord also fail to faithfully honor Him, and even His Son -- and, by implication, the true authority of that Kingdom.

Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the vinedressers, and give the vineyard to others. Have you not even read this Scripture: 'The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the LORD's doing, and it was marvelous in our eyes'?" And they sought to lay hands on Him, but feared the multitude, for they knew He had spoken the parable against them. So they left Him and went away. What is the price for the exploitation of this kingdom, this vineyard? For seeing it merely as an opportunity to usurp its ownership, and use it in ways for selfish gain, without regard for its owner? It will be taken away. In a sense, this vineyard of the kingdom represents the presence of God that has always been with us. The Jewish spiritual heritage has always been the kingdom seeking to break through into this world -- an affirmation that Creation is good in and of itself because it is of God, and God called it good. But where are the fruits of this vineyard, and for what are they to be used? The authorities clearly understand the parable told against them -- and it is done in the hearing of all the people who are there. It is a clear and open rebuke by Jesus, and He doesn't back down but tells them that this property will be taken away. In effect, they have failed in their leadership and their authority to uphold the responsibilities they've been given. Again, as in the answer the question about John the Baptist and Jesus' authority, the authorities themselves are the ones left without an answer.

I find this parable of great significance because, once again, it is useful for us to think about in our own churches. We've been given this extraordinary gift, this heritage. Our leaders are stewards, and it is up to them to cultivate this spiritual heritage, to produce fruits. But any form of thinking of ownership of a church is always a disaster. This great treasure, the pearl of great price (as Jesus will put it) is not something we own like a treasure hidden away and kept from others, and taken out once in awhile in little increments. We are taught instead to let our light shine before men, and to have salt in ourselves. It is something for which we all labor to one degree or another, and for which our leaders and those in authority are placed as servants of all. That is, servants of men and servants of God for our greater spiritual uplifting and inheritance, for the aims of the family with Christ at its head. Whenever leadership falls into the sense that it is owner, a church is in trouble. If there are factions in which one group of people in a church or another act as if they are in fact owners of the church, the church is in trouble. And it is the "little ones" who suffer for it. I have seen this happen on a small scale in an individual parish, and of course here in our example of the temple it is on a large scale. The lessons of the Gospel are not just teachings about the temple, but in fact warnings to us all if we would be His followers. What do we do for these spiritual gifts? Do we turn them back to the owner? Do we have a sense that we are merely here as stewards and servants -- and even of the awareness of where real authority comes from? When we forget, we stand to lose. And we know the Son will return again. What fruits we have to present to Him?