Neither will I tell you by what authority I 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 among 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."

 

- Mark 11:27-33 

 

Yesterday we read that the next day (following the events of Palm Sunday, Christ's Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem), when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry.  And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it.  When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.  In response, Jesus said to it, "Let no one eat fruit from you ever again."  And His disciples heard it.  So they came to Jerusalem.  Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves.  And He would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple.  Then He taught, saying to them, "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.' "  And the scribes and the chief priests heard it and sought how they might destroy Him; for they feared Him, because all the people were astonished at His teaching.  When evening had come, He went out of the city.  Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.  And Peter, remembering, said to Him, "Rabbi, look!  The fig tree which You cursed has withered away."  So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God.  For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.  Therefore I say to you, 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.  But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses."

 

  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 among 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."   This important reference to John the Baptist in St. Mark's Gospel tells us something essential to Christ's ministry, and our understanding of its setting.  John the Baptist is considered in the Church to be the greatest prophet.  But John's earthly life and ministry, my study Bible says, remained in the period of the old covenant.  However, we can see from the text how towering a figure John was in his time, so much so that these religious leaders fear the people, for all counted John to have been a prophet indeed.   The question to Jesus, we should understand, comes on the heels of His having cleansed the temple the day before (see yesterday's reading, above), and so it is once again a question as to Christ's authority [to do these things].  Jesus is not a Levitical priest, and so does not have inherited authority.  Therefore, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders approach Him to challenge His authority to cleanse the temple.  My study Bible comments that, as Christ is careful not to reveal Himself to scoffers, He confounds them here with a different question about John, his holiness and the holiness of His baptism.  From where did John's authority come?  My study Bible says that both the elders' question and Christ's question require the same answer -- and would therefore lead a person to confess that Jesus has come from heaven.  By not answering them directly, it adds, Christ teaches us not to answer people who come asking about holy things with a malicious intent.

In what we might term Christ's repartee with the religious leaders in the temple, I am always perhaps as tickled as the pilgrims at the Passover were to listen to this "parry and thrust" rhetoric, which Jesus excels in, especially in these confrontations which take place during Holy Week.  We know that Christ is the Word (Logos), but we also must extend our understanding of that identity to Jesus' amazing way with words and use of language.  His parables are unforgettable and stand the test of time, even two thousand years after they were told.  Christ's language and figures of speech stay with us, both in their simplicity and vivid images they give us that tell us about the kingdom of God.  In the chapter that follows this one, St. Mark will report Jesus' quizzing of the religious leaders, as He taught in the temple:  "How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the Son of David?" followed by the note, "And the common people heard Him gladly" (see Mark 12:35-37).  Today's reading gives us a taste of that which delighted the common people to listen to, as Jesus debates these men.  Let us remind ourselves of the deadly serious nature of such a challenge, as these men are completely dedicated in their desire (and manipulative power) to have Jesus put to death.  But in Jesus' eloquent and effective response, we learn what it is to step lightly and at the same time decisively.  More importantly, Jesus teaches us about how to handle our own challenges when our faith is put to the test, and we're challenged by others to defend it.  We note that Jesus does not directly debate their charges here.  He does not engage them in the same way they seek for Him to be drawn into a defensive argument, and this is important for us to note.  Instead, He goes on the offensive with His own question, which they cannot answer.  Not only are they unprepared to give the answer the question demands, but they are on the spot.  He knows that they cannot be honest before the common people, who both revere John as a holy man and prophet, and listen carefully (and apparently, critically) to their response.  Jesus teaches us how not to sacrifice one iota (a jot) of the truth, while at the same time side-stepping the trap set to reply on the basis given here.  Jesus does not openly defend His authority nor even state His identity as the Christ, but He does make it clear that there is a heavenly authority, understood by the public (and even these men) and that this is the correct answer as to where His own authority comes from.  Jesus teaches us to pay close attention to our words, because they matter, but He will not give up a thing.  The truth He has to bring into the world is too important, and He will give His life for it first.  Let us pay close attention to His priorities, and learn from Him, and remember the price He will pay for the precious truth He brings.