daily java

Daily Java:

When Jesus returned to the Temple and began teaching, the leading priests and elders came up to him. They demanded, “By what authority are you doing all these things? Who gave you the right?” “I’ll tell you by what authority I do these things if you answer one question,” Jesus replied. “Did John’s authority to baptize come from heaven, or was it merely human?” They talked it over among themselves. “If we say it was from heaven, he will ask us why we didn’t believe John. But if we say it was merely human, we’ll be mobbed because the people believe John was a prophet.” So they finally replied, “We don’t know.” And Jesus responded, “Then I won’t tell you by what authority I do these things.”  (Matthew 21:23-27)

Jesus had shown miracle after miracle. He had given scripture after scripture to show that what he was doing was from God. He had debated and discussed and everything he could possibly do. And still the religious leaders would not believe.

And they came to him yet again demanding to know by what authority Jesus did these things.

But one thing Jesus was not. He was not a patsy, subject to other people’s whims.

He had shown his authority and they had refused to see it. What they wanted was to push him into doing more miracles, or giving some special ultra-secret sign that only they would recognize. The Jewish leaders knew that Jesus had one thing they did not: a powerful presence of God in what he did.

And they wanted it badly. But if they could not have it, they would not let Jesus have it either. They would continue to badger him and push him and hassle him until one day he finally gives up out of frustration.

Of course, Jesus didn’t do this. And that made them madder.

They demanded his authority again. Jesus had gotten tired of all the silliness and asked them a question. Did John have authority from God, yes or no?

They were caught on the horns of a dilemma. If they said yes, Jesus would ask them why they refused to hear it. If they said no, a lot of people would be mad, as John was a very popular guy.

So they took the middle road: we don’t know. That was the answer Jesus expected, and told them in essence that they would not recognize authority if it came up and bit them on the ankle.

And furthermore, it was worthless to discuss it with them, since they were too foolish to recognize the authority of God when it was right in front of them.

There are those who will not recognize God’s authority. They will carp and gripe and tell you that you are not “anointed” (the death phrase for Pentecostal preachers) and plain refuse to listen to you.

But that really means nothing. It is God who gives the authority, not men. Men may ordain you, but that ordination really means little in the great scheme of things. What matters is that your authority comes from God. And when it comes from God, people can not take it away.

On the other hand, that means that people may not recognize it either. They refused to recognize Jesus’ authority, but that didn’t mean he didn’t have any. It just meant that the people who were riding him were foolish.

Sometimes you cannot reason with people. And sometimes you cannot do enough to please them. They have made up their minds and you could raise dead people all around and they would refuse to recognize any authority on you.

All you can do is what Jesus did: just keep on doing what you are supposed to do. And God will bless you.