BROADCASTS.com

One day as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courts and proclaiming the good news, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, together with the elders, came up to him. \u201cTell us by what authority you are doing these things,\u201d they said. \u201cWho gave you this authority?\u201d He replied, \u201cI will also ask you a question. Tell me: John\u2019s baptism\u2014was it from heaven, or of human origin?\u201d They discussed it among themselves and said, \u201cIf we say, \u2018From heaven,\u2019 he will ask, \u2018Why didn\u2019t you believe him?\u2019 But if we say, \u2018Of human origin,\u2019 all the people will stone us, because they are persuaded that John was a prophet.\u201d so they answered, \u201cWe don\u2019t know where it was from.\u201d Jesus said, \u201cNeither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things\u201d (Luke 20:1-8).

John the Baptist has faded from our memories, but his role in Jesus\u2019 ministry remains important. When Jesus threw the traders out of the Temple, he was acting like someone who thinks he\u2019s in charge. His actions challenged the current authority structure which had the chief priests at the top, with the High Priest himself as the most senior figure.

Who does Jesus think he is, without their endorsement, throwing his weight about? They, that is, the chief priests, teaches of the law and elders, that is, the recognized authorities, decide to ask. There is heat behind their question, \u201cWho gave you this authority?\u201d Jesus had entered their space and with his actions claimed to have authority over them! They are not impressed!

Jesus replies with his own question. At first glance, it appears to come out of left field. Their whispered debate among themselves suggests they think it\u2019s a trick question. Jesus obviously wants to make them look foolish in the eyes of the people. Its not this at all.

Recall, that \u201cWho is Jesus?\u201d has been the central question of Luke\u2019s gospel. Jesus is no longer hiding the truth. Because he is the royal Messiah sent from God, he has authority over the Temple. This was already conferred on him publicly when John baptized him, with the descent of the dove and the voice from heaven.

Therefore, if John was a true prophet, then Jesus is indeed the true Messiah, with authority over the Temple. If John was not a true prophet \u2013 if he was simply a dangerous dreamer, leading people astray \u2013 then Jesus, too, is out of line. Jesus is forcing the authorities to declare themselves.

The high priest may make the loudest noise in Jerusalem, with his henchmen and his court, his access to the Roman governor, and the prestige that comes with his ceremonial and political role. But Jesus is challenging the old regime and introducing the new. It\u2019s time to decide.

From now on \u2013 even as he hangs on the cross that marked Caesar\u2019s rule, mocked by the same chief priests! \u2013 Jesus will exercise that authority, the powerful authority of saving and healing love, until all acknowledge it. He humbled himself, thus God lifted him up and gave him the name above all names. The chief priest and his entourage may question Jesus\u2019 authority, but soon every knee should bow, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord\u201d (Philippians 2:10-11).

Christians acknowledge this and we profess that he is sovereign over our lives, our thoughts, and actions. We seek to live under that authority. But we often fail. In truth, we often do not want to live under his authority, mostly because it challenges our own authority. Our professions and our actions do not line up. We lack integrity.

Preaching the arrival of God\u2019s promise and cleansing the temple are acts that either are sanctioned by God or are wrong. Jesus is not just a good man here. The kind of benign respect our culture pays him is not a possible category that the Bible allows us. He does not allow fence-sitting. He should either be embraced as Saviour and Lord or opposed.

And if he is Lord, then those who believe that, need to do what he says. Lent is often a time in which Christians fast in one way or another. Fasting is good. But let me encourage you to engage in something that is distinctly Christian. How will Christ\u2019s Lordship impact you this season?