Knowing The Word in Luke 20:1-8, The Authority of Jesus Challenged

You have probably watched an investigative report when the reporter attempts to ask a person a “gotcha” question. This is such an occasion by an official inquiry of the Sanhedrin, probably in response to Jesus’ cleansing of the temple days before. Refusing to answer their question, Jesus turns the subject to John. What had John done that would make a difference in answering their question? He had been extremely popular with the people in his baptism movement three years before. These investigators are not concerned with the facts but with appearances and the consequences of appearance. They have never accepted John’s baptism, so they cannot possibly say now that it came from heaven. Jesus has backed them into a corner. Jesus knows he has authority. He will not answer to men who cannot even answer a simple question with honesty.

Luke 20:1-8

1 One day, as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes with the elders came up 2 and said to him, “Tell us by what authority you do these things, or who it is that gave you this authority.” 3 He answered them, “I also will ask you a question. Now tell me, 4 was the baptism of John from heaven or from man?” 5 And they discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’ 6 But if we say, ‘From man,’ all the people will stone us to death, for they are convinced that John was a prophet.” 7 So they answered that they did not know where it came from. 8 And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

Prayer:

Christ our desire,

only embodiment of God,

bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh,

foolishness of God, greater than human wisdom,

poverty of God, stronger than human pride,

emptiness of God, full of our redemption,

bearing away the sin of the world,

have mercy upon us.

Beloved one, bearing away the sin of the world,

receive our prayer.

For you alone are holy,

you alone our desire.

You alone, O Christ,

with the comforter of fire,

are radiant with the grace and glory of God most high.

Janet Morley