10/8/10 Fear and Ignorance Mark 11:27-33

The devotions from this blog for the next two weeks will focus on the sharp exchanges between Jesus and the religious leaders in the Temple (at least that's where Mark describes their happening in Mark 11:27- 12:44).

27 They arrived again in Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him. 28 "By what authority are you doing these things?" they asked. "And who gave you authority to do this?"
29 Jesus replied, "I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 30 John's baptism—was it from heaven, or of human origin? Tell me!" 31 They discussed it among themselves and said, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask, 'Then why didn't you believe him?' 32 But if we say, 'Of human origin' . . . ." (They feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet.) 33 So they answered Jesus, "We don't know." Jesus said, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things."

(Jesus teaching in the temple)

Thoughts: 11:18 says that Jesus' enemies "feared him because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching."  11:32 says they feared the people and were afraid to speak against John.  They were afraid of losing their power and their earthly position.  They were blind to see that God was behind Jesus' power and also behind John the Baptist's ministry.  This fear and ignorance worked together.  In contrast to this is the boldness of John and Jesus who were concerned about pleasing God, not human beings.  The fear of God is not ignorant superstition.  But fear of people can lead to blindness and hiding our heads in the sand from the obvious presence and power of God. 

Prayer:  Lord, give me grace to fear you above all others.  Give me the power to be bold for you. 

John Calvin abridged: Here the enemies of Christ do not question his teaching (which they had done many times before), but his calling and commission.  The evidence from the miracles was that Christ was the messiah.  But they insisted that because he did not have their votes he was not authentic.  Christ brings John into this to show they were not worthy of their authority and that they had questioned a holy prophet of God.  Since John had pointed to Jesus as the Lamb of God, it was impossible to ascribe him authority without ascribing authority to Christ.  Jesus elevated John above all other prophets (Lk. 7).  The Pharisees did not care about truth, but abour maintaining their own tyranny.  So all the wicked, though they like to be perceived as pursuing truth, shut the gate of truth when it opposes their wicked desires. 

7/30/10 Mark 11:27-33 A Question of Authority

27 They arrived again in Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him. 28 "By what authority are you doing these things?" they asked. "And who gave you authority to do this?" 29 Jesus replied, "I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 30 John's baptism—was it from heaven, or of human origin? Tell me!" 31 They discussed it among themselves and said, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask, 'Then why didn't you believe him?' 32 But if we say, 'Of human origin' . . . ." (They feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet.) 33 So they answered Jesus, "We don't know." Jesus said, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things."

(Luca fa Presto 1660)

Thoughts: Who has authority to tell us what to do?  Is it those with the guns?  Is it the experts?  Is it that NO one has the right to tell ME what to do?  Lost people- like the Pharisees in this case- have no idea what is of God and what is not- so they have no compass- no true north- no way to tell right from wrong- which means they are lost. One of the problems of the Church today is that we have lost our authority as scripture. There is a watch word out there among some "biblical experts" that we should take the Bible seriously but not literally.  I can understand this somewhat.  When the Bible says the sun sets- it is a descriptive terms.  There is poetry in the Bible that is to be distinguished from commands. We should distinguish between laws that were related to the temple and its ceremonies and our own day.  But, too often the phrase "take the Bible seriously not literally" is a way to rationalize away something we don't want to believe or do.  So, we can pick by our expert leanings which commands we think are relevant to our day and which commands are not.  It is not taking the Bible seriously if we do not do what it commands.

Prayer: Lord, give me a submissive heart to you.  Help me to not only hear you but to listen to you.

John Calvin abridged:  The miracles of Christ testified to his heavenly authority, but the scribes chose to ignore this testimony. They were insisting he did not have true authority because they did not vote him in- as if authority rest solely in them.  This is why Jesus did not answer their question. John had been Christ's herald, yet they had refused to recognize his authority too. The priests did not ask themselves what was true.  So the wicked oppose truth if it goes against their own desires.