May the mumbling commence!
When pressed for our belief on any given topic, will we avoid all unpleasantness? Or will we embrace the difficulty that goes along with making a stand? Will we refuse to make an unpopular decision? Or will we make a decision that will radically change our lifestyle?
The Jewish spiritual leadership often asked Jesus about authority. Maybe they could not understand Jesus’ use of authority because they were not comfortable with their own authority. Maybe they fully realized that their authority was being eroded even as Jesus’ authority grew among the people.
The religious leaders tried any way they could to defame Jesus. In one episode that is recorded in each of the synoptic gospels, Jesus asked the religious leaders a counter question about John the Baptist – the prophet who prepared the way for Jesus. Read it below from Matthew chapter twenty-one:
Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. "By what authority are you doing these things?" they asked. "And who gave you this authority?"
Jesus replied, "I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. John's baptism – where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or from men?"
They discussed it among themselves and said, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask, 'Then why didn't you believe him?' But if we say, 'From men' – we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet."
So they answered Jesus, "We don't know."
Then he said, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things. (Verses 23-27)
What a quandary! If the elders answer this multiple choice question with “from heaven,” then they knew that Jesus would ask the follow up question, “Why didn’t you believe him?” And that question would beg another question: “Why didn’t you change your way of life?” Change is hard at all times, but change is especially difficult if you perceive yourself as being in authority.
The other answer from this multiple choice question that Jesus asked them was “from men.” This answer would be the path of least resistance, right? Not so fast! As they got to talking through this answer, the elders realized that the people believed John to be a prophet. The elders’ authority was already eroding quickly. Do they really want to say an unpopular thing – even if they believed that it was true?
Their final answer was, “We don’t know.” They left the question blank, so Jesus also left their question blank. The elders did not want to risk a change in their perceived authority. But that change was already taking place – and they sensed it. That’s why they also refused to make an unpopular decision.
They may have intended to be good religious leaders for the Jewish people. They wanted to at least have the appearance of being obedient to the call of God on their lives. But they were hesitant to pay the price of obedience – either for God or for the people. Read the mini parable that follow this passage in Matthew chapter twenty-one:
"What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.'
'I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.
Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing.
He answered, 'I will, sir,' but he did not go.
Which of the two did what his father wanted?"
"The first," they answered.
Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him. (Verses 28-32)
Jesus and God want our obedience not our intentions. You know what is said about good intentions? They pave the way to hell. Let’s embrace the truth about God’s call on our lives through Jesus Christ. Let’s count the costs and pay them with enthusiasm. Let’s not cling to our perceived authority and bow in humble submission to God.
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
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