How Do You Answer Hostile Questions?
Good Morning Friends,
Some political leaders in the face of crisis create more controversy. Jesus approached crisis in a similar way but more elegantly than most politicians. In the incident set forth in today’s scripture Jesus is confronted with a challenge. Jesus had cleansed the Temple and the Sanhedrin was now directly challenging his authority with the hope that he would claim kingship and then Rome could deal with the issue. And if Jesus claimed to be the Messiah then they would denounce this as blasphemy. Instead Jesus was graceful and classy facing the challenges of others. He desired for people to change their way of thinking and so knowing the reality of the situation posed a question in answer to a question. And the question is crafted to speak the truth that comes from God to a group of people that valued prestige and comfort more than truth. They were afraid to face the truth and instead sent Jesus to his death and themselves and their nation into certain misery. How Do You Answer Hostile Questions?
Scripture: When he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” Jesus said to them, “I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?” And they argued with one another, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet.” So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
“What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ He answered, ‘I will not’; but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, ‘I go, sir’; but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.
Matthew 21: 23-32 (NRSV)
Message: Today we explore where the authority of God resides and how this authority is to be manifested in our lives. Today we explore Jesus’ confrontation with religious leaders over His authority and the parable of the two sons, which is a direct challenge to the Pharisees formalism and the Sadducees false devotion to the temple. Together they remind us of the reality that the Church today is a mixture of human and divine authority. You see, human authority can be an outward show and a slave to politics rather than heavenly outcomes. Religious and political leaders have a history of abusing others with heavy burdens. Jesus’ focus though was not on the authority of men, but acts of freedom where heaven rules. So, when it comes to dealing with hostile questions we might well find it wisdom to cooperate with faulty human authority for unity, but ultimately submit to heavenly authority.
Pray we realize that with God what counts is actual righteous conduct. Pray we be awakened to our spiritual need to work for God and progress beyond a formal morality. Pray we not only vow to obey but act. Pray we realize that we only really know those things that we do. Pray we not be slaves to tradition. Pray we believe in the authority of Jesus and that a change of heart, and a moral and intellectual transformation is possible through God’s grace. Pray we believe differently when our strong will confronts God’s rule. Pray though that when we rebel we also repent. Pray our answers convey the truth that honors God.
Blessings,
John Lawson
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