Key Passage
Jesus answered, “I will ask you a question. You answer my question. Then I will tell you whose authority I use to do these things. Tell me: When John baptized people, did that come from God or was it only from other people? Answer me!”
— Mark 11:29-30 ERV (Read Full Text)
Key Thought
Jesus didn’t try to defend his authority. It would be amply demonstrated. In fact, he had already demonstrated it throughout his ministry by casting out demons, healing diseases, and speaking with the power and wisdom of God himself. If his opponents refused to believe, there was nothing he could do or say to change that … except maybe die and be raised again. But, he still didn’t back down at their petty little displays of their token authority. Rather than argue with them about authority, he challenged them back with a question that would stump them. His question demonstrated what they refused to believe. Jesus knew authority. Jesus spoke with authority. Jesus was authority, so he asked them to answer him. They couldn’t. They were left with only the bitterest of plans … they must kill him! Even then, as we know today, they didn’t have the authority or power to pull off their mission! Praise God; Jesus is the one authority over us all!
Prayer
Father, I cannot tell you how comforting it is to know that the one to whom you have given authority over my life is also the one who died to save it. Thank you for grace. Thank you for Jesus. Thank you for placing all authority in him. In Jesus’ name, and to his glory as Lord, I offer this prayer. Amen.
Related Scriptures
Jesus went to the city of Capernaum. When Jesus entered the city, an army officer came to him and begged for help. The officer said, “Lord, my servant is very sick at home in bed. He can’t move his body and has much pain.” Jesus said to the officer, “I will go and heal him.” The officer answered, “Lord, I am not good enough for you to come into my house. All you need to do is command that my servant be healed, and he will be healed. I myself am a man under the authority (power) of other men. And I have soldiers under my authority. I tell one soldier, ‘Go,’ and he goes. I tell another soldier, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and my servant obeys me. {I know that you also have power like this.}” When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Jesus said to those people that were with him, “I tell you the truth. This man has more faith than any person I have found, even in Israel. Then Jesus said to the officer, “Go home. Your servant will be healed the way you believed he would.” And at that same time his servant was healed.
— Matthew 8:5-10, 13
Jesus has the power of God. And his power has given us everything we need to live and to serve God. We have these things because we know him. Jesus called us by his glory and goodness. Through his glory and goodness, Jesus gave us the very great and rich gifts that he promised us. With those gifts you can share in being like God. And so the world will not ruin you with the evil things it wants.
— 2 Peter 1:3-4
And they all sang a new song {to the Lamb}: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were killed; and with your blood (death) you bought people for God from every tribe, language, race of people, and nation. You made these people to be a kingdom, and you made these people to be priests for our God. And they will rule on the earth.” Then I looked, and I heard the voices of many angels. The angels were around the throne, the {four} living things, and the elders. There were thousands and thousands of angels—there were 10,000 times 10,000. The angels said with a loud voice: “{All} power, wealth, wisdom and strength belong to the Lamb (Jesus) that was killed. He is worthy to receive honor, glory, and praise!” Then I heard every living thing that is in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. I heard every thing in all these places. I heard them all saying: “All praise and honor and glory and power forever and ever to the One that sits on the throne and to the Lamb!” The four living things said, “Amen !” And the elders bowed down and worshiped.
— Revelation 5:9-14
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