Where does Authority Come From?

April 20, 2018

Mark 11:27-33

The word authority is still in the English language, it’s the right to command or hold power.  It can be earned, or it may be power given to somebody, and yet in the United States of America it is being challenged in every area of our society.  For a nation to function it must have order and laws and people who will abide by the authority put over them.

How does Jesus’ time at the temple where they are under Roman law and control compare to what is coming clear is taking place in the United States of America?  At the time of Jesus, the high priest were masters of politics, they worked out a deal with the Roman authorities to keep order and control the people if the Romans would honor the temple rules.  But it becomes clear that Rome is doing this to maintain law and to not have a large number of soldiers to keep order.  Anyone who seemed to be a threat was dealt with so that the priest could keep Rome happy.  All Rabbi’s were welcome unless they did not hold to the party line, or if they were taught to follow God’s commandments and not man’s.

So the high priest and the rulers of the Jews stay in power by playing nice with the Romans, we in the USA have a republic form of government, and not an actual democracy.  And we also have an elective form of government with two major parties, and by a vote of the states, we elect our President and Vice President.  To have a republic form of government it often requires the transfer of powers, but what we have found to be accurate, as of late is we have a third group behind the scene undermining our elective form of government. 

So let us deal with, was Jesus trying to undermine the Roman control?  I believe the answer is an obvious, no.  And this became clear when He both paid His taxes and told the Pharisees who were trying to get Him in big trouble with the Romans by asking this question found in Mark 12:14.  Look at how they work to play Jesus in asking this question.  “When they came, they said to Him, "Teacher, we know You are truthful and defer to no one, for You don't show partiality but teach truthfully the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”  Jesus replied, ^“But, knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why put me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” ¹⁶ And they brought one. And he said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar's.” ¹⁷ Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” And they marveled at him.”

Now it is clear the Romans were not upset at Jesus’ response, but the crowd at the inner circle of the high priest office, were agitated.

So Jesus has just messed up a cash cow for the priest by driving out the moneychangers and the sellers of animals but that is not the thing that got them upset.  It was this statement; “Is it not written, My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations?  But you have made it a den of thieves.”  The deeds of the high priest and the group in control were exposed to the light and when that happens, then or now we see the other side coming out challenging authority.  It happened then, and it is happening now; listen to what they wanted to know from Jesus.  “And as he was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to him, ²⁸ and they said to him, “By what authority are you doing these things, or who gave you this authority to do them?” ²⁹ Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. ³⁰ Was the baptism of John from heaven or from man? Answer me.” ³¹ And they discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ ³² But shall we say, ‘From man’?”—they were afraid of the people, for they all held that John really was a prophet. ³³ So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.” 

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice