The Authority of Jesus
Text: Mark 11:27-33
Core Idea: Living under Jesus’ authority is not oppressive – it’s safe and liberating. Then may we live in humble obedience, knowing that He will work all things for the good of His people, and joyfully share the gospel so that others too would live under this life-giving authority.
INTRODUCTION
Good afternoon, Lighthouse. It is good to be with you. We are back in the Gospel of Mark exploring the life of Jesus. But before I read today’s passage, let me remind you of the story so far. The first day of the Passion week, Palm Sunday, began with Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem on a lowly donkey – signifying that though He may not be the King we expected, He undoubtedly is the King we need. He is the humble King who saves us from the power of sin. The second day, Monday, began with Jesus cursing the fruitless fig tree, which was His way of exposing and condemning the sin of hypocrisy of the religious leaders. Then He proceeded to forcefully clean out the temple to show us that He didn’t come to restore the temple but to replace it – to show us that Jesus is the only way for us to enter God’s presence, receive God’s forgiveness, and become God’s children. Now, Jesus’ action and teaching may have amazed the people, but it certainly provoked the religious leaders – listen to Mark 11:18, “The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill Him, for they feared Him, because the whole crowd was amazed at His teaching.” Then with this in mind, please turn your Bibles to Mark 11:27-33 – the third day of the Passion week. Let me read this for us.
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.”
Amen. This is the Word of God for you today.
Picture this with me. Jesus and His disciples arrived in Jerusalem and their presence must have attracted many people – those who were astonished by what Jesus did in the temple the previous day and those who were curious as to what He would do that day. Now, when they realized that Jesus was going back to the temple, they knew something big was about to happen because they had already heard that the religious leaders were furious. And as expected, as Jesus walked into the temple courts, the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders all came out to confront Him. These were the three groups that made up the Sanhedrin – the Jewish ruling body. They exercised both political and religious authority in Israel – and they had the power to arrest and punish criminals except the authority to execute convicts. That was reserved only for the Romans, which is why they handed Jesus over to Pilate, pressuring him to crucify Jesus. Nevertheless, they were powerful people. And they all came out to meet Jesus in the temple courts. I hope you can feel the tension – there was this heaviness in the atmosphere. James Edwards describes it this way: “The temple in Jerusalem, in all its immensity and grandeur, with its commanding view of Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives and its unrivaled historical and theological significance, becomes the inevitable stage for the challenge to Jesus’ authority. The characteristic of Jesus that left the most lasting impression on His followers and caused the greatest offense to His opponents was His authority.”
Now, let me ask you a question: what characteristic of Jesus do you think would’ve left the most lasting impression on His followers and caused the greatest offense to His opponents? What about Jesus left the most lasting impression on you so far? Many of us would say His compassion, His humility, His courage, His teaching, or His miracles. I doubt many would say His authority. But that’s exactly what Mark wants us to see – the centrality of Jesus’ authority. Then what I want us to discover from this passage is why His authority caused the greatest offense to His opponents and why His authority left the most lasting impression on His followers so that it may leave the most lasting impression on our lives as well. And to help us do that, I divided the story into three parts:
· THE CONFRONTATION
· THE DISCUSSION
· THE RESPONSE
1) THE CONFRONTATION (V. 28-30)
Take a look at verse 28. The religious leaders asked, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You authority to do this?” These things appear to be a reference to what went down on the previous day in the temple when Jesus drove out those who were buying and selling things, overturned the tables of the money changers, and prevented people from casually walking in and out of the temple for their convenience. Then they were essentially saying, “What right do You have to do this and disturb the house of the Lord? Who do You think You are? You’re a nobody. How dare You do such things?” These religious leaders viewed themselves as authorized by God to rule over the temple, which meant that Jesus’ action was a direct attack against them. What made them even more furious was the fact that the people were amazed by what Jesus did and they became anxious at the possibility of losing control over people to this young rabbi with no religious credentials. Now, in one sense, their inquiry was legit given their role and responsibilities except for the fact that they weren’t really curious. They weren’t motivated by a willingness to know who Jesus really was and where His authority came from – they intended to trap Him, discredit Him, and ultimately kill Him. There was hostility and suspicion in their hearts. Think about it: what was Jesus supposed to say in response to their question? If He admits that He has no religious credentials and that He’s acting on His own authority, He’ll probably lose the respect of the people and possibly get kicked out of the city. On the other hand, if He claims divine authority, they’ll just charge Him with blasphemy which was punishable by stoning. Then what would Jesus do with this weaponized question?
Verse 29. His reply was simply brilliant, “I will ask you one question. Answer Me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. John’s baptism – was it from heaven, or of human origin? Tell Me!” Now, some of you may be thinking, “How is this brilliant? Why did Jesus bring John the Baptist into the conversation? That seems incredibly random and unrelated. What does he have to do with Jesus’ authority?” But notice that the religious leaders didn’t say, “Don’t change the subject! What does he have to do with Your authority? Answer us!” It seems like they knew exactly why Jesus was asking this – so, they huddled up to come up with an answer in verse 31. What’s going on here? Let me explain. It’s important to remember that Jesus and John the Baptist were closely linked together in the Gospel of Mark. John prepared the way for Jesus (Mk. 1:2-8) and John baptized Jesus – signaling the beginning of His ministry (Mk. 1:9-11). Just like John, Jesus preached a message of repentance. And just like John, Jesus would die as an innocent man – humiliated and alone. In other words, John’s life and death foreshadowed Jesus’ life and death. John was the forerunner preparing the way for Jesus. And this would’ve been well-known to the people. Then the reason why Jesus brought up John’s baptism was because Jesus’ authority was, in part, tied with John’s authority. If John ministered with divine authority, how much more would be the One that John pointed to? Validating John’s authority to be divine would be to affirm Jesus’ authority to be divine as well.
But there’s another important reason why Jesus brought up John’s baptism. Because in one sense, everything one needs to know about Jesus’ authority happened at His baptism. Listen to Mark 1:9-11, “At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, He saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on Him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are My Son, whom I love; with You I am well pleased.’” By mentioning John’s baptism, Jesus was basically saying, “If you’re asking Me about My authority, ask people what happened at My baptism. They’ll tell you exactly what happened – they’ll confidently tell you that My authority comes from God the Father.” When Jesus answered their question with a question, He wasn’t being evasive – it wasn’t to distract them. Jesus was giving them a clear answer to show them who He really was. He wanted them to know that He wasn’t just a good teacher – a leader to this small band of brothers. He wasn’t just another prophet of God. No, He was the Son of God, the Promised Messiah, the Savior King, who came to save them from the power of sin and death – and that He truly had the authority to rule over them, that He was worthy of their submission.
Then what does this mean for us? I think just as Jesus was inviting the religious leaders to see who He really was, Mark is saying to us again, “Do you clearly see who Jesus really is? Because if you did, you would gladly submit to His authority.” Think with me: if we see Him only as a good teacher, we may take His teaching as good advice – take it to better our lives but ignore it when it’s inconvenient or if it goes against our ambition and desires. If we see Him only as a model to imitate (an example of how we should live), we’ll try our best to emulate Him, only to be crushed because living like Jesus on our own is utterly impossible. If we see Him only as a friend, we’ll never learn to be in awe of Him – we’ll never learn to live under His authority. But if we truly see Him as the Son of God, the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, the Holy One, the Savior and Lord of our souls, how can we not submit to His ways? How can we not offer ourselves to Him? Then let me ask you: Do you truly believe that He is the King and Lord over your life? More importantly, is your belief transforming every aspect of your life, or is He functionally more of a good teacher, a model, or a friend? Is your understanding of Jesus’ identity causing you to be in awe and amazement? Is it leading you to humble obedience? Is it bringing comfort to your hearts?
Pastor David Platt said, “Many Christians, in the midst of a world of pain and suffering, live in fear and anxiety and worry, wondering what will happen in this or that situation. This tendency to fear is why we must remember the authority of Jesus. Sometimes we lack even the faith of demons, for the demons have fear because of their belief. They know who Jesus is, and they are scared out of their minds. But we are just the opposite: we often have fear because of our unbelief. If we realized what the demons realize, we would know that we have no reason to fear.” Knowing Jesus’ identity and living under His authority should produce in us this peace that the world cannot take away. Our security isn’t based on how big our house is, how good our job is, or how stable our economy is; we’re secure because we’re in the hands of the One who has all the authority in the world, and He will never let us go.
Then before we move to our next point, what does it mean to live under His authority? Aldous Huxley, who is famous for his work, Brave New World, once honestly said, “I objected to the morality imposed by God because it interfered with my sexual freedom.” In other words, what drove him to atheism was a desire for emotional liberation in the area of his sex life. He didn’t want God to exercise His authority over him – he didn’t want God to interfere with his desires. Is this what living under Jesus’ authority means – God constantly interfering with our lives? In one sense, it’s true that we’re surrendering ourselves to His lordship over us, which means that He should impact how we live. He should transform our relationships with others. He should transform the way we work and study. He should transform the way we think of money and time. But one thing we must remember is that His commands are expressions of His love and wisdom for our lives. It’s not meant to be oppressive; it’s not meant to restrict us; it’s not meant to rob us of our joy – no, it’s for our good. He wants to give us life and life to the full through our obedience (Jn. 10:10). This is why we can humbly and joyfully surrender and entrust ourselves to Him.
But I want to share another side of what it means to live under His authority. Do you realize that not only His commands, but His promises are also expressions of His authority and His grace over our lives? Let me explain. Have you been doubting His love for you today? Because of your circumstances, are you questioning if God has forgotten you, forsaken you, abandoned you? Do you need assurance of His love for you today? If this is you, He would say with all authority, “My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of My hand” (Jn. 10:27-28). That is His authoritative Word to you today. Receive it. And in all circumstances, live under this authoritative promise – being confident of the fact that you will never perish, and no one will ever snatch you out of His hands. Here’s another one: are you needing fresh assurance in the midst of painful and perplexing suffering? Are you wondering if God is truly in control over all things? If so, He would say to you with all authority, “The God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast” (1 Pet. 5:10). The One with all authority would say to you, “In all things God works for the good of those who love Him” (Rom. 8:28). Brothers and sisters, submit to His authority and receive peace, strength, and hope in your suffering. Do you feel like giving up because the weight of life feels utterly unbearable? Are you discouraged because you find yourself disappointing God all the time – falling into the same sin over and over again? Are you questioning if you would persevere to the end? If so, the One with all authority in heaven and on earth would say to you, “[He] is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy” (Jude 1:24). He will say to you with all authority, “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 1:6). Believe that He will graciously carry you to completion – He will keep you. Receive His encouragement as you live under His authority. I can go on and on with examples, but this is just a glimpse of what it means to live under His authority. We can have peace, joy, and hope in all circumstances. I pray that we would joyfully submit ourselves to His authority today. Jesus is worthy of our lives.
2) THE DISCUSSION (V. 31-33a)
How did the religious leaders respond to Jesus’ question? Verse 31, “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, “Of human origin” …’ (They feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet.) So they answered Jesus, ‘We don’t know.’” This confrontation began as an attempt to trap Jesus, but they unexpectedly found themselves cornered. They attempted to discredit Jesus by questioning His authority but now they were in danger of publicly discrediting themselves. So, they huddled up and considered their options. If they acknowledge that John was divinely authorized, they’ll need to acknowledge that Jesus’ authority came from God as well – and they needed to submit to Him. Sadly, that wasn’t an option for them. But the other option didn’t look so favorable as well. If they say John’s baptism was of human origin, they’ll be rejected by the people because people held John in very high esteem. In Luke’s parallel account of this event, the religious leaders said to one another, “But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ all the people will stone us, because they are persuaded that John was a prophet” (Lk. 20:6). Can you sense the pressure that these religious leaders must have felt? They were scared of what the crowd could do. So, instead of thinking out the implications of Jesus’ question, in their fear, they said, “We don’t know.” That was a pathetic answer, a cowardly answer. This revealed that they weren’t interested in truths. They weren’t genuinely seeking an answer. They were closed-minded and unwilling to engage honestly. And when push came to shove, they had only one interest: self-interest. They wanted to preserve their position; they wanted to protect their pride; they wanted to keep the praises of men. So, they chose to remain in the dark – think about that. Not only was this a humiliating moment for them, but they also lost an opportunity to see Jesus for who He really was.
Then I want to take this time to speak to our non-believing friends here. What’s keeping you from coming to Jesus? What’s holding you back from surrendering your life and following Jesus? Is it because you feel like there isn’t enough evidence? Is it because you still have a lot of questions that aren’t answered? Or is it possible that you’re hesitant to come to Jesus because of the same things that these religious leaders struggled with – namely, pride and fear of men? Let’s think about them one by one. First, pride. The religious leaders couldn’t admit that Jesus’ authority was divine because it meant that they needed to submit to Him. They weren’t ready to do that because they wanted to keep control over their lives. They wanted to call the shots – “who is this man to tell me how to live my life?” Pastor C.J. Mahaney defines pride this way: “Pride is when sinful human beings aspire to the status and position of God and refuse to acknowledge their dependence upon Him.” Pride gives people this false illusion that they don’t need God. Friends, does this describe you today? At the heart of it, you believe that you don’t really need God – “My life seems fine without Him. I could see all the benefits but I’m not that desperate right now. No need to rush – I’ll consider it more later.” Psalm 10:4 says, “In his pride the wicked man does not seek Him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.” Pride is a killer of your soul because it never leaves room for God in your heart – it will fill you with other things to keep your eyes off of God. Don’t let pride consume you because it will keep your hearts hardened against Jesus. Come honestly to God with all your questions. You don’t have to figure everything out before you surrender – you just need to see that Jesus died for your sins. I pray that your eyes will be opened to see this truth.
Second, fear of men. The religious leaders couldn’t say that Jesus had no authority because they were afraid of what the people would do to them. The fear of men hindered their movement toward Jesus. Their fear of what others would think paralyzed them. Friends, is this the reason why you’re hesitant to give your life to Jesus? You’re unsure of what your family and friends would say, how your co-workers would think of you, how you would be perceived by the people around you. If this is you, listen to what Proverbs 29:25 says, “Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.” It is safe in God’s presence – living for people’s approval will ultimately lead you to death. If this is what you’re struggling with, I pray that He will help you overcome this – to be courageous. Friends, I pray that nothing will keep you from coming to Jesus because I truly believe that everything you’re looking for is found in Christ alone.
Now, there’s something for Christians too. Your response to Jesus’ authority can be a good spiritual diagnosis – an indicator of where your heart is with God. Then ask yourself, “Am I living in joyful, humble obedience to His Word, or do I find myself always questioning it before reluctantly submitting to it? Is it possible that I’m hesitant to obey because of my pride (because I still want certain things my way) or because of fear of men (because of this need for approval, acceptance, and recognition)?” Then take some time to evaluate every aspect of your life and see where you might need to more intentionally submit your life to His authority. Maybe it’s your marriage, parenting, the way we relate to others, the way we’re dealing with suffering, the way we use our money and time, the way we use our phones. I pray that all of us will humbly and courageously obey – Jesus is our King and Lord.
3) THE RESPONSE (V. 33b)
Listen to Jesus’ response in verse 33, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.” What stood out to me the most from this verse was the fact that Jesus chose to leave them in the dark. Not only were they choosing to remain in the dark, but Jesus chose to leave them in the dark as well. Jesus could’ve exposed them by saying, “Stop lying! I know you know! You’re just too scared to say it.” But Jesus simply chose not to answer their question and reveal His identity. He knew that nothing He say would change their minds. They were committed to seeing Jesus destroyed. They didn’t want to hear the truth – so Jesus left them in their ignorance. Jesus didn’t fight for them.
Then here’s what Mark wants us to see: if you won’t commit yourself to Jesus, He won’t be committed to you. Friends, if you haven’t given yourself to Christ, let today be the day. Don’t delay. Let His authority compel you to turn from your rebellious ways and cry out for mercy. I pray that He will turn your heart of stone into a heart of flesh so that you’ll see that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Promised Messiah, the Savior King – that it is liberating and satisfying to live under His authority. John 13:1 says, “Jesus knew that the hour had come for Him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.” You are loved by Jesus. This unstoppable, unconditional, sacrificial love is for you. I pray that you’ll experience it today. Commit yourself to Jesus and He will commit Himself to you forever.
Christians, let us give thanks to God knowing that He didn’t leave us in the dark. We’re not saved because we’re wiser, stronger, or we made better choices, or we were more open-minded. We’re saved only because He has opened our eyes to see His beauty and recognize His authority so that we would humbly respond in worship and adoration. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For it is by grace [we] have been saved, through faith – and this is not from [ourselves], it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” Knowing this, we should continue to pray for our non-believing family and friends around us – that He would be merciful and gracious to them as well. So, think about someone around you who may be open to Christianity but for whatever reason hesitant. We should plead with them. We should ask questions not to shame them but to help them. We must speak the truth in order to illuminate their minds so that they may experience the fullness of His love in their hearts. I pray that Christ’s love for us would compel us to move out and shine the light of Christ where it’s needed.
CONCLUSION
Lighthouse family, living under Jesus’ authority is not oppressive – it’s safe and liberating. Then I pray that nothing will keep us from submitting ourselves to Him. May we live in humble obedience knowing that He will work all things for the good of His people – and may we joyfully share the gospel so that others too would be invited to live under this life-giving authority.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1) What does it mean to live under Jesus’ authority? What makes it difficult for you to joyfully live under His authority?
2) How do pride and fear of men impact our relationship with God?
3) As a group, pray for non-believing family or friends in your life – that God will turn their hearts of stone into hearts of flesh (Eze. 36:26).