Mark 11:27-30

Passage

Once more Jesus and His disciples get to Jerusalem.  Once more, the place to which Jesus goes is the temple.  The chief priests and the scribes approach Him and ask Him by what authority He does the things that He does.  They want to know who gave Him the authority that He has.  In turn, Jesus asks them a question.  Jesus promises to answer their question if they will answer His.  Jesus asks them to explain whether or not the baptism of John was from heaven or from man.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Once more, Jesus goes to the temple.  Again we see Jesus’ sole focus on communing in the Father’s house.  For Jesus, time in Jerusalem equates to time with the Father.  However, Jesus also knows that the showdown with the chief priests and the scribes has to happen because He has been sent on a mission to die in Jerusalem.  So while He absolutely does go to the temple to commune with the Father, He also goes there because He knows it is where the will of the Father will be accomplished.  For Jesus, life is about being with God and doing the will of God.

Why does that last sentence seem like such a no brainer?  Do you think that if that focus was good enough for Jesus that it should be good enough for His disciples?  How are you doing attaining that focus?

Second Thought:

The chief priests and the Jewish leaders come to Jesus.  Remember, just the prior day Jesus had totally and completely disrupted the flow of the temple by driving out the moneychangers and upsetting their tables.  Who knows what Jesus had in store for this day.  However, the chief priests seem prepared for Him this day.  They are proactive against Him.  They bring the fight to Him.

Have you ever been in a situation where people have tried to cut out the work God has asked you to do?  Why do people get proactive about asserting their will over your will?  Why do people get proactive about figuring out ways to resist listening to what God is trying to say in their midst?

Third Thought:

Jesus is open to answering their question, but before He does it He wants the chief priests to declare their position.  Jesus wants them to have to take a particular position.  The chief priests wanted to trap Jesus by giving Him a catch-22.  In turn, Jesus preempts their attack by giving them a catch-22 of their own.

What tactics is Jesus using against these proactive religious leaders?  Do you think Jesus is being at all deceptive in this passage?  Is there a right time and place to “play hardball?”

Passage for Tomorrow: Mark 11:31-33