Jesus replied, "I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things.(Mark 11:29)
Now Jesus is disputing with the high posting religious leaders in Jerusalem temple about authority. Jesus didn’t give a direct answer for the question of “By what authority are you doing these things?” Instead, Jesus would ask one question. If they answered then Jesus would give them answer. There were two reasons in Jesus that Jesus used indirection method.
First, Jesus might know their question was a question for question; furthermore it was a question to corner Jesus into trap. Even in classroom such question is given. Especially this phenomenon is distinguished to the seminary students who are with full of conviction of their faith. In fact they don’t want to know theology but confirm their good faith. For example, “Professor, do you believe the virgin birth of Jesus or not?” Or “Do you believe the Bible as a revelation of God or not?”
Second, Jesus’ authority is secured of its certainty not by the word of man but by the Holy Spirit. In those days the people with religious vested right judged people externally couldn’t understand Jesus’ real authority. According to John’s gospel, when the Pharisees picked hole that Jesus’ witness was false Jesus said, “my other witness is the Father, who sent me” pointing out that they judged by human standards. (John 8:15-18) He said, the one who sent Jesus (Father God) was with his teaching and activities. It's like preaching to deaf ears to explain to the high priests.
Jesus authority was the same with it’s of God. At such level, early Christians confessed that Jesus was sitting on God’s right side. A real authority comes from God only.
Now Jesus is disputing with the high posting religious leaders in Jerusalem temple about authority. Jesus didn’t give a direct answer for the question of “By what authority are you doing these things?” Instead, Jesus would ask one question. If they answered then Jesus would give them answer. There were two reasons in Jesus that Jesus used indirection method.
First, Jesus might know their question was a question for question; furthermore it was a question to corner Jesus into trap. Even in classroom such question is given. Especially this phenomenon is distinguished to the seminary students who are with full of conviction of their faith. In fact they don’t want to know theology but confirm their good faith. For example, “Professor, do you believe the virgin birth of Jesus or not?” Or “Do you believe the Bible as a revelation of God or not?”
Second, Jesus’ authority is secured of its certainty not by the word of man but by the Holy Spirit. In those days the people with religious vested right judged people externally couldn’t understand Jesus’ real authority. According to John’s gospel, when the Pharisees picked hole that Jesus’ witness was false Jesus said, “my other witness is the Father, who sent me” pointing out that they judged by human standards. (John 8:15-18) He said, the one who sent Jesus (Father God) was with his teaching and activities. It's like preaching to deaf ears to explain to the high priests.
Jesus authority was the same with it’s of God. At such level, early Christians confessed that Jesus was sitting on God’s right side. A real authority comes from God only.
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