BY STEVE DUNN
Have you ever heard the expression, "He's in a battle of wits with an unarmed man"? It's Tuesday and Jesus is right back to the Temple. The first day it was for a demonstration of passion for God. Today it's about challenging the so-called Teachers of the Law. Like a Clint Eastwood western, Jesus strides into the Temple and various groups-Pharisees, religious seekers, Scribes, Sadducees--all come at him one at a time like so many spiritual gunslingers. One after another he sends them packing, stung by his answers.
Smarting from the previous day's demonstration and Jesus' obvious support from the people, the Pharisees take their first shot as soon as they see him. "By what authority do you do this and who gave you that authority?" They want Jesus to justify himself, hoping they can regain the upper hand.
But wisdom-wise they are unarmed men in the presence of the Christ. "Before I answer your question, answer one of mine. Was John's prophetic message and baptism from heaven or from men?"
His opponents now have a problem. The people clearly believed John was a prophet and many had turned to God because of him. If they acknowledge John was from heaven, then he's going to say "Why didn't you believe him?"
They're the keepers of heaven, so they think. how will it look if they appear disobedient to God. So their answer, "We don't know."
Jesus' response is basically "I won't bother to answer you because you wouldn't recognize heaven if you saw it."
Are you questioning God's authority or when you see Him working do you rush to His side?
(C) 2010 by Stephen L Dunn
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