Mark 11:27-33 (CLICK HERE FOR BIBLE VERSES)
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is Mark 11:27-33. With an open mind and a humble heart, read this passage and see what sticks out to you in this passage. Is there a verse, a phrase, or a lesson you think the Holy Spirit may be highlighting for you in this passage? After you’ve thought about the passage yourself a bit, read the GAME sharing below. Let’s go!
Mark 11:27-33 (NIV)
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 from men? 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, ‘From men’….” (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.”
On verses 27-33: At one time Jesus’ critics claimed that it was by the prince of demons that Jesus drove out demons, basically attributing Jesus’ power to Satan. But Jesus put that argument to rest (Mark 3:22-30). Still, Jesus’ critics couldn’t figure out where Jesus’ power came from and they were also unwilling to acknowledge that God was behind Jesus’ ministry. So they ask Jesus, “Who gave you the authority to do what you’re doing?” (v28)
Was Jesus avoiding their question by asking another question (v29)? No. Jesus’ response is in fact brilliant. Jesus brings up the late John the Baptist and asks his critics whether John’s baptism – that is, John’s ministry – was from God or merely a human thing.
Why bring up John the Baptist? It’s because Jesus’ ministry was built on John the Baptist’s ministry. Jesus knew that how his critics looked at John the Baptist would be the same way they look at Jesus.
Jesus knew that his critics’ opinion about Jesus would be swayed more by their own pride, fear and unbelief than any evidence or argument that someone presented them. It’s as if Jesus is saying to his critics, “If you can’t understand whether or not John the Baptist’s ministry was from God, then you won’t understand my ministry either and there’s no point in us talking about this further.”
There’s another layer to Jesus’ response: Jesus reasoned that there was no point trying to answer his critics when they had already made up their mind not to believe anyway. It’s as if Jesus is saying, “Why bother talking to you guys about this if you’re not going to believe regardless of what I say?”
What can we learn from this?
– You’re not going to figure out Jesus by simply giving human explanations. If you do, you’re missing the point of Jesus’ ministry.
– Sometimes our hearts can be so hard that we don’t recognize God even when He is right in front of us.
– There is a big difference between having sincere, honest questions and asking questions because of unbelief and pride. Sometimes people will ask questions not because they are honestly searching for an answer, but as a smoke screen, a defensive mechanism, as a way to put up obstacles to avoid having to reach a conclusion. Their questions might sound intellectual, but in fact they’ve already made up their mind. God welcomes our honest questions, but unbelief tests God’s patience. Humility fuels honest questions. Pride fuels unbelief.
Jesus, I pray that I would not be blinded by pride and unbelief. I pray that I would always be curious, ask honest questions and have the humility to look at the evidence before making a conclusion. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
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