Monday 9 May, 2016

20 One day Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courtyard. He was announcing the good news to them. The chief priests and the teachers of the law came up to him. The elders came with them. 2 “Tell us by what authority you are doing these things,” they all said. “Who gave you this authority?” 3 Jesus replied, “I will also ask you a question. Tell me, 4 was John’s baptism from heaven? Or did it come from people?” 5 They talked to one another about it. They said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Why didn’t you believe him?’ 6 But if we say, ‘From people,’ all the people will throw stones at us and kill us. They believe that John was a prophet.” 7 So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know where John’s baptism came from.” 8 Jesus said, “Then I won’t tell you by what authority I am doing these things either.”

In this passage the people of religious authority, those most threatened by Jesus’ influence, question Jesus and seek to undermine Him. These people are clearly in opposition to Jesus and outweigh Him in terms of numbers (priests, scribes and elders). Jesus is not threatened or defensive, He simply answers their question with another question. He diffuses the situation with words too wise and timely to be of human origin.

How encouraging and awe-inspiring this brief passage is. Jesus cannot be tricked or manipulated and there is no situation too sticky for the wisdom of God. God’s wisdom is beautiful in its simplicity. I take heart that my God cannot ever be outwitted or thwarted by human or supernatural agents. I take heart that the same God who made His own way out of this situation, will help me and provide me with the wisdom I need.

God, please help me to trust your wisdom and call upon it whenever and wherever I am in need. May the beauty of your wisdom be on display in my life. Amen.

Written by Beth Waugh