A question turned around

Luke 20:1-8

¹ One day as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courts and proclaiming the good news, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, together with the elders, came up to him. ² “Tell us by what authority you are doing these things,” they said. “Who gave you this authority?”

³ He replied, “I will also ask you a question. Tell me: ⁴ John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or of human origin?”

⁵ They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Why didn’t you believe him?’ ⁶ But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ all the people will stone us, because they are persuaded that John was a prophet.”

⁷ So they answered, “We don’t know where it was from.”

⁸ Jesus said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”

Jesus is teaching. He is questioned by the ‘Religious’ leaders of the day.  Where did he get the authority to do these things (probably referring to cleansing the temple in previous paragraph). Jesus turns it around and catches the leaders in their own question.  The leaders completely avoid giving a real answer to Jesus.

I read this story and am convicted.  I judge these guys for only being worried about their own skin and positions – how they will look before others.  But how often do I give an answer that is not an answer to avoid exposing my heart, my sin, avoid telling what I think or feel because it would expose my beliefs, my faith, my heart as it is ‘safer’ for me to remain hidden.

Sadly, I am now thinking I might be too much like these guys!

Father, I am sorry for all the times that I too have avoided questions about my beliefs and faith and ask for courage to answer the questions asked of me.

Written by Suzie Hodgson