Mark 11:27-33
27 And they came again to Jerusalem. And as he was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to him, 28 and they said to him, “By what authority are you doing these things, or who gave you this authority to do them?” 29 Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. 30 Was the baptism of John from heaven or from man? Answer me.” 31 And they discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 32 But shall we say, ‘From man’?”—they were afraid of the people, for they all held that John really was a prophet. 33 So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
Reflection
The cleansing of the temple (Mark 11:15–17) was a direct challenge to the power of the religious leadership in Israel. In response to Christ’s bold actions, they were eager to destroy him (v. 18) and undermine his authority (v. 28).
The Jewish leaders now demand that Jesus answer for his actions: what gives him the right to do these things (v. 28)? Jesus, however, does not take orders from these men. Instead, he exposes their incompetency by asking a question about the ministry of John the Baptist that they are unwilling and unable to answer (vv. 29–33). The Son of God does not answer to a human court of religious pride, and he refuses to discuss the matter any further (v. 33). Christ’s authority and power were clearly established throughout his public ministry. He was not merely a zealous leader making bold claims. Those with a humble heart of faith will have no trouble seeing that Jesus came in the authority and power of God himself (see 2:5–12).
Galatians 1:11-17
11 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man's gospel. 12 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. 14 And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, 16 was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.
Reflection
Paul insists that the gospel message he proclaims is from God (Gal. 1:11–12). Prior to his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1–7), Paul was zealous for the traditions of Judaism. This enthusiasm drove him to persecute the church, seeking to destroy it (Gal. 1:13). After Jesus revealed himself to Paul (vv. 15–16), Paul understood that the gospel is the fulfillment of Jewish law (4:4–5; Rom. 10:4), and he became a follower of Christ. Jesus commanded him to declare this gospel of grace to the Gentiles (non-Jews), an assignment that God had graciously prepared for Paul even prior to his birth (Gal. 1:15).
Moral zeal is necessary even for the Christian (Titus 2:14), but if our religious devotion is pursued in our own strength or for the sake of personal praise (Gal. 1:14) we will find ourselves deceived and heading for destruction. Paul’s misguided zeal blinded him to his need for Christ. The only thing that disrupted his deadly course was the grace of God (v. 15).
Psalm 115:3
3 Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.
Like the religious leaders, we sometimes do not understand what God is doing in our lives, but that does not mean that he has to answer to us. God has his reasons, and they are always good and wise. Humble yourself before him and submit your unanswered questions to him in faith, trusting that he does all things well.