Scripture

“Did John’s authority to baptise come from heaven, or was it merely human?”

Observation

Jesus returns to the Temple, and the priests and elders demand to know by what authority He is teaching and performing miracles. Jesus replies with another question: Did John’s authority come from heaven or from men? The leaders are unable to answer this question because they are afraid of people’s reactions.

Jesus then tells a parable about two sons. Their father asks them to go and work in his vineyard. One son says, “Yes” but doesn’t go out, but the other son says “No” but later changes his mind to go out anyway.

Jesus goes on to say that the tax collectors and prostitutes will go into the kingdom of heaven ahead of the religious leaders, because they repented but the leaders refused to do so .

Application

Religious people can get hung up about who can do what in the church. Can women preach? Can lay people lead the sacraments?

We need a certain amount of order in any human organisation, even the church. but that is human authority not heavenly authority.

The Jewish leaders were obsessed with which rabbi Jesus learnt his teachings from. They could not, or would not, see that his authority was not like the rabbis but from the Father.

He has been given all authority in heaven and on earth. He passes that authority onto us, the church.

Specifically, Jesus authorises ass to go and make disciples of the nations, to teach them what He has shown us, and to baptise. He has authorised us to heal the sick and cast out demons, as well as preaching the good news.

As believers, we need to claim that authority that Christ has given us and to use it daily for the glory of our Father.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank you for the authority that comes from heaven to me. Please help me to understand this and to use it. Amen.