By What Authority - Mark 11:28

Mark wrote how Jesus and His disciples, “come again to Jerusalem: and as he was walking in the temple, there come to him the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders”, and in chapter eleven and verse twenty-eight of his book, Mark shared how the religious leaders asked Jesus, “by what authority do you these things?” come to Jesus again where we read:

And say unto him, By what authority do you these things?

and who gave you this authority to do these things?

The verse reads, “And say unto him, By what authority do you these things?” Mark began with the words, “and say unto him” which means “and uttered, declared, proclaimed and asked Jesus” “by what authority” or “by whose power, permission, liberty and right” “do you these things” which means “are you Jesus performing these things which He did in the temple”? Mark shared how the “religious leaders” wanted to know what “permission, power or rule” gave Jesus the right to say and do what He did within the “temple”.

The verse goes on to say, “ and who gave you this authority to do these things?” Mark added the words, “and who gave you” which means “and what person or ruler granted, bestowed, furnished and supplied” “this authority” or “the power, permission, liberty and right” “to do these things” which means “to perform the things He did within the temple”? Mark shared how the “religious leaders” wanted Jesus to answer who it was who “granted and bestowed” the power and rule which He exhibited within the “temple”.

When we meditate upon Mark's words in this verse, we see how these “religious leaders” were insistent upon Jesus answering their question. They believed themselves to be the only “authorities” within the “temple”, and Jesus usurped their “rule”. Jesus is the Ultimate Authority who created everything, and the “temple” was meant to worship Him as God. Anyone who comes against or challenges His “authority” has aligned themselves in such great error it may end up costing them “everlasting life” with God.

Next time Mark shares how Jesus responded, “I will ask you one question” so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".