Religious Leaders Fearing the People - Mark 11:32

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 say unto him, By what authority do you these things? and who gave you this authority to do these things? And Jesus answered and said unto them, I will also ask of you one question, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? answer me. And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did you not believe him?”, and in chapter eleven and verse thirty-two of his book, Mark shared how the religious leaders continued to reason as, “they feared the people” where we read:

But if we shall say, Of men; they feared the people:

for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed.

The verse reads, “But if we shall say, Of men; they feared the people:” Mark began with the words, “but if we shall say” which means “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding, moreover and whether the religious leader will utter, declare, proclaim and answer”, “of men” or “from human beings whether male or female”; “they feared the people” which means “the religious leaders were afraid, struck with fear and seized with alarm by the group of people who gathered unto John the Baptist”. Mark shared how the “religious leaders” decided if they were to answer that “John the Baptist's baptism” came from “men”, the “people” who believed in John would react in an adversarial way towards them.

The verse goes on to say, “for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed.” Mark continued with the words, “for all men” which means “because, since and on account that each, every, the whole and everyone of the people” “counted John” or “held, owned and considered John the Baptist whose name means God is a gracious giver”, “that he was a prophet indeed” which means “that John was one who was moved by the Spirit of God and hence his organ or spokesman who solemnly declared to men what he received by inspiration, especially concerning future events, and in particular such as relate to the cause and kingdom of God and to human salvation”. Mark shared how the “people” who gathered unto “John the Baptist” considered him to be a “prophet” of God.

When we meditate upon Mark's words in this verse, we see how the second thought of the “religious leaders” baffled them as well. The people who gathered to “John the Baptist” to be “baptized” considered him to be a “prophet” of God. Jesus knew what He was doing with the “religious leaders”, and because He was God incarnate, no human question of “authority” should have ever been asked. God loves people, and His desire is to have them submit themselves to His Son Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”. Those who are wise will yield to Him and understand no one will every outwit Jesus Christ who is the Messiah of the world.

Next time Mark shares how the “religious leaders” answer Jesus, “we cannot tell” 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".