Luke 20:1-19 | Acts 5:27-29
Jesus is a master of many things, but honestly, his ability to turn the conversation back upon those wise guys who’d try and trip him up is something of a marvel.
These religious leaders basically ask him, “Who do you think you are, healing and miracling and teaching all this stuff?”
His answer (a question, of course) exactly demonstrates his authority. They can’t match his authority and their questioning of it hits the ground as soon as it leaves their mouths. With a really loud thud.
But Jesus isn’t here to win arguments. (We should probably all read that last sentence again and again. Maybe if it feels right, you might even forget the rest of the below and stop here for the day.)
Jesus follows up this conversation with another challenge (with a parable-story, of course) regarding his acceptance by those to whom he was sent, or lack thereof.
And the very religious authorities who question his authority end up silent. In their silence, their true source of “authority” is unmasked. They didn’t fear God and thus receive their authority from God. They feared the people and thus, would be swayed this way or that based upon anything other than the righteousness of God.
Thinking of today and those with power and authority?
Not much has changed.
Luke 20:1-19
On one of the days when Jesus was teaching the people in the temple and proclaiming the good news, the chief priests, legal experts, and elders approached him. They said, “Tell us: What kind of authority do you have for doing these things? Who gave you this authority?”
He replied, “I have a question for you. Tell me: Was John’s baptism of heavenly or of human origin?”
They discussed among themselves, “If we say, ‘It’s of heavenly origin,’ he’ll say, ‘Why didn’t you believe him?’ But if we say, ‘It’s of human origin,’ all the people will stone us to death because they are convinced that John was a prophet.” They answered that they didn’t know where it came from.
Then Jesus replied, “Neither will I tell you what kind of authority I have to do these things.”
Jesus told the people this parable: “A certain man planted a vineyard, rented it to tenant farmers, and went on a trip for a long time. When it was time, he sent a servant to collect from the tenants his share of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants sent him away, beaten and empty-handed. The man sent another servant. But they beat him, treated him disgracefully, and sent him away empty-handed as well. He sent a third servant. They wounded this servant and threw him out. The owner of the vineyard said, ‘What should I do? I’ll send my son, whom I love dearly. Perhaps they will respect him.’ But when they saw him, they said to each other, ‘This is the heir. Let’s kill him so the inheritance will be ours.’ They threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What will the owner of the vineyard do to them? He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others.”
When the people heard this, they said, “May this never happen!”
Staring at them, Jesus said, “Then what is the meaning of this text of scripture: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone? Everyone who falls on that stone will be crushed. And the stone will crush the person it falls on.” The legal experts and chief priests wanted to arrest him right then because they knew he had told this parable against them. But they feared the people.
Acts 5:27-29
The apostles were brought before the council where the high priest confronted them: “In no uncertain terms, we demanded that you not teach in this name. And look at you! You have filled Jerusalem with your teaching. And you are determined to hold us responsible for this man’s death.”
Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than humans!
Prayer
God,
It’s not completely wrong to care what people think, right? Reputation matters, particularly if we are representing you in the world.
But it’s true, I don’t want to be swayed only by what people think of me. For people are often wrong. Not only that, but I too often have a jaded and misplaced understanding of what people actually think of me. So my own judgment of people’s judgment isn’t great. This is really shaky ground!
So help me, God:
Let me only care what people think about me as much as it concerns not being a brute. Keep me from passive aggression and the desire to simply win arguments. Keep me for loving and keep me for caring.
May the people I encounter receive hope for today and strength for tomorrow.
By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.