On Christ's Authority

Some are watching with interest of the testimony Dr. Fauci being confronted by members of a Senate committee in a hearing concerning his statements, knowledge and involvement during the COVID pandemic.  It became immediately apparent the doctor was unwilling to answer any questions when he invoked the 5th Amendment over one hundred times.  On the advice of counsel Fauci refused to answer questions about subjects as banal as if there was a red folder on the desk in front of him or what colour of tie he was wearing.  The refusal to honestly answer any questions presented to him to avoid incriminating himself did not look good to the public, but it may have been the safest strategy given his uncomfortable predicament.

Senators, members of congress, lawyers and judges ask questions that may or may not be answered honestly.  Jesus distinguished Himself from all rulers, elected politicians and savvy citizens because He knows the hearts of all people.  He knows why people ask questions or refuse to answer them.  Many times the Bible relates of people thinking something without uttering a word and Jesus knowing their hearts and answering them as if they spoke out loud.  Because Jesus knew perfectly the hearts of men He was able to "get to the heart" of the matter and ask questions with pinpoint precision that exposed the hypocrisy of those who sought to challenge Him.

When Jesus was teaching in the temple, chief priests and elders confronted Him and demanded He tell them by what authority He did such things and who gave Him that authority.  In their eyes, the chief priests and elders had the authority and they had not given it to Jesus!  Matthew 21:24-27 says, "But Jesus answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things: ²⁵ The baptism of John—where was it from? From heaven or from men?” And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ ²⁶ But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the multitude, for all count John as a prophet.” ²⁷ So they answered Jesus and said, “We do not know.” And He said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."  The question Jesus asked placed the chief priests and elders in a tough spot because they feared the people more than God.  The people believed John was a prophet, yet if they acknowledged his baptism was from God they exposed their own hypocrisy for not believing him.  What they did not consider was feigning ignorance and lying was worse than publicly owning their hypocrisy and repenting.

Since the chief priests and elders did not speak truth or value the truth, there was no need for Jesus to answer their questions at all.  Whatever He said would be twisted or used against Him.  Christians are wise to follow the example of Jesus, to be willing to freely share the truth and wisdom of God with all people who honestly approach us.  Should we discern others are seeking an occasion to condemn or find fault with us, we do not need to play that dishonest game.  What is remarkable in this exchange is by simply asking a question, Jesus was able to reveal the truth about these men:  as they did not heed or submit to righteous John who heralded the coming of Jesus sent by God to save sinners, they would not acknowledge Jesus spoke on the authority of God as Immanuel--God with us.  As followers of Jesus, may we walk in this wisdom to sidestep arguments and avoid becoming defensive because we speak on Christ's authority as led by the Holy Spirit.