In the Temple – Take Three

An authority (exousia) can mean many things – a right, permission, power, and privilege. As I write this introduction, I am sitting in the economy class with a curtain in front of me saying, “Restrooms for the economy class are located at the rear of the cabin.” I don’t even have the authority, the right, the privilege, the power to use the bathroom less than two steps in front!

Jesus has been showing people that he taught with authority (exousia, Mark 1:22, 27); he had the authority to forgive sins (2:10) and drive out demons (3:15), and he could disperse that authority to his disciples (6:7).

When he chased away the merchants and buyers, tossed their tables and chairs out of the temple, and freed caged birds, the high priests, scribes, and elders wanted to know by whose authority (exousia) he was doing all that (Mark 11:27–28). Jesus said to them,

“I will tell you by whose authority I am doing these if you answer my question.” (11:29).

Then he asked if John the baptizer’s baptism was from heaven or by people, meaning, was John baptizing by God’s command or people’s decree (11:30). They didn’t want to answer that question because it was a double-edged sword. If they answered, “It was of God,” Jesus would ask, “Why didn’t you believe John, get his baptism, and follow me?” (11:31). But if they said, “Of people,” well, they couldn’t say that because people believed John was a prophet (11:32). So, they said to Jesus, “We don’t know.” Did they not know, or did they refuse to answer?

It didn’t matter to Jesus. He replied,

“Neither will I tell you by whose authority (exousia) I am doing these things.” (11:33b)

Jesus knew by whose authority he was doing those, but he wouldn’t tell them by whose authority he was doing them. His refusal left them with no course of action. They had to wait another day to try him.

Jesus likely didn’t answer them because they knew who he was. One of them, Nicodemus, came and said to Jesus,

“We know you have come from God, [as] a teacher because no one can do these signs which you are doing unless God is with you.” (John 3:2)

They knew who he was but wouldn’t believe it or acknowledge it because doing so would require changing their lifestyles. Instead, they wanted Jesus to answer, perhaps to accuse him of blasphemy.

Even now, the biggest question is Jesus’s authority (exousia). How could Christianity alone claim to have the truth? After all, all religions have wonderful teachings. They could all lead people to God. Who gives Jesus alone the authority?

Were these questions raised, we are left with no answer. Yes, we could say, “Just because.” But that wouldn’t satisfy our hearers. They want empirical evidence that Jesus alone is the only and true path. Only the Holy Spirit can make that true for the people. He alone can make them see by whose authority Jesus was doing those things and by whose authority he is inviting them to his family. We let Jesus and Holy Spirit deal with people to change their lives. We share the gospel but wait for them to bring the conviction.