When he had come into the temple area, the chief priests and the elders of the people approached him as he was teaching and said, "By what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you this authority?" Jesus said to them in reply, "I shall ask you one question, and if you answer it for me, then I shall tell you by what authority I do these things. Where was John's baptism from? Was it of heavenly or of human origin?" They discussed this among themselves and said, "If we say 'Of heavenly origin,' he will say to us, 'Then why did you not believe him?' But if we say, 'Of human origin,' we fear the crowd, for they all regard John as a prophet." So they said to Jesus in reply, "We do not know." He himself said to them, "Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things. (Mt 21:23-27)
Today, there is a lot of discussion on Baptism. People are confused as to which one is the correct one or the right one. The same situation arose at the time of Jesus. John the Baptist was baptizing in river Jordan. Jesus makes use of this situation to answer the question on the authority of his doings. People have began to accept that what he was doing was right but they were worried about the authority.
Regarding Baptism we have a reply from John the Baptist himself. He has said that he baptises the people with water but there is another one coming after him who will baptise with the Holy Spirit (Mk 1: 8). Baptism which Jesus gives does not dispute over water and the sort. They are only external signs but what is important is the baptism which Jesus gives.
People or those who want to have control over the others always worry about the activities of the others. Whatever work one does is questioned by the people who rule over people or want to rule over people. All what Jesus was doing was by the presence of the Father in him. He was doing godly works and naturally it was from above. Here the people in authority wanted to trap him.
