Breaking the Word

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)

 

 

The chief priests and the elders are in the temple area. It is their area of authority. It is where they exercise their authority and hence from the place of their authority they question about his authority. For, to exercise authority he should either belong to priests group or to the elders. They see the authority as something belonging to a place or to a group of people. Authority, according to them, has to be given from a group or from a place (Who gave you this authority?)

 

 

Jesus takes the example John the Baptist and argues with them saying that he never belonged to any of their group of authority or he never exercised his authority from any particular place of authority. The authority of John the Baptist was of divine origin. But the elders and the chief priests were afraid to accept it openly.  If they openly acknowledge it then they were wrong in persecuting him.

 

Authority belongs to God and not to any place or group of persons. It is God who shares this authority with the people and creation. If there is God in place then that place becomes a place of authority and so also for the person or group of persons. Authority is from God.

 

 

 

When John heard in prison of the works of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to him with this question, "Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?" Jesus said to them in reply, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me." As they were going off, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, "What did you go out to the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? Then what did you go out to see? Someone dressed in fine clothing? Those who wear fine clothing are in royal palaces. Then why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: 'Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you.' Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. (Mt 11:2-11)

 

 

John the Baptist and Jesus bear witness to each other and affirm their own roles through their activities or their way of life. The messiah and his forerunner are not easily recognizable. They are not visible at the first sight. They are not recognizable even for themselves or among themselves.  They have to be verified and discerned. Knowledge of the scriptures and interpretations will not easily reveal. (It is not flesh and blood that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven).

 

John the Baptist is recognized by his life style. His clothing and attire do not match up to a royal living. Yes he is not a man from the city. He is in the desert and the desert is the place for the prophet. Prophet Elijah was found in the desert so also the other prophets (though they were not always there in the desert at least they frequented their visits to the desert). So John the Baptist played the role of the prophet – a man to announce the arrival of the messiah.

 

Jesus is recognized in his activities. As the Messiah be brings in the works of the Messiah. Jesus himself bears witness to his mission: "Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me." Activities of Jesus reveal that kingdom of God has set in. (People are getting healed and they are becoming whole and complete)