27 They arrived again in Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him. 28 “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you authority to do this?”
29 Jesus replied, “I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 30 John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or of human origin? Tell me!”
31 They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ 32 But if we say, ‘Of human origin’ …” (They feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet.)
33 So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”
Jesus said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”
Who gave you permission to do these things? Their thinking? We didn’t give you permission. And we are the highest people in importance in the land.
They thought they were the most important and that was the problem. They had forgotten who really was most important.
Can we pause for a minute too?
Because as I am writing this, the Lord just spoke to me. I love the Word. I love writing and speaking and teaching about His Word.
Right now it’s early in the morning. I haven’t done much but jump into this.
And I feel the LORD say, that Jesus did nothing except what his Father did. And what his Father told him to do.
If I jump into the day without asking the LORD and seeking him for the day, am I no different than these Pharisees? No, I’m not.
Because I’m working on my own authority. What I think is best. How I want to spend my day/life.
It’s not time for me to jump into my day. It’s time to connect with the LORD. And work on his authority. I am His. For His service. Not my own.
Sorry Lord. I’m going now to do what I should have done in the first place starting this day.