“Baptism of John”

November 3, 2017

“Baptism of John”

Blessings folk!

We do well to give heed as to how Jesus handled situations.
He is our model.

The Religionists - chief priest, scribes, elders - had ask Him a question hoping to entrap Him.
They demanded to know by what “authority” He was doing what He did.

Watch how Jesus responds.
Listen to what He says.

Mar 11:27-33

They came again to Jerusalem. And as He was walking in the temple,
the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to Him,

and began saying to Him, “By what authority are You doing these things,
or who gave You this authority to do these things?”

And Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question, and you answer Me,
and then I will tell you by what authority I do these things.

“Was the baptism of John from heaven, or from men? Answer Me.”

They began reasoning among themselves, saying,
“If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’

“But shall we say, ‘From men’?”—they were afraid of the people,
for everyone considered John to have been a real prophet.

Answering Jesus, they said, “We do not know.”
And Jesus said to them, “Nor will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

Jesus turned their question upon them.

He asked what they believed about the baptism of John.
Was it of heaven - God?
Was if of man - John…just another curious prophet of the flesh?
In other words, by whose authority did John baptize?

The Religionists give us the purpose of the question by their discussion.

They did not believe that John was of God.
If they did not believe John…if they did not repent…they would not believe Jesus regardless of His answer.
But, if they said this, the people would turn against them.

They were afraid of the people.
The people they supposedly “led”.
Such is today.

Jesus’ question revealed all this.

The Religionist rulers were more concerned with power, prestige and position than they were with the Truth.

Their answer to Jesus?
They did not know about the baptism of John.

Most likely they did.
They chose to lie.
Lie to themselves.
Lie to the people.
Lie to the Lord to His face.

Such is the way of the Religionists - yesterday and today.

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