Filling The Gaps

Do we need authority from someone else to do what we know is right?

One day, as he was teaching the people in the temple and telling the good news, the chief priests and the scribes came with the elders and said to him, "Tell us, by what authority are you doing these things? Who is it who gave you this authority?" He answered them, "I will also ask you a question, and you tell me: Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?" They discussed it with one another, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Why did you not believe him?' But if we say, 'Of human origin,' all the people will stone us; for they are convinced that John was a prophet." So they answered that they did not know where it came from. Then Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things." - Luke 20:1-8

Jesus met the challenge to his authority, not by answering the question directly, but by offering a challenge back.

He skirted the issue.

Why?

Perhaps he felt the question was unjustified. Who gave the chief priests and elders the authority to question someone doing things that they should be doing?

Clearly the challenge was intended to help them, the priests and elders, save face.  They wanted to look good in front oft the people, but they failed to do the things the people truly needed.

If an organization claims to serve the people but fails to meet their needs, shouldn't someone else come along and fill that gap?

That's the message Jesus has for all of us.

It would have been easy for Jesus to say this is God's will and you aren't fulfilling it, but he chose to ask them to question their own authority in another way.

Maybe each of us should take a moment to challenge ourselves.

What are we failing to do that God has asked us to do?

And can we turn that into doing what others are failing to do so God's will can be done?

More to come...