By Allen White
Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you this authority?”
Jesus replied, “I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. John’s baptism—where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or of human origin?”
They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin’—we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet.”
So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”
Then he said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things. Matthew 21:23-27
If everyone believed the sun revolved around the earth, how could you convince them otherwise? If everyone believed the world was flat, how could you prove it’s actually round? After all, that moon landing was just staged in Hollywood, right?
It’s clear the religious leaders didn’t believe Jesus was the Son of God. In fact, if He admitted to that status, then His arrest and punishment would be easily justified. Blasphemy was the highest offense.
Jesus, of course, knew where they were going with all of this. So, rather than giving them an answer they wouldn’t accept, He asked a question which would expose their intention.
Was John’s baptism of divine or human origin? An honest answer would foil their plot to expose Jesus, so they gave a political answer: “We don’t know. We can’t recall. We can neither confirm nor deny…”
Since the religious leaders couldn’t agree on a starting point with Jesus, He didn’t answer their question either. The events leading up to His arrest, crucifixion and resurrection where “scheduled” in God’s plan in relation to Passover week. This wasn’t the time.
Often we encounter people who see things from a completely different angle and in some cases maybe a different planet or plane of reality. (Often, we’re related to these folks.) Reasoning from your point of view seems to go nowhere.
In order to communicate your point, you have to understand where they’re coming from (or at least try). Unless you can engage them from their point of view, then the conversation is, well, pointless.
When I take my car to a mechanic, my explanation about what’s going on with my car often involves the word “thing.” The thing that makes the thing work isn’t working. Fortunately, my mechanic understands my novice terminology, identifies the problem, and fixes it. Or, at a minimum, he does something I’m not aware of and gives me a big bill.
Unbelievers don’t understand spiritual things. Only people with the Spirit of God can truly understand the things of God. Then, there’s the fact that believers aren’t perfect. When we try to explain the things of God in an imperfect way to people who can’t understand spiritual things in the first place, well, confusion will always follow. But, there are things no one can argue with.
If you once upon a time lived only for yourself, but now through God’s power you’ve become a more generous and loving person, people will notice that. If you’ve harbored bitterness and resentment against someone, but by God’s grace you’ve finally forgiven an offense -- that will get noticed too.
The work of God in you is far more powerful than words about God coming from your mouth. Rather than debate who’s right and who’s wrong, prove it. Allow Jesus Christ to live His life through you and show everyone a better way.
The next time someone asks a pointed question about your faith, maybe the answer is a question. How can you understand them better? Where are they coming from? What’s their point of view? Often a seemingly intellectual debate has an emotional root. Pray that God will heal their hurt.
More from Allen White: allenwhite.org
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