Advent Devotional by Steve Hemphill

Mark 11: 27-33

Jesus said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.” (Mark 11:33)

As a kid, when someone was being bossy, it was common to hear the exclamation, “Who died and made you Sheriff?” As an adult, I was a Prosecutor and sometimes heard, “Who do you think you are?  You can't do this to me!” I usually enjoyed 'splainin' my authority to any defendant who dared to challenge me! The thought of ignoring the challenge never occurred to me. Strangely, that is exactly what Jesus did!

The ministry of Jesus was in full swing when he arrived in Jerusalem for the last time. He had been performing healing miracles and causing wine, loaves, and fishes to mysteriously materialize. The religious leaders could not tolerate this troublemaker and decided to lay a trap for him. “Who gives you the authority to do these things?” they demanded. But, instead, Jesus laid a trap for them.

Most people believed John the Baptist was truly a prophet, so when Jesus asked the religious leaders, “Was John's baptism from Heaven or not?” they knew they were trapped. If they answered John was Heavenly anointed, then Jesus would demand they accept John's prophecy. They couldn't risk angering the masses by saying John was not a prophet. They said, “We don't know.”

Since they did not answer the question, Jesus chose not to answer theirs. But why? I guess it was like that line from the movie A Few Good Men: “You can't handle the truth!” Jesus didn't need their approval, and the time was not right to create a potentially violent scene ... that would come soon enough. 

What does this have to do with the Advent to Christmas? Perhaps it is to remind us that little baby Jesus of the manger is also the Jesus of trouble-making and sacrifice.

Steve Hemphill