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Commentaries
English
Mark
  
5. Jesus’ Authority Questioned by the Highest Court of the Jews
(Mark 11:27-33)
27Then they came again to Jerusalem. And as He was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to Him.28And they said to Him, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority to do these things?”29But Jesus answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one question; then answer Me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things:30The baptism of John - was it from heaven or from men? Answer Me.”31And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’32But if we say, ‘From men’” - they feared the people, for all counted John to have been a prophet indeed.33So they answered and said to Jesus, “We do not know.” And Jesus answered and said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”


The shepherds of the people became astonished and angry because a villager from a hill of Galilee interfered in the orders of the holy temple, and behaved as if he had authority and sense of his own importance. However, they did not trust that his source was God himself, but tried to compel him to manifest himself in public, and to reveal his spirit clearly before them, for they were blind in their hatred, and did not recognize him who was born of the Spirit of God, though he was in the midst of them. They sensed his power, but did not know his truth.
So do not wonder, dear brother, if a fanatic leader, or a simple religious man did not know Christ, for the leaders of the old covenant also did not reason out the source of Christ’s authority, because their hearts were hard.
The Lord Jesus did not answer their question, but asked them, in his glory, a question, which made them pricked in their heart, and obliged them to answer him about the source of John the Baptist, and the meaning of his baptism. The leaders of the Jews themselves had already refused the Baptist who called in the wilderness, supposing themselves not to be in need of repentance and regeneration. They mocked at his mean clothes, and laughed at him who called for repentance, and did not understand that he was the only one who would prepare the way of the Lord, the coming King.
Sincere repentance is acceptable to the Lord, and conversion is necessary to receive eternal life. Are you still living in human customs and earthly principles, or did you receive a new heart through repentance with tears on sins, and certain faith in the faithful Savior?
The glory of Jesus Christ will not appear to you unless you come near the cross, and receive the grace of forgiveness. Then you will be purified by his kind blood, and you will cry out: Thank you, thank you, High Priest. You are my Lord and my God. You have reconciled me to God with your precious blood, and purchased me with all the believers as your heavenly Father’s own. This very moment I knew the source of Christ’s authority, which only appears to the faithful believer.

Prayer
Thank you our Lord Jesus for you are the Son of God who carried us to the rights of your sonship, we criminals and slaves of sin. You have mercy on us and you are patient with us. Sanctify us that we may know you more and more in your love, and testify to all men who you are. You are true God from the true God. Light from light, begotten, not created, in one essence with the Father. Amen.
Question
Why did Jesus not declare to the delegation of the highest court of the Jews the source of his authority?