Mark 11:27-33: Who Gave You the Right?

This passage is a bit like a courtroom drama, with Jesus at the centre. He’s just caused a stir by clearing the temple, and now the religious leaders are demanding answers. They want to know, “Who authorised you to do this?” Jesus turns the tables on them with a question of his own, leading to a showdown about authority.

What Happened?

• Jesus is back in the temple, the religious hub of Jerusalem.
• The chief priests, scribes, and elders confront him. These are the bigwigs, the authorities on religious matters.
• They ask Jesus, “By what authority are you doing these things?” They’re basically saying, “Who do you think you are?”
• Jesus responds with a question: “John’s baptism – was it from heaven, or of human origin?”
• The religious leaders get caught in a trap. If they say John’s baptism was from heaven, they’ll have to admit they were wrong not to believe him. If they say it was from humans, they’ll anger the people who revered John.
• They end up saying, “We don’t know.” Jesus then says he won’t tell them his authority either.

Why is this Important?

This passage is about more than just a debate. It’s about:

• Authority: Who has the right to speak and act for God? Is it the religious establishment, or is it Jesus?
• Truth: Are the religious leaders genuinely seeking truth, or are they just trying to protect their power?
• Faith: Will the religious leaders accept the truth, even if it means changing their beliefs?

Study Questions

1. Why do you think the religious leaders were so threatened by Jesus?
2. How does Jesus respond to their challenge? Is it a fair response?
3. What does this passage teach us about the importance of asking the right questions?
4. Why is it sometimes difficult to admit we don’t know something?
5. What do you think Jesus’ authority ultimately comes from?

Challenge

Think about the people or institutions you consider to be authorities in your life. Do they always have the right answers? How can you discern who to trust?