Theme

Jesus has the right to your life.

Text

And they came again to Jerusalem. And as he was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to him, and they said to him, “By what authority are you doing these things, or who gave you this authority to do them?” Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. Was the baptism of John from heaven or from man? Answer me.” And they discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, Why then did you not believe him?’ But shall we say, ‘From man’?”—they were afraid of the people, for they all held that John really was a prophet. So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

Discussion Questions

1. What is authority? How is it different from mere ability?
2. What are “these things” (v. 28) that have the Jewish leaders questioning Jesus? How did Jesus did answer their questions (vv. 29–30)? Why do you think He responded this way? See 1:1–8; cf. Isa. 40:3; Jn. 1:29–34.
3. How did the leaders respond to Jesus? Do you think they were motivated by a desire for truth? Something else?
4. Authority is an important issue in Mark (See 2:10; cf. 1:22, 27; 3:15; 4:41; 6:7; 10:42). What might these and other verses tell you about Jesus’ authority?
5. Read Prov. 29:25 & Jn. 12:42–43. How might concern for power and public opinion hinder someone from obeying God’s authority?
6. How might the answer “I don’t know” sometimes result, not from a lack of understanding, but from a lack of acceptance and trust? See Rom. 1:18–21.
7. What areas of your life are the hardest to fully surrender to Jesus’ authority? Choices Time? Identity? Relationships? Plans? Possessions? How will you submit to Jesus’ authority today?

Transcript

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