And who gave you this authority?
Are we qualified to recognize authority when we see it? The chief priests and elders of the people are not. They are more interested in popular opinion then genuine authority. Jesus tests this by asking them whether or not John's baptism comes from God. Their response is entirely political:
“If we say ‘Of heavenly origin,’ he will say to us,
‘Then why did you not believe him?’
But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we fear the crowd,
for they all regard John as a prophet.”
Rather than considering the truth of the situation they consider the consequences of each possible truth. They analyze them to find one which is best for their own agenda. But in this case neither option works:
So they said to Jesus in reply, “We do not know.”
He himself said to them,
“Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
The crowds that follow Jesus are able to sense this authority of his in an intuitive way. They don't need to ask Jesus to prove himself. They simply hear his teaching and they are astounded, "for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes" (cf. Mat. 7:28).
Jesus does not argue the point with logical demonstrations and syllogisms. What words would suffice? His life must be the evidence. To prove that he has authority to forgive sins he cures the paralytic (cf. Mat. 9:6). He authority is proven when "He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him" (cf. Mar. 1:27). His full vindication comes by his resurrection from the dead. It is an amazing thing to claim that "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me" (cf. Mat. 28:18) and only the victory over the cross and the grave can truly back it up.
Jesus is a model for us. He is free to speak the truth because he isn't concerned with how it affects popular opinion. We are often so concerned about popular opinion that we can't even speak the truth. This is not to say we should say mean things or reveal that which is not ours to reveal. We try to speak words of encouragement that people need to hear (cf. Eph 4:29). But if we hold back it should not be out of pride, out of trying to maintain our positions in society, but only ever out of love.
If we live with integrity, our lives are better proof than our words can be. The two cannot be separated. We speak about those things which matter to us. If we do not speak about something it probably isn't important to us. We're trying to be like Paul. He certainly proclaims the gospel, and woe to him if he doesn't (cf. 1 Cor. 9:16). But along with that, he says, "my message and my proclamation were not with persuasive wisdom, but with a demonstration of spirit and power so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God" (cf. 1 Cor. 2:4-5). Mere words are not enough, just as the Father's work through Jesus proves him true, the power of God is revealed in his work in the life of Paul.
God wants to be his own vindication and proof. Our cleverness is not essential. Hence the coming of Jesus is prepared by prophecy. It is therefore the very stars of the universe that proclaim him.
A star shall advance from Jacob,
and a staff shall rise from Israel.
When Jesus is coming into our own lives God will make sure we are able to see him. He himself will guide us to the manger. We need not engage the clever and the wise. We just need to look up to the light and follow it. Let us lift our eyes. The staff of the shepherd king is rising. It is this staff which promises comfort to us all. It is a message of "good news of greay joy that will be for all the people" (cf. Luk. 2:10). His authority is not something obscure. It is not available only to the clever. It shines upon the whole world. If we only care about popular opinion we are like the chief priests and elders. Our gaze is earthbound and trapped and we are unable to see the staff vindicating the authority of God, the star revealing the birth of the messiah. Let us lift our eyes to it.
Good and upright is the LORD;
thus he shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice,
he teaches the humble his way.
If we come close enough to the light of this star it not only shines on us but through us as well. Our lives begin to reveal the truth of God. Our words carry his authority. This Christmas we experience something greater than Balaam. We behold the Most High not far away but near to us. We behold, in fact, Emmanuel, which means "God is with us." Let us share this great gift of light we receive.
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