Elihu Vedder (American, 1836–1923), Star of Bethlehem, 1879–80 .
Oil on canvas; 36 3/16 x 44 3/4 in. Milwaukee Art Museum, Gift of Mrs. Montgomery Sears, M1925.2.
(Audio)
“By what authority are you doing these things?
And who gave you this authority?”
We can sometimes be like the chief priests and elders, unwilling to accept any authority but our own. We are willing to mistrust the wisdom of others, and even of experts, if it contradicts opinions we hold or makes us look less credible. Yet trusting authority in its proper sphere is a part of being humble. If we can't do it in one place it will also be hard in other areas of our lives, even believing what Jesus tells us based on his own supreme authority given to him by the Father.
“I shall ask you one question, and if you answer it for me,
then I shall tell you by what authority I do these things.
Where was John’s baptism from?
When a question is asked of us, what are the criteria we use to determine truth? We ourselves need to be able to distinguish between thing so of heavenly and human origin. We need to "test the spirits to see whether they are from God" (see First John 4:1). The specific pitfall we are called to be on guard against this morning is formulating our convictions based on too great a concern for what other people think. The wisdom of the crowd is viable at times, but not always or even often. The wisdom of experts is a guide we should usually prefer when we ourselves are not experts. But our desire needs to be for the truth regardless of how it makes us feel, or how our reputations will be impacted by it.
“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.”
Discernment is a skill we are given ample opportunity to practice. The humility we are called to show even before truth in the secular realm helps to make us more able to receive the spiritual truth that Jesus came to make known.
you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free (see John 8:32).
We are called to have humble hearts so that we will not only be able to receive this truth or that truth but the One who is truth himself, come in the flesh, this Christmas. There are still parts of our lives that are ruled by our pride, parts ruled by our concern for what others think. Neither of these parts can welcome the infant in the manger. The baptism that prepares our hearts for this coming is from heaven, and the Holy Spirit wants to renew it within us. May he do so.
Good and upright is the LORD;
thus he shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice,
he teaches the humble his way.
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