The Authority of Jesus Questioned

The Jewish authorities up the challenges toward Jesus, after his triumphant entrance into Jerusalem as the whole city was stirred and asked, “’Who is this?’ The crowd answered, ‘This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.’” (v11).

In the temple, Jesus drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables and benches and said to them, “It is written my house will be called the house of prayer, but you are making it a den of robbers.” (v13).

Then the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him and asked, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” The authority of the house of God (the temple) was so involved in the temple business, therefore they lost sight of the purpose of the temple, as Jesus said, as the house of prayer by making it a den of robbers.

Jesus is adamant about the temple’s purpose, for prayer, fellowship and to worship God. But he saw the reality of the house of God unfolding to him. It is a parallel symbol to what is taking place in the heart of God’s people.

The very people who should know and receive Jesus with open arms are the ones who rejected him completely. But God’s plan and purpose of redemption for his people, is fulfilled in Jesus. Hence, Jesus said, ‘”For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (Jn 3:16).

It’s so unfortunate, that the so-called high priests and elders, are huffing and puffing about Jesus’ credibility as the smokescreen to their outright rejection of him as the ultimate way, the authentic truth, the eternal life. The world is finding its own way to God, instead of through Jesus, who is the way, as they reckon, it is too narrow and restrictive.

Jesus’ authority ordained by God and prophesied by the prophet Isaiah. Jesus read from the scroll as he stood in the synagogue, “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.” (Is 61:1).

His authority came from God for the purpose to preach the good news to the poor, heal the brokenhearted, and proclaim freedom to the captives and liberty for the prisoners.

Jesus demonstrated the purpose of his authority, by cleansing the temple but he sought for each individual person a temple for God’s Spirit to dwell. “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” (Rev 3:20).

We are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” (2 Cor 6:16). Jesus’ authority must manifest through us to heal, restore, inspire and to forgive.