If the religious leaders of Jesus’ day only knew how foolish they would look in the light of eternity when they questioned Jesus’ authority. It sounds a little like saying “God, how dare you think you can create the universe,” or something like that. But none-the-less, they demanded that Jesus tell them by what authority he did all the amazing things – miracles, healings, teachings, etc. – that he had been doing.

Jesus could see through their question. They wanted to trap him by how he answered their question. Chances are he knew their question before they even asked it. Jesus knew that this question was better left unanswered, so he turned it around on them, by asking them who gave John the Baptist the authority to baptize people. Read it for yourself in the passage below:

27 Again they entered Jerusalem. As Jesus was walking through the Temple area, the leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders came up to him. 28 They demanded, “By what authority are you doing all these things? Who gave you the right to do them?”

29 “I’ll tell you by what authority I do these things if you answer one question,” Jesus replied. 30 “Did John’s authority to baptize come from heaven, or was it merely human? Answer me!”

31 They talked it over among themselves. “If we say it was from heaven, he will ask why we didn’t believe John. 32 But do we dare say it was merely human?” For they were afraid of what the people would do, because everyone believed that John was a prophet. 33 So they finally replied, “We don’t know.”

And Jesus responded, “Then I won’t tell you by what authority I do these things.”

–Mark 11:27-33 (NLT)

There is an expression I grew up hearing from my mom. “Two can play at that game.” Jesus’ question stumped the religious leaders in the same way that they tried to stump Jesus.

God is God is God… There is no getting around that fact. It’s as true today as it was when God answered Moses question at the scene of the burning bush. Moses wanted to know who to tell the Israelites what God’s name is/was and God answered, God replied to Moses, “I Am Who I Am.[a] Say this to the people of Israel: I Am has sent me to you.” (Exodus 3:14 NLT)