Following a night spent outside the city, Jesus came upon a barren fig-tree which he caused to wither and die. This lesson was meant to teach us that God wants us to be fruitful with our lives and those who are hypocrites will wither and die. (verses 18-22)
In verses 23-27, the chief priests and scribes were already offended by the teachings of Jesus. His entry into Jerusalem was hailed with the song, “Hosanna to the son of David.’ His teachings had become a threat to their leadership. They had begun to fear that he would cause them to lose power and that is why they challenged him with their question, “By what authority are you doing these things?” and “Who gave you the authority?”
Their question came following his triumphal entry into Jerusalem. They were challenging his authority to teach without approval, or to heal the blind and lame. They were offended by his outrage for the moneychangers inside God’s house. Jesus was clearly a threat and they were attempting to trap him into saying that he was the Messiah.
Jesus answered them with his own question, ““I also will ask you one question, and if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, from where did it come? From heaven or from man?”
The elders were smart enough to know that Jesus had put them in a difficult position. If they responded that John’s authority came from heaven (God), then Jesus must also have been given authority from God. They would be admitting that he was the Messiah.
If they responded that his authority came from man, then Jesus authority also had come from the crowds of people following him. Their own authority and power would diminish if they allowed people to give him the right to continue to teach and heal.
The only response that they could give was, “We do not know.” Jesus had not satisfied them with an answer that they could claim was blasphemy. He simply continued by telling them the story of the “Two Sons.”
The story tells of a father (God) asking his sons (children of God) to go out and work in the vineyard (the work God wants us to do in the world). One son (a person who has sinned, but turns to God) refuses the work, but repents and goes out and works very hard for his father. The second son (Pharisees and scribes) tells the father that he will do the work, but never goes out (these are the people who are hypocrites and those who pretend to follow God).
Pastor Sarah asks which of the two sons are we? Are we willing to work for God? How are we measuring up? Are we doing God’s work? Are we willing to “save the least of these?”
Let us take up our crosses and follow.
Amen