Where does your authority come from? I mean it, where do you have authority? Are you a parent, teacher, nurse, doctor, cashier, manager, executive, who do you hold authority over and how do you use it? The religious authorities are asking Jesus this in order to take back authority. Jesus cleansed the temple and will now inhabit the temple and ends with the parable much later on of who has feed, watered and clothed those because of care.
The religious authorities question Jesus because they have been set up by Rome to bow to the authority of the empire. Their authority has been given to them as long as they play along with Rome's ideas of authority and Jesus to them is in direct opposition to that authority.
The reason why our own questions of authority are important. What authority do we have and how are we using it? It is especially important to ask in light of our current polarization in this country. I saw a post on Facebook this week and one person had stated something about Jesus, then another person responded and this kept up for two exchanges, then other people started to join in. The last statement from someone was in the form of a question and it said, "when did Jesus say not to love the Scribes and Pharisees?" The reply from the person was revealing, "who says I'm saying not to love them?" The person didn't ever realize the authority of their responses revealed this. They were replies to the poster which said, "You're wrong and I'm right, case closed." In a way which was not loving, not kind, not a discussion at all and they never picked up on the lack of it in their dialogue.
What are we missing because we feel as if we are the only authority? Are we being unkind to one another? Are we trying to have a conversation of understanding or are we shutting it down? This question today can help us frame this. It is important because of the way in which Jesus responds, not with scathing words to destroy the opponents, but with another question. This question is meant to really make them think, and its not about himself, its about John the Baptist. Where did John's authority come from? Think about it, this figure in the wilderness who never invaded the temple space, who attracted the attention of the religious leaders so much they went out to see him. All of this is in the name of keeping the peace with Rome. Where does John's authority come from.
Now they know the game is up. If they answer from God then why didn't they follow John or become baptized and if they respond of human then the people in the temple will be angry, so they respond we don't know. Jesus says he won't tell them whose authority he operates under then. Yet he instead tells this parable about two sons, and puts the question of authority back in the hands of the crowd. Discipleship is not passive in this parable it is in the actions of those who do what the Father has asked. This is where authority lies. How do we discern what this is though?
Paul gives us an answer, this old hymn, or creed of the early church. I would love to know how often we read this because it pops up in the lectionary often. It is about being a servant, Jesus did not count equality with God as something to be lorded over us, but surrendered to be a servant to all. Not just those who agreed with his point of view, not just those who followed him, not just those who totally understood and believed but all. All, even to the point of death and death on a shameful cross. A cross which symbolized you were a robber, a thief, a traitor of the state, not to be trusted in anything you said, and yet this is the faith we believe in. This is who we should be at our best.
Yes we fail. Time and again we have failed throughout our history we have thought we were more right than others, which lead to crusades, inquisitions, and groups of people running to a different shore to find freedom, freedom in all its forms and freedom to choose to be a servant. Will we dare to ask the question posed today, where does our authority lie, how do we use it, are we servants, or have we decided we are so right we can brandish authority without love? Jesus is inviting all of us in this parable to join in the work to be done. To hear God's call to servanthood, to hear the call of being the smallest because there are things to learn here, to hear the cry of those who are in need, to put others first and not our own right-eousness. Will you join in this work, will you join in it in sacrifice, will you join in it even to a shame filled death? Maybe just maybe its the death of our own self, so we may rise to a new self of love and service.
The religious authorities question Jesus because they have been set up by Rome to bow to the authority of the empire. Their authority has been given to them as long as they play along with Rome's ideas of authority and Jesus to them is in direct opposition to that authority.
The reason why our own questions of authority are important. What authority do we have and how are we using it? It is especially important to ask in light of our current polarization in this country. I saw a post on Facebook this week and one person had stated something about Jesus, then another person responded and this kept up for two exchanges, then other people started to join in. The last statement from someone was in the form of a question and it said, "when did Jesus say not to love the Scribes and Pharisees?" The reply from the person was revealing, "who says I'm saying not to love them?" The person didn't ever realize the authority of their responses revealed this. They were replies to the poster which said, "You're wrong and I'm right, case closed." In a way which was not loving, not kind, not a discussion at all and they never picked up on the lack of it in their dialogue.
What are we missing because we feel as if we are the only authority? Are we being unkind to one another? Are we trying to have a conversation of understanding or are we shutting it down? This question today can help us frame this. It is important because of the way in which Jesus responds, not with scathing words to destroy the opponents, but with another question. This question is meant to really make them think, and its not about himself, its about John the Baptist. Where did John's authority come from? Think about it, this figure in the wilderness who never invaded the temple space, who attracted the attention of the religious leaders so much they went out to see him. All of this is in the name of keeping the peace with Rome. Where does John's authority come from.
Now they know the game is up. If they answer from God then why didn't they follow John or become baptized and if they respond of human then the people in the temple will be angry, so they respond we don't know. Jesus says he won't tell them whose authority he operates under then. Yet he instead tells this parable about two sons, and puts the question of authority back in the hands of the crowd. Discipleship is not passive in this parable it is in the actions of those who do what the Father has asked. This is where authority lies. How do we discern what this is though?
Paul gives us an answer, this old hymn, or creed of the early church. I would love to know how often we read this because it pops up in the lectionary often. It is about being a servant, Jesus did not count equality with God as something to be lorded over us, but surrendered to be a servant to all. Not just those who agreed with his point of view, not just those who followed him, not just those who totally understood and believed but all. All, even to the point of death and death on a shameful cross. A cross which symbolized you were a robber, a thief, a traitor of the state, not to be trusted in anything you said, and yet this is the faith we believe in. This is who we should be at our best.
Yes we fail. Time and again we have failed throughout our history we have thought we were more right than others, which lead to crusades, inquisitions, and groups of people running to a different shore to find freedom, freedom in all its forms and freedom to choose to be a servant. Will we dare to ask the question posed today, where does our authority lie, how do we use it, are we servants, or have we decided we are so right we can brandish authority without love? Jesus is inviting all of us in this parable to join in the work to be done. To hear God's call to servanthood, to hear the call of being the smallest because there are things to learn here, to hear the cry of those who are in need, to put others first and not our own right-eousness. Will you join in this work, will you join in it in sacrifice, will you join in it even to a shame filled death? Maybe just maybe its the death of our own self, so we may rise to a new self of love and service.
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