You Got It

 

Based on Matthew 21:23-32

            “Why don’t they get it?” This is a question that surely was on the minds of many in Matthew’s church. For those who had come to belief in Jesus as the messiah, it seemed so obvious to them. His authoritative teaching, the healings he performed, the miracles, his resurrection: how could anyone not believe that Jesus is the messiah? Sure, it didn’t happen like we thought it would. The messiah didn’t come riding in to lead a revolution, shaking off Rome and establishing Israel again to its rightful place as in the days of King David. But what we thought about the messiah was off base, they realized. If Jesus was not the messiah, who else could he have been? These first followers of Jesus realized that they had to re-think their messianic expectations, so to speak. It was clear in their minds that Jesus was the messiah. The evidence was overwhelming. And yet…not everyone saw it. Especially the chief priests and elders of the people. The Christians in Matthew’s church wanted to know, why is that?

            This confrontation Jesus has with the chief priests and elders of the people helps explain why they, of all people, were unable to acknowledge who Jesus is and to follow him. It centered on a battle over authority. Now, to their credit, the chief priests and the elders were exercising their authority as overseers of what goes on in the Temple. Jesus was teaching on their turf. They were responsible for what went on at the Temple. Jesus had not asked for their permission to teach there. They had not granted him the authority to teach at the Temple. So, when they asked that question, “On whose authority are you teaching these things?”, this is a legitimate question.

            However, this question they asked of Jesus was really a power play. After all, by this point everyone knew who Jesus was, especially the chief priests and the elders. They were putting their positional authority on the line. It was God that had granted authority to the priesthood to oversee and care for the Temple. These chief priests and elders had positional authority that was respected. Even the Roman empire recognized the authority of the chief priests and elders. When they ask Jesus the question of who gave him the authority to teach in the Temple, it was an attempt to publicly humiliate Jesus. By asking that question, the chief priests and elders were making it clear to everyone that they had not granted Jesus permission to teach. Jesus was acting on his own authority. Jesus had ignored their authority as guardians of the Temple. Jesus had disrespected them. They were basically saying publicly, “Who do you think you are?”

            Jesus, of course, would not be bowed or intimidated. The common portrayal of gentle Jesus, meek and mild, does not conform to the portrayal of Jesus in the gospel of Matthew. He wasn’t going to meekly bow before the chief priests and elders and humbly ask for their apology for not seeking their permission first. Then again, why would they expect him to? This is the same man who the day before went into the Temple and overturned the tables of the moneychangers and ran them all out, an event that was surely on the minds of these chief priest and elders as they call Jesus out for his teaching without their permission. What we have here is really a confrontation over authority. Jesus was acting like he owned the place and he wasn’t going to wilt before their question of the source of his authority.

            Jesus throws the question back at them. He says, “I’ll answer that question only if you will answer me this question. Was John’s authority from divine origin or human origin?” Just like Jesus turned over those money changer’s tables the day before he just turned the tables on those chief priests and elders. Now, with everyone watching them, they find themselves on the defensive. What unfolds next reveals how fragile was the authority of these chief priests and elders.

            You heard the back and forth as they argue with each other how to answer this question. If they were honest and trusted in their authority as religious leaders, they would have said what they thought, that what John was doing out there in the wilderness baptizing people was on his own authority. They had to think that because if they acknowledged that John was acting on divine authority then Jesus would question them as to why they didn’t believe him. And they did not believe in what John was doing.

            Alas, they were unwilling to stand on their authority because they were afraid of what the crowd would think. Their problem was that the crowd had made up their own minds about John. They were convinced that John was a prophet. They believed that John’s authority was of divine origin. The chief priests and elders were afraid that if they said what they really thought about John that they would face a backlash from the crowd. They ceded their authority to that of the crowd. So, they sidestepped and said, “We don’t know.” The chief priests and elders were unwilling to state clearly what they thought about John. They ceded their authority, so Jesus refused to answer their question. They humiliated themselves.

            But let’s get back to that first question. Why didn’t they get it? Why was it that the chief priests and elders were unable to acknowledge what was so obvious, that Jesus was acting on divine authority? I wonder if positional authority, and the power wrapped up in that, creates a blind spot. By positional authority, I mean that the chief priests and elders, because of their roles as chief priests and elders, had authority. Because of their position, they had responsibility for what went on at the temple. Their position gave them authority to oversee and manage the temple. That was a powerful, even sacred authority. Anyone who, in their view, undermined their authority would be perceived as a threat. When they looked at Jesus, someone who did not ask for their permission, someone who was doing their job for them when he chased out those money changers, someone who acted like he ran the temple, they saw Jesus as a clear and present danger to their own authority, their own power. They were blinded by that threat. They couldn’t see the miracles and the healings. They couldn’t hear the teachings. They just saw a threat to their power. So, Jesus had to be exposed and, if need be, eliminated.

            The crowd, on the other hand, were unhindered by positional authority. They had no power to protect. So, they were in an easier position to judge by their own eyes and ears. They saw Jesus heal people and work miracles. They heard his teaching. He clearly was acting from divine authority. There was no other explanation. When you have no power to protect, it’s a lot easier to make a judgment about authority. It’s much easier to call it like you see it when you are not in a position of authority like those chief priests and elders were. So, why was it that that the chief priests and elders failed to acknowledge and follow Jesus as the messiah? Because they were blinded by their positional authority and could not tolerate any threat to the power they clung to. It was too bad. Of course, let’s not forget that the crowd that was all in with Jesus, a few days later, cried out for his crucifixion. Crowds can be very fickle. What the crowd thinks is not something you can take on good authority.

            The question that the Christians in Matthew’s church asked back then could be asked today. Why is it that not everyone believes in Jesus? You may recall a few weeks back I mentioned the book Mere Christianity written by C. S. Lewis that makes a brilliant case for the truth of Jesus as the messiah. But the truth is that clever arguments and testimonies of life changing transformation will not convince everyone that Jesus is the messiah. It just won’t. Do people refuse to believe because they are invested in another set of beliefs? Sure. Do people refuse to believe because they have been victimized and hurt by the church, by those who call themselves Christians but did not walk the walk? Unfortunately, it is true that many people have been turned off to any possible openness to Jesus because of the words and actions of his purported followers. That’s to the church’s shame for failing to always be a good and faithful witness to the gospel. There are a lot of reasons why people choose not to follow Jesus.

            But that’s not you. You and I have decided to follow Jesus. And as that old song goes, “I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back.” You and I are on that road. You and I are working in the vineyard, like we talked about last week. And sometimes people question our faith. I still remember this time back in my seminary days when I was having a drink at this bar not far from the seminary. I got into a conversation with one of the bartenders and I don’t remember exactly how the conversation went. But at some point I shared that I was a divinity student at the seminary and that triggered a reaction in this bartender who looked me right in the eye and said to me, “You don’t know ­­­­____ from shinola.” You can fill in the blank. He walked away and another bartender who overheard this apologized on his behalf. I can only guess that he had a negative view toward religious people, perhaps from some bad experiences with them. Sometimes we have our own doubts and questions. Some of us get hurt by the church, by other Christians, and it makes us question what we truly believe. Nothing wrong with that. Doubts and questions, working through hurts and disappointments, are part of the discipleship journey. That’s how we grow and mature in our discipleship. Our faith shouldn’t remain at the level of what we believed when we were kids. Life has a way of forcing us to deal with deeper questions of faith, hope and love. Acknowledging and working through those questions and doubts is part of the path toward wisdom.

            What I am saying is that even though not everyone will get it and even though we have our questions and doubts and struggles in our faith, don’t let that stop you from staying committed to the way of Jesus. You have responded to the invitation of Jesus to follow him. You have said yes. Stay on the journey. Keep working at it day by day to be faithful, to trust in the promises we have in Christ Jesus, to live your life after the example of Jesus, walking in his ways. Keep at it, even when people question your faith or challenge you, make fun of you, dismiss you, or whatever negative response we may get from people from time to time. Just keep at it. Be the best witness of Jesus that you can be. Who knows, maybe those who say “no” to Jesus now will change their minds one day and join you and me in the master’s vineyard.