Pastor Grant Brown's sermon, titled 'Christ's Authority,' explores the theme of authority as depicted in Mark 11:27-33. The sermon begins with the account of Jesus being questioned by the chief priests, scribes, and elders in the temple about His authority. Pastor Brown emphasizes that the authority of Jesus is a central theme in the passage, as evidenced by the repeated use of the word 'authority.' He explains that Jesus' authority is derived from God Himself, as confirmed by the testimony of John the Baptist and God's voice at Jesus' baptism and transfiguration. The sermon further highlights the importance of understanding the structure and context of biblical passages for accurate interpretation. Pastor Brown draws a parallel between the authority of Jesus and the temple leaders, urging the congregation to recognize Jesus as the ultimate authority and to live in faithful obedience to His Word. He challenges listeners to examine their own hearts and decide whether they fear man or God, urging them to submit to Jesus' authority for salvation and transformation.

Mark chapter 11 beginning in verse 27. They came again to Jerusalem, and as he was walking in the temple, that is Jesus, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to him. And began saying to him, by what authority are you doing these things or who gave you this authority to do these things? And Jesus said to them, I will ask you one question and you answer me. And then I will tell you by what authority I do these things.

Was the baptism of John from heaven or from men? Answer me. They began reasoning among themselves saying if we say from heaven he will say then why did you not believe him but shall we say from men they were afraid of the people for everyone considered John to have been a real prophet. Answering Jesus they said, we do not know. And Jesus said to them, nor will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

May God bless the reading of His word. Amen. Let's pray. Our Father, what we do not know this morning, I ask that you would teach us for your glory. Father, what we are not yet, I pray that you would make us for your glory.

Father, what we think we do not have but indeed you've given to us in Christ Jesus and yet we have not availed ourselves of it. I pray you'd renew us, conform us into the image of Christ, give us the grace to see that All that we need for life and godliness is found in Jesus Christ and His Word. Do this this morning for your glory and our joy. In Jesus' name, Amen. You may be seated.

One of the first things that the elders teach when we meet with men in the Timothy fellowship that we do once a month downstairs or if we meet with brothers and sisters in the Lord that aren't part of that fellowship but just they want to study their Bibles better. One of the first things that the elders teach in rightly interpreting scripture is you always need to look at the structure of the passage. Structure of passages help you understand the authorial intent. And we did this together just a couple of weeks ago when we saw that the structure of the fig tree Chiasm with the temple in the middle of the chiasm remember the sandwich I'm using The less cool verbiage chiasm the sandwich we saw the fig tree The temple, and then the fig tree again. And we said, if you get the fig tree, you get the temple.

And if you get the temple, you get Jesus. The fig tree was cursed and it withered. The temple was cursed and was to be destroyed, and here was Christ who was the new and true temple. The structure of the passage showed us that The fig tree was a symbol for what was the problem with the temple that was hypocrisy and what was to come. But Jesus, in him there is no hypocrisy.

No, in him there is not destruction. No, in him there is life and righteousness and eternal rightness with God. The structure of the passage revealed that. Another thing that the elders teach with regard to rightly interpreting scripture beyond just looking at the structure of the passages we consistently will tell you time and time again in conversation and from this pulpit and downstairs is that context always rules interpretation you should always look at what comes before a passage and what comes after a passage because that really really matters And last week we saw this hermeneutic principle play out as Jesus talked about this mountain. In verse 23 of chapter 11, you'll recall, this mountain being thrown into the sea.

And in context, we were able to recognize that Jesus was once more talking about a specific mountain. He was talking about the temple, the temple mount and its promised destruction. So believe the promises of God. Pray the promises of God. They're never failing.

We saw that together because we recognized the principle that context rules interpretation. Structure matters. Structure matters. Context matters. And a third element that the elders consistently encourage you to do when you're studying your Bibles, yes, look at the structure.

Yes, look at the context. And also, pay attention to repeated words and phrases. These are just simple basic things that the elders have sought to teach you for the past years, several years. Look for repeated words and phrases and this morning that principle is a principle that will help us immensely in understanding what this passage is all about. What word in our passage this morning, in these seven verses, do you see repeated multiple times?

Authority. Authority. If you look at the passage you're going to see that word authority. Notice how many times just in these seven verses I counted four. Four times in seven verses, that's more than one for every two.

Used to teach math. That's an emphasis. That's an emphasis. This passage is about the authority of Jesus Christ. And specifically in our passage, this is about the authority of Jesus Christ versus the authority of these temple leaders.

The authority of Israel's leaders versus the authority of Jesus. This passage is about authority, power. The Greek word there for authority, it can be translated power, it's exousia. Authority is the emphasis of this passage. Who has authority?

Who has the real power? Who is really authorized to do what they're doing? Is it Jesus and doing what he's doing in the temple, or is it these religious leaders of Israel and what they've done with the temple? That's the question. And that's exactly what is asked of Jesus in verse 28 of our passage.

Look there again. These men ask Jesus, by what authority are you doing these things? Or Who gave you authority to do these things? And you as the reader already know the answer. You already know the answer.

Mark expects you to know the answer. Because you've read, Lord willing, and you've studied 11 chapters before this end of this chapter. And if you can't answer the question that is posed to Jesus this morning, if you can't answer that question, It's not because it's not true. It's not because it's not in here. It's not because it's not in the past 11 chapters.

It's because simply you hate the truth and you are like these religious leaders who are destined to destruction for their unbelief. And if this morning you say, I believe but help my unbelief, marvel at the miracle that He has taken you out of your unbelief and has worked the miracle of salvation in you. Keep pressing in. Keep trusting Christ. So the question I want to ask you this morning in part is which character are you going to be this morning?

Are you going to be the character that is afraid of people? Or those who fear God and follow Jesus in a life of faithful obedience according to his authoritative word. Which character are you? The answer to that question, the answer to who you fear, depends on the answer to the question that is asked in our passage. Who has more authority?

Jesus or the temple leaders? And again, here's the obvious answer lest anyone be confused. Who has the most authority? Jesus does, because Jesus Christ's ministry, Jesus Christ Himself, has been authorized by God Himself, because in fact, Jesus Christ is Himself God. The authority of Jesus versus the temple authorities.

Who has ultimate authority? And that's what we're going to explore this morning. Our passage begins with the authority of Jesus in verses 27 through 30. The authority of Jesus in 27 through 30, verses the authority of the temple in 31 through 33. Look at verse 27 with me.

They, that's Jesus and his disciples, they came again to Jerusalem. Now throughout Mark's Gospel, particularly beginning in chapter 8, Jesus has set his face like Flint to go to Jerusalem and now here he is and So you expect now here in Jerusalem here at the end of his ministry Everything that he's been talking about is going to come to pass Will it? Well, where specifically do they go in Jerusalem? Where's the location of this passage set in? It's in Jerusalem, but more Specifically, the temple.

Chapters 11 through 14, do you know where the primary context is, the primary setting? The temple, he goes in the temple. He goes out of the temple. He goes back in. He goes back out.

He sleeps, goes back in. I mean, he's just back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. And even when he's not in the temple He's talking about the temple. He's looking at the temple. The temple is up there.

He's looking at it It's all over the place temple to temple to temple And so it's no different in our passage this morning. He's walking in the temple. Notice the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to him. Now you get this picture that Jesus walks in and just one day prior, perhaps, I think it's probably just the day prior Jesus had come into the temple. He had cleaned house and now here is Jesus going back into the temple Just maybe just hours later and the chief priests and the scribes and the elders they're sitting there waiting for him with their arms crossed Now we don't know that their arms are crossed, but I can imagine.

Didn't take that much. You know what I'm saying? They are not happy. They are not happy with what went down the day prior. We didn't say you could do that.

You coming into our house doing this? I don't want you to miss the emphasis that Mark places here, especially how he mentions the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. He mentions three groups. It's not an accident. He doesn't just say, and the head honcho showed up.

Now he says the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. Don't miss that. He's doing two things. Mark is doing two things by mentioning these three groups of men, these three groups of temple leaders. First, Mark is showing you once again that every single one of God's promises, every single one of Jesus Christ's promises and prophecies come true.

Every single one of them. What did Jesus say he was going to do in Mark chapter 8 verse 31? Do you remember? He sets his face towards Jerusalem. What did he prophesy?

What did he say he was going to come when he gets to Jerusalem? When I get to Jerusalem, Let me read it for you. Mark chapter 8 verse 31, And Jesus began to teach his disciples that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by who? The elders, the chief priests, and the scribes. And then be killed, and after three days rise again.

The chief priests, the scribes, and the elders would reject him. That's what Jesus said would happen, And now three chapters after that, fulfillment. True. None of Jesus Christ's promises fail. This truly is Jesus, the long expected prophet, come to save the hellbound man.

What Jesus said would happen has happened again. But before he can save the hellbound man, he must first be rejected and eventually killed by the authorities in Israel to accomplish that salvation. So I don't want you to miss that. I hope you're seeing that. Mark is making it plain.

Here's what Jesus promised in Mark 8. And here exactly to the three people groups is the fulfillment found as Jesus stands before these men. That's the first thing that Mark is emphasizing, prophetic fulfillment. Second, Mark shows you in the, with including these three groups here of chief priests scribes and elders Mark wants to show you that there is a showdown going on a Showdown between the authorities and Israel and the authority of Jesus And there's only one that can come out on top. Jesus is coming into the temple, these guys say, No further, it's a showdown.

It's an old western. Do-do-do, do-do-do. You know, that kind of thing. That's going on. So these groups of men, the chief priests, the scribes, the elders, they are truly the head guys.

These are the groups of people who wield and possess the most authority in all of Israel. They are the authority when it comes to the worship of God, especially when it comes to the temple. Just briefly, the chief priests. These would have been the former high priests or priests with permanent duties in the temple. The scribes.

We've seen these guys throughout Mark's Gospel. These are the teachers of the law. These are the legal experts when it comes to the law of God. We've seen them throughout Mark's Gospel. They've been in consistent opposition for the most part.

There's been a couple characters, scribes. They're not quite like the others. And you have the elders. And most likely, these were the laymen drawn from the wealthy class in Israel and placed in places of leadership. So the chief priests, scribes, and elders, these are the temple authorities.

Well, at least they think they are. At least they were. But now, here is Jesus who went into the temple and he moved the furniture around, didn't he? Here's Jesus who went into the temple, he cleaned house. I've already asked this question, I want to re-emphasize it.

Who gets to clean the house? Someone walks into your home, I know we've already said this, we've got to make sure we get it when you walk someone walks into your home and says you can't eat dinner there you got to eat it over here you can't have that chair over here you have to have it in that room you look at them and you say you don't get to say where we eat dinner where we eat breakfast and what we do in this room or this room, you don't get to see where that bed goes or where that chair goes. Why not? Because you don't own the house. It's my house.

The owner of the home dictates Where the furniture goes. Well who has the authority to rearrange what happens in God's house? Who gets to say what happens in the temple of God? God does. Only God does.

Only God gets to rearrange the furniture And now here is Jesus doing just that. Here is Jesus regulating worship of God in the temple. Lest you ever be confused by that passage, Jesus is God. That's the main takeaway. Jesus is God.

And so here's a showdown of authority. These men come up to Jesus in verse 28 and they ask him a question about authority. They aren't interested though in his answer. It's clear in the text. They're not interested in his answer.

It's already been really clear throughout Mark's gospel. They just hate what he's doing. Abraham Kurovilla in his commentary on Mark says it this way, these two questions that this chief priest, scribes, and elders ask Jesus, they're not asked for information, but rather for incrimination. Their accusation is simply this, we did not give this authority to you. We, the temple authority, did not give you, Jesus, authority to do what you're doing.

We have the authority, You don't. So verses 27 through 33, again, they're all about authority. Who has the true authority? But really, this passage, as much as it is about the authority of Jesus versus the authority of the temple men, It's just not fair to say that the argument for Christ's ultimate authority begins in verse 27. That's just not fair.

It's not accurate to say that this discussion about the authority of Jesus just began in chapter 11 of Mark's Gospel, right? It's not. You don't go to verse 27 and say, oh, okay, finally we know Jesus is the one with authority. Fine, we got it now. If you come to verse 27 and you're just now getting that, what has been going on since Mark chapter 1 verse 1?

Mark has been plain as all get out. Jesus is God. Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. And Jesus as God has ultimate, total, and final authority. And His authority isn't just over most things.

His authority is over everyone and everything. Including this temple, including these men. I mean just look at Mark chapter 1 if you wanted to. Go by the way back to Mark chapter 1 real quick. Mark chapter 1 verse 22.

Mark chapter 1, 22. Right at the outset of Christ's ministry, the people are what? Mark chapter 1 verse 22. They were amazed at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one having authority exeusia as one having power and not as the scribes oh that explains a little bit What's one of the groups that is in Mark chapter 11? Scribes.

He was teaching as one having authority and not like these men, not like these scribes in Mark 11. If you look down at verse 27 of Mark chapter 1, same thing, the people, they're seeing what Jesus is doing and they say in verse 27 of chapter 1, what is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey Him. Beloved, the whole of Mark's Gospel is written so that you as the reader already know the answer to the question that these men ask.

Jesus has authority from God himself because Jesus is himself God. Jesus's ministry is authorized by God. He teaches us one with authority. He casts out demons throughout Mark's gospel. You know typically when demons are told to get out of someone they laugh and they lash out against those with no authority, but with Jesus they come out screaming and when Jesus cast them out they so submit to his command to come out in Such an absolute way that they can't help themselves But to declare the truth about Jesus the Holy One of God And here are these men and won't even do what the demons are doing.

That's authority, casting out demons, teaching with authority. But there's far more. He heals the sick. He raises up the lame. He makes blind people see.

You know, he even raises the dead. That's authority. That's authority. And these miracles that Jesus performs, they aren't ever to draw attention to the miracles themselves but to the miracle worker himself and his authority his power months ago months ago who probably that word months isn't fair a year ago we saw in the first half of Mark that the word immediately shows itself time and time again. Do you remember reading that word immediately in the beginning of Mark?

A lot. Immediately, immediately, immediately. Really just carries on through Mark. What was it showing you? Showing you a couple things.

One, that Jesus was on a mission. But that mission wasn't accompanied by just a lack of authority. His mission was authorized. He had a power about him. His ministry, his mission was powerful, had authority.

And so when he said something, it immediately happened. Just consider that time when Jesus and his disciples were up against that nasty storm, you remember that? And you gotta remember, Jesus' disciples, they're fishermen. They've been in a storm or two, haven't they? They've been out on the sea.

They've seen some choppy waters. And this storm is up and going, and they're so scared out of their minds, they're starting, They're crying. They're crying out to Jesus who's sleeping on a cushion. Jesus, don't you care that we're perishing? Don't you see we're gonna die.

And Jesus wakes up and with three words, the storm gone peace be still and immediately the text says the storm flat now that's amazing that's authority and we're talking about power We're talking about ultimate authority that demands obedience to the one wielding it. It's so ultimate. His authority is so ultimate that as you get to mark chapter 2 where Jesus has a question about the Sabbath man they're always asking Jesus questions right that's wonderful they asked Jesus a question about the Sabbath in Mark chapter 2 and what does Jesus call himself when these religious leaders ask him about the Sabbath I Jesus says and Lord of the Sabbath he said I got authority even over the Sabbath. That ought to make you just, what? That would just make you just, whoa.

Because what is he saying? Who is the Lord of the Sabbath beloved? God, amen, thank you. Who alone has authority over the Sabbath as Lord of the Sabbath, the Creator. Only the Creator instituted the Sabbath.

God made the Sabbath. He is the Lord of the Sabbath. And so, here's Jesus saying in Mark chapter two, that's me. That's me. We're talking about ultimate authority.

When you say you're the Lord of the Sabbath, you're saying you're the Creator. Who with a word, the Creator, Just think about that. The Creator spoke to nothing. It's a hard concept. He spoke to nothing.

And you know what nothing did? Nothing obeyed Him. I don't have a category barely for that. Jesus, the Creator, with a word, spoke to nothing and nothing obeyed Him and we got this, with a word. And that word became flesh and dwelt among us, tabernacled among us.

That word has ultimate authority. His name is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. We're talking about an authority that's so ultimate that a man gets lowered down into a room and marks gospel and Jesus looks up at him who's being lowered down and at these men that have made a hole in the roof desperate to get to Jesus and we're talking about such ultimate authority that Jesus looks at this man and he says, son, your sins are forgiven. Your sins are forgiven. And You know what the religious leaders ask?

They ask the same question that you should be asking. Who has authority to forgive sins but God alone? Exactly. Exactly. Jesus Christ is God.

Jesus Christ is the only one that can forgive sins because he is God. Through repentance and faith in this Jesus Christ, your sins can be forgiven. The case for Christ's authority, the case for Christ's authority has just been made throughout Mark's Gospel. This gave you some highlights. Just read the first 11 chapters before you get to this passage and you know the answer to this question that these men are asking.

They've consistently been here. They've consistently been asking questions about his authority. They're not interested in information at this point in Mark 11. They're interested in incrimination. The case for Christ's authority has already been made.

Christ has authority over these men in Mark chapter 11. He has authority over the temple. He has authority over Everyone and everything. And it demands obedience. Your obedience.

Your obedience. We've seen that since Mark chapter 1. And Jesus says so. I want you to notice what Jesus does in Mark chapter 11, going back to our passage now. He takes these men, these men ask him this question, and he takes these men, he takes the reader, he takes you back to the beginning of the gospel, just like I did.

So what did I do? I said it wasn't really fair that you start talking about the authority of Christ in verse 27 of chapter 11. Really the authority of Christ has been on a menu, has been on a full display, it's been like a buffet line, just time and time again you just see it all over the place since chapter one. What does Jesus do? Well, Jesus does what I just did.

Jesus tells these men, hey, go back and look at chapter one. Go back and look at chapter one. What does he say? These men ask Jesus, who gave you the authority to do what you've done in this temple? Who gave you the authority to do these things like cleaning house?

To do what you did in verses 15 through 17 of chapter 11? Who gave you the authority? Because we didn't. And Jesus takes them back to the beginning of his ministry. Notice in verses 29 and 30.

And Jesus said to them, I will ask you one question, you answer me, and then I will tell you by what authority I do these things. Was the baptism of John from heaven, from God, or from men? Answer me. Go back to John and tell me what you think of him endorsing my ministry. John approved of John the Baptist authorize my ministry when he said what he said all the way back at my baptism.

And again, when was that baptism? Mark chapter 1. Jesus is asking these men, do you believe the testimony of John the Baptist? Did John the Baptist speak with authority from God when he said what he said about me? You were there.

You were there. You heard what John the Baptist said about me. Do you believe John the Baptist? If you don't believe John the Baptist's testimony, surely you're not going to believe my testimony from my own mouth. Was the baptism, was the authority of John from heaven, from God, or merely from men?

Which one was it? Jesus holds out two options. It was either from God or from men. There's no middle ground. Why would Jesus point back to John the Baptist?

Why point back to John the Baptist? Of course you could make the argument, and I do. He wants you to see from chapter one all the way through 11. There's no reason to doubt the authority of Jesus. But I want to suggest another thing to you.

I want to suggest it to you. You can write down in your notes, John chapters one and two. Write down in your notes, you can look this over tonight. Later this afternoon you can take a look at John 1 and 2. But in John chapter 1, in John's gospel, John the Baptist is approached by the scribes and the Pharisees.

Same groups of people. Perhaps some of these men in Mark 11 were some of those very scribes. Some of those very religious leaders, they're with John the Baptist. And these scribes in John chapter one, they ask John the Baptist, hey, Who are you? Who are you?

You got a big following. What's going on here? Who are you? Are you the guy? Like, are you the Christ?

John simply says, I'm not the Christ. I'm not the promised one who would come and save his people, who would come and save God's people. No, I'm the one that God promised to send before the Christ came. I'm that promised forerunner from the old prophecies in Isaiah that said, A forerunner's coming. He's going to prepare the way for the Messiah.

I'm that guy. I'm the one who prepares the way for the Christ. That's what he tells the scribes. And then just verses later after dialoguing with the scribes, and there's no indication in the text that the scribes are like, you're bad. It says, verses later, Jesus shows up, and then John baptizes Jesus.

And then John says to these scribes, I baptize Jesus and I saw the Spirit descending upon him. Truly, this Jesus is the Son of God. Truly. That's the testimony of John. That's what John says in John 1 to the temple authorities.

That's as clear as day. Go back and read it. Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus is God in the flesh. And you want to know exactly what happens right after that in John chapter 1.

So John chapter 1 happens. He gets baptized. John the Baptist says what he says. There's a brief narrative of a wedding in Cana. And you know what happens right after that?

In John chapter 2? Jesus goes and cleanses the temple. In John chapter 2. Isn't that interesting? Now, some people think that John in John chapter two is putting things out of order in his gospel.

They think, Well, what happened in Mark 11, John said, you know what, it would fit my narrative better. Chronology doesn't matter that much. Let's put that event here at the beginning of Jesus' ministry and it will convey something different. Some people believe that. I am completely convinced against that.

I don't think so. I think the temple cleansing in chapter two of John's gospel is a separate event than the temple cleansing in Mark chapter 11. There's no reason why Jesus couldn't have done it twice. Makes a lot of sense too. So if that's true, right, he would do it at the beginning of his ministry in John 2, and then at the end of his ministry in Mark 11, you have another temple cleansing.

I think Jesus has done this before. I don't think these men are coming to Jesus going like this, hey so you did that one time. Twice? Seriously? I think that's what's going on here.

And if that's true, and I think it is, It perfectly harmonizes the two gospels, John and Mark's, and it really clarifies what Jesus is doing when he says, go back to John. Won't you stick with me here? Wanna make sure you get this. If what I say is true, if what I believe to be best I can piece together John 2 is a separate event for Mark 11. If that's true then the first time that Jesus cleanses the temple was in John chapter 2 right after his baptism.

Right after his baptism. And what happens at his baptism? Stick with me now. Come on. What happens right after his baptism?

A voice from heaven speaks and declares to everyone present, this is my beloved son. You are my beloved son and you I am well pleased. God speaks from heaven. That's authorization. Now right after that, Jesus goes into the temple and he does what he does in John chapter 2, cleans house.

That's the beginning of his ministry. Fast forward to the end of his ministry, Mark chapter 11. Here at the end of his ministry, Jesus goes back to the temple and he does the same thing in Mark 11 that he did in John 2. He cleans house again. But what happened just two chapters prior to the temple cleansing in Mark 11.

Mark chapter 9. Jesus goes up on a mountain. He's transfigured and a voice from heaven declares, this is my beloved Son. Listen to Him. You think that's just a coincidence?

That happens on the mountain. Jesus gets down from the mountain, does a little bit of teaching, and then goes to the temple. You want to talk about authority? You want to talk about authorization? You want to know where the authority comes from in Jesus' ministry?

Where the power comes from? God Himself. He said it. Twice from heaven. God has authorized the ministry of Jesus because Jesus is himself God.

Make sure you got it. John the Baptist sent from God. He authorized Christ's ministry. God speaks from heaven during Christ baptism authorizing Christ ministry. Then Jesus goes and cleanses the temple in John 2, beginning of his ministry.

The authority is all from God. At the end of Christ ministry, Moses and Elijah are up on the mountain. They authorize Christ ministry. Christ is transfigured. God speaks from heaven again, authorizing Christ's ministry again.

And then Jesus goes and cleanses the temple again. Where's the power? Where's the authority coming from? In both instances, it's clear, God. You see the mirroring of those two events.

Do you at least see it? You might disagree that maybe they're just one event. To me it's clear as I'll get out. Where does the authority of Jesus come from? Who has authorized Jesus to be doing all these things in the temple, God Himself has authorized the mission of Jesus.

And He hasn't just done it once. Twice verbally. And then myriads of time after time after time, myriads of times in the works that Jesus has done. Jesus does these things in the temple. Jesus drives out the thieves in the temple, and each time he does it, it's because he's been authorized by God to do it.

Before each of the temple cleansings, there has been no ambiguity for the reader. You see what happens at his baptism. You see what Jesus does in the temple. It's really clear to you. You think about what that would have meant for the original audience, particularly the Jewish audience.

It's a big deal to go into the temple and clean house. And so Mark makes it plain in Mark 11. Here's the authority, transfiguration, cleansing of the temple. John makes it clear. Baptism, cleansing of the temple.

His authority comes from heaven, not from men. Those are two options, right? Authority from heaven, from God, or from men? Christ's comes. Christ's authority comes from heaven.

But these men, they already know these things. It seems very clear in the text that these men knew the prophecies. These men, these teachers of Israel, they knew the prophecies. They knew that John the Baptist's testimony came from heaven deep down though they suppressed the truth they knew it they knew that it came from God but they won't admit the truth will they you've read mark 11 my hope before this this Lord's Day you read it in family worship yesterday. It's a good habit to get into, by the way.

Read the passage the night before with your family. Pray over the passage. Ask God to help Pastor Grant who really needs it. Ask him to help the pastor, to help the hearts of each of your children, your heart. I want to know what this means.

I want to obey it. I want to believe it. I want it worked into me. Well, these people, they don't want that. These men, they won't admit the truth.

They're not even interested in the truth And so here's what Jesus is doing He's very much answering their questions There are many many men not not a lot But there are some men that will say things like in this moment. Jesus is dodging a question. I That is not it best. I can tell it's not true Jesus is very much answering it who gave you the authority Okay, Just so I know you're playing fair and I'm going to show everyone that your heart's evil and wrong. You just answer me a question.

And I'll answer your question in my question. What did John say? There's the answer. Who gave you the authority? Well John said God did.

Jesus isn't dodging the question here. These men know the truth. These men know what John the Baptist said. And if they'll not agree with John the Baptist and what he said about Jesus, they're not going to agree with what Jesus just said with his own mouth. Well, God gave me the authority, Because I am God.

They're not going to agree with John the Baptist. They're not going to agree with him. Jesus very much answers the question with a question that has an absolute in it. What did John the Baptist say? These men, they will not answer him because the truth doesn't fit into their agenda.

They aren't interested in the truth. They are interested instead in control of the narrative, really. They aren't interested in truth. They're interested in control of the narrative, in political and personal gain. If they can control the narrative, Jesus is a bad guy, they can destroy Jesus, which has been their goal from Mark chapter 3.

Which providentially, I'll just add this as a side, you should be paying attention to this kind of stuff in our nation today, the truth versus control of the narrative. You should be paying attention to that. These men have suppressed the truth and unrighteousness. If they will not listen to John the Baptist's testimony back then, they will not listen to Jesus' testimony now because they're not interested in the truth. What does that tell you about their authority then?

Their authority is not from heaven. It's from men. Jesus gives two options in his question doesn't he? And it's clear in his question you go oh Jesus's authority is from heaven and these authority, this temple authority is now from men. We have a clash of authorities.

God has authorized the ministry of Jesus. His is a ministry of truth. And Yet the authority of these men is an authority based on lies. The authority of the temple leaders only comes from men. Let's read verse 30 here.

30 through the end. Was the baptism of John from heaven or from men answer me Jesus asked they began reasoning among themselves saying well if we say from heaven he will say that why didn't you believe him but shall we say from men they were afraid of the people for everyone considered John to have been a real prophet. Answering Jesus they said, we do not know. And Jesus said to them, nor will I tell you by what authority I do these things. Jesus' authority came from heaven and the authority of these men comes from men.

You've seen that in the text is the two options. Now these groups of these groups of men they had they had actually once been authorized by God in his word to be the authority over the temple right God had authorized them to be the authority over the temple these chief priests the scribes the elders they were once authorized by God to teach the law and to help disciple the nation of Israel, to practice the law, and disciple the people of Israel in the fear of the Lord. You hear what I just emphasized there? I'll say it again, the fear of the Lord. And yet Now, who do they fear in verse 32?

They were afraid of the people. They were afraid of the people. These men who were to lead Israel in the fear of the Lord are now more afraid of men. They have become the ungodly that Psalm 36, 1 described, there is no fear of God in their eyes. They have become the wicked that Paul in Romans 3, 18 describes in the same way, There is no fear of God in their eyes.

And so God has taken this temple authority away from these groups of men. And the authority has come in their place. And that authority is the new and true temple, Jesus Christ, God Himself. And yet here are these wicked men. Here are these men responsible for the mess that the temple's in, right?

And we're not talking about just innocent men saying, well, hey, we didn't say you could do that. These are the men responsible for robbing the Gentiles of their ability to pray in the temple. And they're blocking his way asking about authority. And then just chapters later, this Jesus, the one with all authority, the one with absolute and ultimate authority in heaven and on earth, He goes to a cross. He tears the curtain in two.

He raises dead to life and with a cry eternally secures victory for all of His people. The penalty of His people's sin satisfied. The power of that same sin severed. The impossible mountain of debt that stood to damn you, Christian, It was toppled and thrown into the sea of mercy as God the Son was crushed in your place. That's what this authority, this Jesus, did.

Beloved, are you seeing the very clear contrast here in the text? Who has authority? Jesus Christ has all authority in heaven and on earth. And He has it right now. All authority.

These men they answer Jesus with no authority they say we don't know. That's how pitiful Feel bad for them. We don't know, says who? We don't know, says the teachers of Israel. The ones who should know.

And out of fear of man, they decide to say we don't know even though they really do. In other words these men tell Jesus we won't tell you we won't tell you And God in the flesh says to them, so neither will I." What a dreadful thing to so suppress the truth and unrighteousness. For in doing so, you are asking God to harden your heart and damn you. Friends, if you won't deal with the truth about Jesus this morning. If you won't deal with the truth that Jesus Christ is exactly who He says He is.

If you won't deal with the truth that Jesus has accomplished exactly what He said He would accomplish in His life, death, resurrection, and ascension? If you won't deal with that truth this morning, if you won't deal with what you know this morning to be true, then You are asking God to damn you. You are inviting God to treat you the way that you are right now treating Him. I will harden my heart against you, God. I know the truth, and I hate the truth.

I'm going to suppress it. I'm going to harden my heart against you. And you know what God will do? God might grant you that request. God might treat you just as you wish to be treated.

He could do that forever. He did it for Esau. Don't do that this morning. Do not play games with God Almighty. Don't you dare play games with God Almighty this morning.

Today, right now, is the moment where you must decide. Today, right now. This sermon will either soften you under glory, or it will harden you under damnation. You need to decide this morning will I be a man feerer like these men? And I'm going to fear what others may say of me.

I'm going to fear what it must cost me if I must admit that I was wrong, that my way of living is on the path of the wicked and I'm headed to damnation, I must admit that I'm a sinner and that I desperately need the Savior and that only Jesus, only Jesus is the Savior and Lord overall. I'm not the authority. I have to admit that I'm not the authority. He is. Will you be a manfearer?

And fear what it will cost you if you must admit that you were wrong? And then you would never know the power of God and his gospel like some of these men. Will that be you? Will that be the character that you are going out of this door? This is going to be your character?

Or today, will you fear God? And today, this day, friend, will you answer the question that these man-fearers would not answer? Will you say Jesus is the Christ, He is the Son of God, He is the Lamb of God who has come to take away the sins of the world, even mine. And He has all authority in heaven and on earth. And that authority extends over every part of my life.

And I will willingly this day, this day because of His saving work on the cross for me, I will bow my knees to Him as Savior and Lord. Will you this day decide to follow Jesus as Lord, Savior, and Sovereign because He saved you? It's been my prayer this week that you would. These men, they would not bow the knee to Jesus. Rather, instead, they stood in their pride.

They couldn't fathom losing their positions of authority. And because they hung on to that which was not from God, what happened to these men years later? They lost everything. In the destruction of the temple in 70 AD, they totally lost all their positions of authority, didn't they? It was gone.

But even more, sadly, they, in eternity, if they did not repent, because they did not fear God, they were eternally destroyed. They are right now suffering an eternal condemnation. I beg you, I plead with you, I beseech you, repent, turn this morning away from your sins, trust in Jesus, believe in His name, obey Him, trust Him, and pray to Him according to His promises. And friends, let me tell you, though you will not gain the world and all of its applause, you will know the power of God, the exeusia, the authority of God. You'll know it.

And you will not lose your soul, but gain it. For the cross is foolish to those who are perishing. But to those who fear God, To those who fear God and not man, it is the power, it is the very authority, it is the exeusia of God. And if you are in Christ this day, would you say amen? Amen.

Let us pray. Father, thank you for this your word. I pray that we would be transforming. We would renew our minds. Thank you for the precious and magnificent promises that are all true in Christ.

Thank you for this truth that we can trust Jesus, for He has all authority in heaven and on earth. And so when we think about our sin, we think about the way, Lord, am I, is my sin really dealt with? The one with all authority has said so. Can I really have hope in my marriage? The one with all authority says yes.

Can I make it to the end? You say with all authority, I will hold you fast. Yes. I thank you that this is the one who has saved us. This Christ is the one who holds us fast and we hold fast to him.

We can trust him. Oh, for grace to trust him more. Thank you in his name. Amen.