Good Morning Gorgeous!
It’s a brand NEW day! A fresh NEW start!
And Luke 20 opens up with a question that many, if not all, of the people who begin to walk their God given destiny get asked.
By what authority are you doing these things?
Jesus is now openly teaching the people and preaching the Good News right in the temple. And the religious leaders, elders, and leading priests are mad.
They demanded to know WHO authorized Jesus to teach, preach, heal, drive out demons.
It wasn’t their system.
It wasn’t their way.
They hadn’t commissioned Him.
He didn’t fit all the boxes. He didn’t say all the flattering things they wanted to hear.
He’s getting bolder in His ministry. His following is growing.
He’s right IN the synagogue NOW without any apologies!!
And even though they’ve tried again and again to trick Him, to catch Him in a slip up, or to stop Him, they’ve been unsuccessful.
And when they ask Him this question , “By what authority are you doing all of these things?” He doesn’t even answer it!
He asks THEM a question about John the Baptist. He asks them who gave John the Baptist the authority to preach?
Luke 20:3-4 NLT
[3] “Let me ask you a question first,” he replied. [4] “Did John’s authority to baptize come from heaven, or was it merely human?“
And they knew they were trapped because the people loved and respected John. If the Pharisees admitted John’s authority was from heaven, then Jesus could ask them why they haven’t accepted it. If they say John’s authority is merely human, the people will cause an uproar. So they remained silent.
And Jesus basically says if you can’t answer My question, then I won’t answer yours either.
This is a pattern that continues where the religious people try to trick Jesus, but time and time again, they end up looking foolish.
And this SAME question is asked today by the religious folk whenever God chooses someone unexpected to preach the gospel.
People will ask:
Who gave you the right to preach, teach, heal, baptize, or deliver the oppressed?
Basically, who do think you are doing these things and who called you?
Who told you that you could lead bible study?
Who called you to preach the Word?
Who has given you authority to cast demons of depression, anxiety, fear, addiction and more out of people’s lives?
The answer is simple:
Jesus DID. He walked in the Authority of the Father. And you walk in the Authority of LORD too as part of your holy inheritance purchased by Jesus Christ and carried out by Holy Spirit inside of you!
The Pharisees and other religious leaders rejected Jesus just as they had previously rejected the prophets sent to warn them and draw them back to God. And they will face judgement for rejecting Him.
And more than just rejecting Him, they would soon crucify Him. Then after their refusal to accept Him, there would be others brought into the family of God to enjoy the inheritance! The Gentiles were going to be invited IN!
He explains this with a parable. He tells of a landowner who leased his land to tenants and at the time of the grape harvest would, he would send in servants to reap the harvest. But they refused the servant, beat him up, and sent him away!!
They repeated this 2 more times until the landowner sent his cherished son in to collect the harvest and they killed him!!!
So the landowner killed the evil tenants and leased the land to others.
This was a picture of what the Pharisees had done to the previous messengers and now to Jesus, the cherished son!
Then Jesus quotes this verse from scripture: The stone the builders rejected had become the cornerstone. Everyone who stumbles over it will be broken to pieces and it will crush anyone it falls on.
Jesus is the ONLY ONLY way!! The only way to eternal life, the only way to freedom, the only way to Holy inheritance. Jesus. Jesus. Jesus.
The Pharisees aren’t done trying to trick Him! They ask about taxes! And they begin with flattery. Be careful of those who begin their questions with compliments!
Jesus answers them, “Give to God what belongs to God and Cesar what is Cesar’s” He continually astounds them with His wisdom and answer for everything!
Of course He does, He is Lord!
He is the Cornerstone. The Way, the Truth, and the Light! No one gets to the Father except through Jesus!
Some are receiving, but many are not.
Will you receive the truth this Christmas?
Dear Heavenly Father,
Open our eyes to the Fullness of the gospel! Help us to communicate it in love to others. Lord, the time is urgent. Bring more and more into the Kingdom! Give us boldness like Jesus to preach the TRUTH! In Jesus’s Name, Amen.
Blessings!
Vanessa Lynn
