Have you ever had your question answered with a question?
Such a tactic often reveals the prejudice, unbelief and motivation behind our original question. It is (to borrow from author Dan Miller) the Question behind the Question. That's exactly what happens here in Luke 20:1-8.
Pulling Back the Curtain
The religious police challenge Jesus and want to know who in the wide, wide world of sports gave Him the right to throw out the merchants and teach the people.
Christ counters their question of authority with another question of authority. In doing so, He pulled the curtain back to reveal their dark hearts and total lack of authority.
Tuesday at the Temple
It’s Tuesday of Passion Week. Luke describes how Jesus had taken control of the temple grounds (v1). The day before, He gave the place a good spring cleaning by flushing the courts of the sickening sale of sinful sacrifices (Lk 19:45-46).
People are flocking to hear the Rabbi/Carpenter from Nazareth (Lk 19:47-48). Like no other time in His earthly ministry, Jesus is acting like Messiah. Back off, folks. The temple is His.
According the Luke, people flood the courts to hear Jesus teach and preach. What was the core of His message? The Gospel! He proclaims how God has poured His grace out to the world. Salvation is found in grace through faith, NOT in the works and legalism of the Pharisees.
Christ counters their question of authority with another question of authority. In doing so, He pulled the curtain back to reveal their dark hearts and total lack of authority.
Tuesday at the Temple
It’s Tuesday of Passion Week. Luke describes how Jesus had taken control of the temple grounds (v1). The day before, He gave the place a good spring cleaning by flushing the courts of the sickening sale of sinful sacrifices (Lk 19:45-46).
People are flocking to hear the Rabbi/Carpenter from Nazareth (Lk 19:47-48). Like no other time in His earthly ministry, Jesus is acting like Messiah. Back off, folks. The temple is His.
According the Luke, people flood the courts to hear Jesus teach and preach. What was the core of His message? The Gospel! He proclaims how God has poured His grace out to the world. Salvation is found in grace through faith, NOT in the works and legalism of the Pharisees.
Here Come the Cops
Dum-ta-dum-dum. Dum-ta-dum-dum-DUM! (That's the theme from "Dragnet" if you're wondering.)
Here come the cops. Dr. Luke says that this religious posse was made of three groups. The chief priests, the scribes, and the elders.
Let Me See Your Credentials
In my work as a TV photographer, I am often questioned by people in authority when I show up to shoot video. What are you doing here? Who said it was OK for you to do this? Let's see your media credentials? Well, that's exactly what's going on here.
These men thought they were in charge of the temple (v2). They thought they had the authority in this situation. They wanted to know who gave Jesus permission to take over the temple, because nobody had said anything to them!
Answer the Question with a Question
Once again, we see Jesus acting as wise as a serpent (v3-4). He wasn't going to be drawn into their trap. Just a little tip. Anytime you try to pull a fast one on the Lord, you’re gonna lose. Every. Single. Time.
Dum-ta-dum-dum. Dum-ta-dum-dum-DUM! (That's the theme from "Dragnet" if you're wondering.)
Here come the cops. Dr. Luke says that this religious posse was made of three groups. The chief priests, the scribes, and the elders.
Let Me See Your Credentials
In my work as a TV photographer, I am often questioned by people in authority when I show up to shoot video. What are you doing here? Who said it was OK for you to do this? Let's see your media credentials? Well, that's exactly what's going on here.
These men thought they were in charge of the temple (v2). They thought they had the authority in this situation. They wanted to know who gave Jesus permission to take over the temple, because nobody had said anything to them!
Answer the Question with a Question
Once again, we see Jesus acting as wise as a serpent (v3-4). He wasn't going to be drawn into their trap. Just a little tip. Anytime you try to pull a fast one on the Lord, you’re gonna lose. Every. Single. Time.
Christ answered their question of His authority with another question. It was a question of John the Baptizer's authority.
He wanted to know from them who gave John the right to baptize. Had he carried out a heavenly mandate? Or was it because the people demanded it?
It was the Question behind the Question.
Huddle Up!
The posse huddle up for a quick confab (v5-6). What do we do? What do we say? The smartest men in the land were stumped.
If they say John had God's authority, then they have lost all spiritual authority. If they say John was only responding to the whim of the people, they'll be stoned faster than the crowd at a Grateful Dead concert.
Jesus had asked the Question behind the Question.
Jesus Is Legit
They eventually scrambled to respond that they just didn't know (v7). Is that your final answer? If so, WRONG!
Jesus' Question behind the Question had revealed that these religious leaders actually had NO authority! Zero. Zip. Zilch.
The Elephant in the Room
As a result, Jesus said He would not reveal His authority (v8). Don't take His answer as a desire to not claim divinity. As a matter of fact, it was just the opposite.
His divine authority and claim to be God was the elephant in the room. In so many words, Jesus linked His authority to that of John's.
He wanted to know from them who gave John the right to baptize. Had he carried out a heavenly mandate? Or was it because the people demanded it?
It was the Question behind the Question.
Huddle Up!
The posse huddle up for a quick confab (v5-6). What do we do? What do we say? The smartest men in the land were stumped.
If they say John had God's authority, then they have lost all spiritual authority. If they say John was only responding to the whim of the people, they'll be stoned faster than the crowd at a Grateful Dead concert.
Jesus had asked the Question behind the Question.
Jesus Is Legit
They eventually scrambled to respond that they just didn't know (v7). Is that your final answer? If so, WRONG!
Jesus' Question behind the Question had revealed that these religious leaders actually had NO authority! Zero. Zip. Zilch.
The Elephant in the Room
As a result, Jesus said He would not reveal His authority (v8). Don't take His answer as a desire to not claim divinity. As a matter of fact, it was just the opposite.
His divine authority and claim to be God was the elephant in the room. In so many words, Jesus linked His authority to that of John's.
On a Mission from God
Remember, John's entire mission was to prepare the way for Messiah and to identify Him to the people (Lk 3). If John's legit, then so is Jesus. And if you’re wondering, Jesus IS legit.
Jesus IS God. Like the Blues Brothers, John was on a mission from God. Jesus IS the mission of God!
When Christ answers a question with a question it becomes clear that He is THE Answer.
Remember, John's entire mission was to prepare the way for Messiah and to identify Him to the people (Lk 3). If John's legit, then so is Jesus. And if you’re wondering, Jesus IS legit.
Jesus IS God. Like the Blues Brothers, John was on a mission from God. Jesus IS the mission of God!
When Christ answers a question with a question it becomes clear that He is THE Answer.
©2017
Jay Jennings
You know well that Jesus snswering a question with a question was HIS very frequent mode of teaching. Jesus was a rabbi and not just a rabbi but a shmeka rabbi with authority to interpret and expand the Torah. HIS answering a question with a question is the rabbinical way of teaching. By doing that, Jesus was able to enhance the teaching and expand the listeners knowledge. Jesus was fully God and fully human too. As a human, HE was a rabbi and HE taught exactly like one. Remember when Jesus sat to teach (in the boat and in the temple) that was the way rabbi's taught - by sitting down and the listeners would stand. Jesus modeled his rabbiness over and over when delivering the GOOD news.
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