Last Sunday, we studied Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Today, we will focus on the events of Tuesday during Jesus' week in Jerusalem. Jesus entered Jerusalem gloriously on Sunday. He wept over the city's future destruction. On Monday, he cleansed the temple and cursed the fig tree. On Tuesday, he debated with Jewish leaders and authorities. Through today's message, we aim to learn about the consequences of denying Jesus' authority. Therefore, the title of my message today is

 

"Denial of Jesus' Authority: Historical Facts and Warnings."

 

Background of questioning Jesus' authority:

"“And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought; (19:45)." 

In the Old Testament, Jewish people went up to the temple three times a year for Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles. Historian Josephus records that 256,500 lambs arrived in Jerusalem for Passover sacrifice. If each lamb fed 10 people, over 2 million people gathered in Jerusalem for Passover. Scholars consider Josephus's account exaggerated, but it's certain that a large number of Jews visited the temple for festivals. Naturally, temple business became lucrative. Pilgrims paid high prices for sacrificial animals, and money changers profited from currency exchange. Jesus drove them out, causing significant disruption. The chief priests and leaders sought to kill Jesus because his actions threatened their profits. They needed Roman favor to maintain their positions. Jesus appeared as a threat to their authority, leading them to plot his death.

 

Questioners of Jesus' authority:

"One day, as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes with the elders came up and said to him, “by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?'

Chief Priests:

During Jesus' time, the priesthood faced Greek and Roman influences. The high priest was appointed by Rome to weaken Jewish autonomy. Annas, appointed by Rome, served as the high priest for about nine years. His son-in-law, Caiaphas, succeeded him. Their family held the high priesthood for 35 years. Though Caiaphas is mentioned, Annas wielded considerable power.

Scribes:

Scribes copied and taught the Scriptures, mostly Pharisees. They opposed the Sadducees, who rejected resurrection and accepted only the Torah.

Sanhedrin:

The Sanhedrin governed Jewish affairs. In Jerusalem, it consisted of the high priest, 24 Sadducees, 24 elders, 22 scribes or Pharisees, totaling 70 members. They interpreted laws, conducted religious trials, and managed temple security.

“by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?' They likely questioned Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, his actions in the temple, and his teachings. Their alliance against Jesus aimed to maintain their power.

 

Reason for mentioning John the Baptist:

"The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men?"

John the Baptist proclaimed Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). He baptized with water, but Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire (Matthew 3:11). John declared that he needed to be baptized by Jesus (Matthew 3:14). John the Baptist acknowledged Jesus as the Messiah who had come to the earth. Recognizing John the Baptist as a prophet sent by God automatically entails recognizing Jesus as the Messiah. Failure to do so would provoke the people to stone them. They refused to answer. Jesus thwarted the schemes of those who sought to trap him by cleverly navigating their attempts to incriminate him.

 

Bewilderment of questioners:

The individuals questioning Jesus' authority were actually well aware of it. Nicodemus, a Pharisee and a ruler of the Jews, acknowledged that God was with Jesus (John 3:2). They were the same people who claimed that Jesus cast out demons by Beelzebub (Mark 3:22). Those who were displeased when Jesus healed the blind and the lame in the temple were among them (Matthew 21:14-15). Authority comes not from words but from power (1 Corinthians 4:19). They were familiar with Jesus' abilities, yet they still sought to challenge his authority by questioning his words, even after witnessing his Messianic power.

 

Denying Jesus' authority is serious:

Denying Jesus' authority is not a simple matter. The leaders of the people sought to deny Jesus' authority. Rejecting Jesus' authority leads to discipline and judgment. The consequence of denying Jesus as the Messiah resulted in the judgment of Jerusalem forty years later. It led to the sorrow of a people who wandered the world as a nation lost for two thousand years. Therefore, leadership is crucial. Leaders must guide their people rightly. If leaders lose this mandate and stray from the path, it's like the blind leading the blind, leading to destruction (Matthew 15:14). Due to blind leaders, even the people will perish.

 

Awareness of the age of denial of Jesus' authority:

Jesus' arrival marked the beginning of the last days. This age, the last of the last days, witnesses many false messiahs and teachers. Those who oppose Christ's authority arise, and we must discern and resist them. As it is written in the Bible "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves" (Matthew 7:15).

 

In such an age, how should we live by faith?

We must stand on the sound doctrine as described in the Bible. We should discern and refute false teachings that deny the holiness and divinity of Jesus and fail to acknowledge him as the Messiah of the Second Coming. We should believe in the judgment that awaits those who do not recognize Jesus' authority at his Second Coming. Additionally, we should recognize the rewards awaiting those who acknowledge his authority. Denying Jesus' authority is not a trivial matter. While it may start small, its consequences can be immense.

 

Through such historical facts and religious reflections, we can clearly understand how denying Jesus' authority extends beyond individual beliefs to impact society and history as a whole. Choosing to deny Jesus' authority not only affects us individually but also has deep ramifications for our society and the world. Therefore, we must be vigilant of the far-reaching effects of denying Jesus' authority and realize the importance of understanding and respecting it correctly.