Refocus, Gain Authority

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Opening Prayer

Heavenly Father, the rush of life, the din of noise, the ache of sorrow, all overwhelm me. Quiet me in Your presence.

Read Luke 19:45-20:8

^[45] Then he entered the temple area and began driving out those who were selling. ^[46] “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be a house of prayer’; but you have made it ‘a den of robbers.'” ^[47] Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him. ^[48] Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words. ^[1] One day as he was teaching the people in the temple courts and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, together with the elders, came up to him. ^[2] “Tell us by what authority you are doing these things,” they said. “Who gave you this authority?” ^[3] He replied, “I will also ask you a question. Tell me, ^[4] John’s baptism-was it from heaven, or from men?” ^[5] They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Why didn’t you believe him?’ ^[6] But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us, because they are persuaded that John was a prophet.” ^[7] So they answered, “We don’t know where it was from.” ^[8] Jesus said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

Meditate

“This is our predicament. Again and again, we lose sight of what’s important and what isn’t” (Epictetus AD 55-135).

Think Further

Jesus is followed by an admiring crowd. The chief priests, in contrast, oppose him at every step. The confrontation reaches a decisive and paradoxical point. It is paradoxical because the one who does not hold a position in the system has the real authority. The priests received authority from their position; authority based on position is valid only while holding that position; personal authority emerges from the inside.

It is a decisive moment. Jesus needs to discern what is the right thing to do at the temple court and, later, how to respond to the priests. The priests know what they want to do, but the crowd disapproves of their plan. Refocusing life is a process by which we refine our authority. Jesus said to the religious leaders “It is written” (46). In his actions, in his humanity, he aligned himself with the truth, something outside himself. Events and circumstances shape us; confrontations are the crucible in which we become transformed. The priests, in open confrontation with Jesus, are seeking to discredit him by putting him into a corner. Yet, Jesus is not there to win a discussion; he is driven by something much bigger. The priests want to kill Jesus, but he is able to discern the right direction for his life.

The religious leaders lost their understanding of God’s principles for life. They became a product of their own organization; Jesus did not fit their categories (47,48). The priests and their system became the “truth” by which others would be measuredﾗand misled. How they needed to let Jesus help them refocus so they could see the truth!

Apply

Can you identify actions in your life that may refocus you in God’s principles and plans? Take time to ponder recent events and circumstances to discover their potential for a transformative effect in you.

Closing prayer

Sovereign God, the words of Jesus about priority living really challenge me. Empower me to seek Your Kingdom above all.

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