Shrewd as serpents, Innocent as doves

Luke 20:1-8

20 One day, as he was teaching the people in the temple and telling the good news, the chief priests and the scribes came with the elders 2 and said to him, “Tell us, by what authority are you doing these things? Who is it who gave you this authority?” 3 He answered them, “I will also ask you a question, and you tell me: 4 Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?” 5 They discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’ 6 But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ all the people will stone us; for they are convinced that John was a prophet.” 7 So they answered that they did not know where it came from. 8 Then Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”

The week before Jesus’ crucifixion was a running battle between Jesus and various religious authorities.

Here the conflict begins as the leaders of the temple ask about Jesus’ source of authority. It is a trick question, because if Jesus says his authority comes from God, then he has committed blasphemy (no human being can claim equality with God) and the religious authorities can try Jesus for blasphemy. If Jesus says that he acts on his own authority or on the authority of a group of human beings, the crowd would disown him because they believe he is from God,

Jesus aware of what the questioners were trying to do, asked the questioners a question, one that was equally difficult because it too was a trick question, as the leaders recognize. Seeing they could not answer the question Jesus asked, the leaders of the temple said they did not know the answer to the question, and Jesus replied by saying he would not answer the initial question.  

Is Jesus being rude here? Or is Jesus being shrewd? Yes, God’s people are to be transparent and truthful, we are to be innocent. But we are also to be shrewd. To be thinking ahead, to recognize the pitfalls people may be setting us up for. To be ready for possible challenges and objections. We won’t be able to think of everything, but we are to be prepared as Jesus was here. The Holy Spirit will give us insight and ability to confront those who oppose the kingdom and block its advancement. We are invited to use our wits, our God given wits, for the cause of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

PRAYER:

All-knowing and all-powerful God, your Son, Jesus faced opposition. As we follow Jesus, we too face opposition. Help us to be innocent and shrewd, gracious and smart, guide our words and our actions by the Holy Spirit that we might be courageous and wise followers of Jesus. In his name we pray. Amen.