Questions in the Temple

Questions in the Temple
Words of Faith 2-27-2024
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2024
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Mark 11
[27] They arrived again in Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him. [28] "By what authority are you doing these things?" they asked. "And who gave you authority to do this?"
[29] Jesus replied, "I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. [30] John's baptism‑‑was it from heaven, or from men? Tell me!"
[31] They discussed it among themselves and said, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask, 'Then why didn't you believe him?' [32] But if we say, 'From men' . . . ." (They feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet.)
[33] So they answered Jesus, "We don't know."
Jesus said, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things."

Have you ever noticed that sometimes a question is not a question but a statement? Jesus was finally standing in the Temple courts prepared to teach the Word of God when suddenly He was bombarded by religious questioners. But it was clear that those asking were not truly seeking. Every question had an agenda. Each inquiry had a design.
"By what authority are you doing these things?" But they did not really want to know. Translation: "You have challenged my authority in this place. Who gave you the authority to do this?" Did they really want to know? Not at all. Further translation: "Who do you think YOU are?! We are the religious authority around here, and we won't be challenged by some bumpkin from Nazareth! No, I don't want to know about God because I am the god of my little universe and my little temple!"
So Jesus dealt with them. "Answer my question, and I will answer yours." The question He asked not only put the religious leaders in an uncomfortable pickle between Jesus and the people but also struck at the heart of things: Repentance. And rather than face repentance, they answered with a lie. "We don't know." That is one of our favorite lies when we know precisely: "I don't know..."
What could be more valuable and wonderful than an honest conversation with God Himself? But these folks didn't know such an opportunity when they walked up and looked them in the face. They could not even muster an honest question for the Son of God.
Sounds easy? If you could ask Jesus one question, what would it be? Hmmmmm. See? It is not that easy. Our thoughts quickly go to when we thought we were wronged or when things did not go our way. We ask questions like "Why didn't you do things the way I said to!" or "Why didn't you consult me before you did that strange thing?"
In essence, we ask precisely the same questions of Jesus. "Who do you think you are? By what authority did you do this?" We are pretty similar. "Why have you come into my temple and disturbed my way of doing things? But there is an answer.
"What about John's baptism of repentance? Was it from heaven or from men? Tell me!" The answer is so simple. It is right under our noses. Repentance. We don't want to face that answer. Repentance makes us squirm, but there is no other way to get to Him but by responding to His grace and turning around. Surrender your temple to Jesus. Allow Him to clean up the courts and drive out the vendors. Surrender to Him.
"I know who you are. You are the Christ of God. I welcome you into the Temple of my heart and life. You know all those questions I was going to ask? I can't remember them. I trust you."

Lord, I welcome you to walk about in the Temple of my heart. I acknowledge Your full authority here. I surrender to your will and way in my life. In Jesus' name, Amen.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2024
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2024 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.