John Baumgartner \\ The authorities of Jerusalem--the chief priests, scribes, and elders--are afraid of the following that Jesus is gathering. They try to put a stop to it by questioning His authority. He turns the question back on them and shows that their authority is no real one at all. Jesus has true authority, authority to lay down His life and take it up again, and it makes Him fearless and free from manipulation. Trusting in His authority, we can follow Him in that fearless freedom laying down our lives as well.