Mark 11:27-33 (NIV)

Many of us have had the uncomfortable experience of being wrongfully accused. Maybe our teacher thought we were cheating on a test, but we weren’t. Maybe our boss accused us of taking money from the drawer, but there was another reason the nightly cash count came up short… We know the shame and indignation of being accused of something we were innocent of. But most of us also know, or hopefully know, the experience of being rightly rebuked. We did something wrong. We acted unjustly, hurt someone’s feelings or reputation, and we needed to be corrected. But the true test of our character comes in how we respond to that rebuke. Do we deny it? Attack the other person’s reputation instead? Or do we apologize, repent, ask for forgiveness, and learn from our mistake?

In today’s passage, Jesus gives this opportunity to the “elders,” the teachers of the law, and the chief priests—the religious and political leaders of Israel. Each group had their own motivation for protecting their reputation—whether to maintain the status quo with Rome, maintain their power over the religious temple system, or keep the peace among the people. Let’s listen to the passage and see what we can learn both from Jesus and those he rebukes.

----------REFLECT----------

1. What stood out to you as you pictured this scene?

2. From the beginning of the Mark’s gospel, Jesus’ authority has been front and center. His healings, driving out demons, teachings and miracles… The people saw and proclaimed his authority. But now he’s exercising authority in the temple, in the “religious” space, and those who control that space don’t want to recognize it—so much so that they risk denying the authority of Yahweh to maintain control.

Sometimes we know that Jes us is right about our lives, our thoughts or actions, but in our desire to maintain control, we deny his authority, and consequently that of our Maker. Where in your life do you feel the urging of God’s Spirit to release authority over to him?

3. Belonging to God, following Jesus, walking in his Spirit means walking in that same authority. Where do you see injustice, disease, brokenness or pain? In what ways might God be calling you to exercise authority in those places?

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