Who gave the power to Jesus?

Who gave the power to Jesus?
We know that with every office, rank, and position, there are strictly limited duties, tasks, and other things that come with the work. Exceeding one’s authority is not allowed; it is forbidden and punishable. Even the chief priests and elders of the people know this, so they ask Jesus, “By what authority are you doing this? And who gave you this power?” (Mt. 21:23).

Jesus knew he was being closely watched. His every word, his every miracle, is under the stern gaze of the informers, not only the secular power of the Roman Pontius Pilate but also the religious messengers sent after Jesus by Annas and Caiaphas as by other groups of elders from the people. Jesus, however, acts with all the obviousness of one who has power, and not, as the leaders of the nation do, with the power that comes from their position.

Jesus teaches even though they have never and nowhere seen him study. We had known this since the time he was lost in the Jerusalem temple, as a 12-year-old, when many learned men asked: “What kind of wisdom has he received…?” (Mk. 6:2). They would have understood his actions if they had listened more carefully to Jesus’ words. More than once, Jesus said to them: “The Father and I are one.” (Jn 10:30). Even when they heard these words and others like them from the mouth of Jesus, they judged them as words of blasphemy that He considered Himself to be the Son of God. Yes, Jesus is the Son of God. He is a faithful God with the Father and the Holy Spirit. We know this from the Mount of Transfiguration, where the apostles heard the words: “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him!” (Mt 17:5). We know similar comments from the Jordan River after the baptism by John the Baptist. These and other evidences-where Jesus got his power, why he did what he did-did not satisfy the leaders of the nation.

We see this in today’s Gospel as well. But Jesus puts them in a strange situation and gives them an answer they don’t want to accept with a wittily constructed counter-question. John the Baptist was held in high esteem by many. They took John’s baptism at the Jordan River and spoke of him as a man of God and a prophet. John was a respected man, a revered man, yet they did not receive his preaching as they should have. That is why the Gospel today asks those present, “Where did John’s baptism come from? From heaven or men?” And we see that they were thinking and saying to themselves: “If we say, – From heaven, – he will say to us, – Why then did you not believe him? – But if we say – From men – we have much to fear from the multitude, for John is regarded by all as a prophet.” So they answered Jesus: “We do not know.” And he answered them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.” (Mt. 21:24-27). A telling counter-question. Jesus proved to them their dishonesty, their partiality toward Him.

What does this mean for us? Many times our thoughts, words speak against us. We want to oppose Christ, his teachings, and we see that his instructions are: the way, the truth, and the life. What is the cause of our often so wrong attitude? It is our weakness to give ourselves entirely into the hands of Jesus. He calls us to himself. But we know that we would have to renounce certain goods that we consider essential in our lives. Even though we know that Jesus wants to give us his good things, we acknowledge them, we know they are more valuable, yet human weakness speaks of us.

This Gospel wants to awaken in us, in the time of preparation for the birth of Jesus Christ, the desire to give ourselves entirely to Jesus, open the back chamber of our hearts to him, and close the door that we wanted to keep ajar in case… Today, we want to accept the words of Jesus: “Whoever wishes to come after me, let him deny himself…”(Mt 16:24). Because we know that Jesus has a power that surpasses our knowledge, any human power because he is God. Such a course of action in our lives will only ever work out to our benefit and advantage. Though difficult for some, our life will surely be rich in the graces that flow from our works. It is a strange feeling that I may lose everything here on earth. They can take away my power, destroy my career, and lose my savings and health, yet everything is gained when connected to God. He has a power that far exceeds our knowledge. Even the highest-ranking dignitary, functionary, the officer knows that he is not the master of everything.

A rational person knows that this will end one day, and we will be held accountable for everything. That is why we always and everywhere want to do the will of God and remain faithful to Him.