Three Reasons for Refusal

Introduction

Ill: Authorized personal only

Have you ever been somewhere you knew you’re not supposed to be? I think we can all say there was a time we’ve done this.

- Travel: You’re travelling on vacation and you see a gate with the sign we all hate to see, “AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY”. I know what comes to mind when you see that sign, it happens to me too, “Who says I can’t take a quick look?! I’m sure nobody will notice.” What do you do? Well naturally, you give in to your curiosity and step through that gate.

- Highway Median Turnaround

- STAFF ONLY

At this point the adrenaline is rushing through your body. But you’re spotted and asked the age old question, “Who are you? Who said you can be here?” This question has to do with your authority, do you have permission to be here and do what you’re doing?

These were questions the religious leaders brought to Jesus. Jesus just overturned the merchants tables in the temple. The Jewish religious leaders were MAD. From that point on, the religious leaders plotted how they might entangle Jesus in His own words.

Now at the close of Mark 11, Jesus makes His return to the temple, and the Pharisees come prepared with questions with which they’re certain will stump Jesus.

But Jesus, like He always does, turned these questions to reveal the hypocrisy that lives in their hearts and in ours. The Pharisees suffered with a heart condition known to live in all men; it’s a thing we call pride. We can’t bear the thought of submitting to an authority higher than our own, so we reject the One who claims to have it. The example of the religious leaders in this account shows us that there are three reasons why we refuse Christ, all stemming back to the heart. We refuse Jesus not because He is not worthy, but because of the hardness of our hearts.

(Open in prayer)

I. Reason One: Failure to Submit - 11:27-28

Here in the opening of our account we encounter the first reason for refusal, and that is the failure to submit. It’s a failure to submit to Christ’s God-given authority. This point is truly the root of our refusal of Christ, the other two reasons we’ll see later stem from this root.

After a time of retreat and teaching in Bethany, Christ and His disciples made their way back to Jerusalem in vs. 27. And it says,

Mark 11:27 KJV 1900

27 as he was walking in the temple, there come to him the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders,

The scene is set, Jesus and the disciples were in the temple, probably in the court of the Gentiles; a broad place in the southern part of the temple grounds where many people would be found.

And all of a sudden, the mighty religious leaders walk in. You see the chief priests, the scribes (experts in the Law, Pharisees included), and the members of the Jewish aristocracy who were called elders. If you were in the crowd you’d notice them all dressed up in their official robes, probably looking confident as ever, maybe even a little arrogant, excited to finally catch this Jesus in a trap.

They throw the first punch, saying in verse 28, Mark 11:28

Mark 11:28 KJV 1900

28 And say unto him, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority to do these things?

They ask two questions…

By what authority are You doing these things?

And who gave You this authority?

The first question has to do with the nature of Jesus’ authority: What kind of authority does He have? Prophetic authority? Messianic?

And the second question has to do with the source of His authority: “Show us Your credentials! Show us Your ID!” “Who said you could be doing these things?” Did some man give Him permission? Did God give Him permission? Or is it demonic?

Before we go any deeper into the cleverness of their question, we need to understand what they challenged Jesus for, what are “these things” that they say Jesus had authority to do? Well, think of Jesus’ life, He claimed to have authority over many things…

Authority to forgive (The Son of Man hath power on earth to forgive sins)

Authority over the Sabbath (He is Lord of the Sabbath)

He taught with authority (The prophets wrote… But I say to you)

To cast out demons and calm a stormy sea

Jesus claimed authority over all these things, which I’m sure comes into play in their question. But most of all, they wondered where Christ got the authority to do what He was doing in the temple.

What did Jesus just do during His last visit to the temple? (Cleansed the Temple with a hot righteous anger)

And now, these religious leaders who are in charge of the temple grounds hit the brakes. “WOAH, WOAH, WOAH! Who gave You the right to do this in OUR temple, Jesus?”

They thought they were so clever with this question. “Surely we’ll get Jesus this time!” Think about the possibilities…

What happens if Jesus plainly tells them His authority is from the Father?

They accuse Jesus of blasphemy and stone Him immediately.

What happens if Jesus takes the other route and says He has no authority…

His entire ministry is discredited. We have no reason to listen to Jesus, let alone follow Him.

So, they thought, “We’ve got Him! Great thinking team!”

But is God easily cornered? (I don’t think so! Jesus comes up with an answer better than the smartest man in history could even fathom)

If anything, this question of theirs uncovers the hardness of their hearts.

Do the religious leaders really think Jesus has legitimate authority? (Not in a million years!)

In their eyes, Jesus is formally untrained, not religiously recognized, and self-appointed.

What do they want then? (Jesus to be stumped)

Why? (Because they don’t like the idea of Jesus being their authority.)

It’s a nasty heart condition. I’m certain you know someone who are sick with this, look in the mirror! Ever since Adam and Eve plunged this world into sin, we want to be God! We don’t like the idea of a higher authority who governs our lives, Who makes the rules, and Whose plans always happen.

We’ve been trying to escape God as our authority for so long now. Why do you think the theory of evolution swept the world? People don’t WANT God, Listen to the words from the Nobel Prize winning Biologist George Wald.

“There are only two possibilities as to how life arose. One is spontaneous generation arising to evolution; the other is a supernatural creative act of God. There is no third possibility. Spontaneous generation, that life arose from non-living matter, was scientifically disproved 120 years ago by Louis Pasteur and others. That leaves us with the only possible conclusion that life arose as a supernatural creative act of God. I will not accept that philosophically because I do not want to believe in God. Therefore, I choose to believe in that which I know is scientifically impossible; spontaneous generation arising to evolution.”

The reason for our rejection is simple, we don’t want God!

II. Reason Two: Dishonest Examination of Truth - 11:29-31

Jesus knew that if He got their question wrong, the Pharisees would have cornered Him. He knows the game these Pharisees and Sadducees were playing, so He answers them in vs. 29…

Mark 11:29 NKJV

29 But Jesus answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one question; then answer Me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things:

Jesus is not refusing to answer their question on His authority, He refused to endorse their hypocrisy by giving in to their question.

Jesus tells them, “Let me ask you a question first. If you can answer Me, I’ll answer your question.”

This is common place in rabbinical circles. It was normal in debates to counter a question with another question. But Jesus does it in an unusual way. He refuses to answer their question unless they answer His first.

Did you notice what Jesus did here?

In demanding them to answer His question, He cornered the Pharisees, He took control of the conversation. So, without plainly telling them, He just established who really has authority here. Brilliant!!!

Mark 11:30 KJV 1900

30 The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? answer me.

His question has to do with John the Baptist, was his authority God-given (from heaven)? Or was it his own authority (of men)?

What He says after is amazing and almost funny to me, what does He say after He asks the question? (“Answer Me.” This is a command! Who has the authority to command the high priest? Only God does!)

God is in control here!

Back to Jesus’ question. John the Baptist; was he legitimate? Or no?

When you think about it, this is a masterful question. By questioning them on John the Baptist’s authority, He is exposing what they think about Jesus.

What did John the Baptist preach? (Repentance and the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ)

If John the Baptist is legitimate, it follows that Jesus is legitimate. So they get together and deliberate…

Mark 11:31 KJV 1900

31 And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?

The evidence was abundant, John was a prophet, and Jesus was too; we know that because of Jesus’ baptism. After He was baptized, the Holy Spirit descended on Christ in the form of a dove and the Father audibly spoke saying “this is My well beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” The Pharisees don’t believe this is true though, but they would never tell the crowd how they felt.

In the baseball world, we’d say Jesus caught them in a pickle. Either direction they go is danger…

- Go left towards second base: Say John was from God: Jesus will ask why they don’t believe then!

- Go right towards third base: Say he’s not from God: The crowds will be in upheaval and will hate us.

They would never truthfully answer this question, it will hurt their reputation, and their power will be ripped away from them!

There’s no good way out of this one! But remember the root of the problem, our hearts our hard, we don’t want God to be in control of our lives…

So what do we do? (We deny the truth that is so obviously there)

Romans 1:24 says that we change the truth of God into a lie, and worship the creature more than the Creator.

“I don’t want God to be real! So I’m going to close my eyes, plug my ears and say God doesn’t exist, and you can’t tell me otherwise!

“You have no authority over me Jesus! I’m the king of my own life! And if I have to lie to keep that power, I will!!”

Ever heard that before?

Watch out… It’s in here (Point to heart)

(PAUSE)

Why do we reject God? (Because we don’t submit to His authority, and because of that, we deny the truth that is right before our eyes)

III. Reason Three: Fear of Man - 11:32-33

Our final reason for rejection is the fear of man. Look at the reasoning of the religious leaders in vs. 32…

Mark 11:32 NKJV

32 But if we say, ‘From men’ ”—they feared the people, for all counted John to have been a prophet indeed.

These words perfectly describe the Pharisees, “they feared the people” How hypocritical!

If they honestly answered the question, we know what they’d say, “John the Baptist was no prophet, and neither are You, Jesus!”

But what’s the problem?

“If we tell Jesus that John was not legitimate, everyone’s going to kill us!”

Do you fear what people think of you?

Do you struggle to share the truth when it’s unpopular?

We’ve all been there. You’re in a discussion with a group of people you disagree with. And they ask you, “What do you think?” All of a sudden you get real squeamish… “Well… You know what? I’m not too sure about that one. I’ll have to look into that.”

We all know you aren’t clueless, you’re just scared!

Scared of the confrontation. Scared of harming our reputation. Scared of revealing who we truly are, taking off our masks… imagine that!

Proverbs 29:25 says,

Proverbs 29:25 KJV 1900

25 The fear of man bringeth a snare: But whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.

Will I allow myself to be trapped by people’s expectations? By my public picture? By others opinions on what is right or wrong?

If in our eyes men are bigger than God (their opinion means more to me than God’s), beware, you’re treading dangerously close to rejection. Why? I fear man’s condemnation more than God’s.

The Pharisees and Sadducees do exactly this, in vs. 33 they give in and answer Jesus’ question…

Mark 11:33 KJV 1900

33 And they answered and said unto Jesus, We cannot tell.

They take the route that causes the least damage to themselves, ignorance! You know what’s amazing? That doesn’t look good either!

What kind of religious leader are you if you can’t notice a prophet?

These men are supposed to be experts of the Mosaic Law, they spent their whole lives studying, teaching, and discussing God and His ways. And now you’re telling me they can’t even tell a prophet when they see one? Pathetic!

So, Jesus, once again victorious, tells them…

Mark 11:33 KJV 1900

And Jesus answering saith unto them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.

When the Pharisees ask “Who are You to do these things?” Jesus says, “Who are you to question My authority?”

Did Jesus NEED to answer them at all? (Not if His authority comes from God)

Jesus’ authority comes from the Father, therefore it stands whether or not you or I believe it.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, what authority do we have to question God?

God assumes His own authority, He doesn’t need us to confirm it, it just is. No questions asked. The matter here is one of belief…

Will I accept this? Do I accept that God is in control of my life?

If I do, then I understand that I have no inherent right to question God’s acts in my life and in the world.

Oh but we love asking the questions…

- “Why did you give me cancer, God?”

- “Why is my family so broken?”

- “Why did you give me this body?”

- “Why won’t you let me enjoy a little sin?”

- “Why didn’t my career dreams come true? Is this it?”

Are you God? Am I in control of my own destiny? Am I God’s counselor?

God doesn’t need us, far from it!

Isaiah 45:9 NKJV

9 “Woe to him who strives with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth! Shall the clay say to him who forms it, ‘What are you making?’ Or shall your handiwork say, ‘He has no hands’?

We’re clay, and He is the potter. The clay doesn’t mess with such high questions, “Why this?!” “Why not that?!”

Listen to the 5th verse of William Cowper’s Hymn, “God Moves in a Mysterious Way”

“Blind unbelief is sure to err,   And scan His work in vain; God is His own Interpreter,   And He will make it plain.”

God’s ways are infinitely higher than ours, He doesn’t need our help sketching out His plan for our lives, that’s His job.

All there is for us is one decision,

Am I willing to accept that Christ is the Lord of my life?

Trust me, if you accept this reality, you will find incredible freedom. You’ll be able to rejoice in the face of the trials and disappointments of your life.

Why?

Because I’m not in control! God is my authority, He is my Lord; and what kind of Lord is He? He is a benevolent Father, He loves me so much that He sent His Son to die for me. And now He walks with me in my deepest trials. And even the most disappointing reality of my life is a tool He’s using to conform me to Christ.

But if I reject Christ, deny His authority, I’m searching for something I’ll never find.

Aren’t you tired? Tired of grasping for control of your life?

You’re chasing the wind, you’ll never find what you are looking for.

Let go. Submit to God’s control. You will be free.

(Close in prayer)