Blessed Lord of all days, visit the needs and challenges of this dear reader today and all days; in Christ Jesus' name I pray, amen.
Tuesday of Holy Week: Here is our passage for today: "Tell us, by what authority are you doing these things? Who is it who gave you this authority?" 3 He answered them, "I will also ask you a question, and you tell me: 4 Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?" 5 They discussed it with one another, saying, "If we say, "From heaven,' he will say, "Why did you not believe him?' 6 But if we say, "Of human origin,' all the people will stone us; for they are convinced that John was a prophet." 7 So they answered that they did not know where it came from. 8 Then Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things." 9 He began to tell the people this parable: "A man planted a vineyard, and leased it to tenants, and went to another country for a long time. 10 When the season came, he sent a slave to the tenants in order that they might give him his share of the produce of the vineyard; but the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 11 Next he sent another slave; that one also they beat and insulted and sent away empty-handed. 12 And he sent still a third; this one also they wounded and threw out. 13 Then the owner of the vineyard said, "What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him.' 14 But when the tenants saw him, they discussed it among themselves and said, "This is the heir; let us kill him so that the inheritance may be ours.' 15 So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16 He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others." When they heard this, they said, "Heaven forbid!"
It is Tuesday of Holy Week and Jesus has returned to the Temple. The religious folk want to trap Jesus and so they ask him, "Who has given you the authority to do the things that you do?" They had heard and some of them had seen all that Jesus was doing and teaching. They were amazed and stunned and also insulted. So, a good starting point is to ask Jesus just who had given Him the right to do these things. Jesus answers their question with a good question. The question is based on John's act of baptizing people. "Who gave John that authority?" Jesus wants to know, knowing that however they answered that question would answer theirs as well. They discussed it among themselves and they knew the implications of any answer and so they say, "We don't know." Then Jesus says, "Then I won't tell you."
We see and experience wonderous things in our lives. We see and hear about unexplainable healings, deliverances, transformations, doors opened that once seemed closed forever, and the list goes on and on and some of us get hung up with the authority question. Ultimately, it becomes a real case of our asking what gives God the right to do these things? Or worse, we declare, God could never really do that sort of thing! It's something that only happened in the Bible! Foolish us! God cares for us and does things we don't believe and most times, certainly don't deserve. God has that authority; in fact, God has complete authority to do as God would please.
Why don't we today not look for authority but seek opportunity for God to be at work. Set aside doubt and territories and let God has His way in our lives. This is after all, the last week of our Lenten Journey; no better time for God to show us and do with and for us something that would bless us beyond belief.
PRAYER: God, You have complete authority over my life. I surrender to You and turn over to You the needs in my life. Work in me and through me and even in spite of obstacles I may have placed between us, to show Your glory to all. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
