The Urantia Book -- Part IV. The Life And
Teachings Of Jesus
PAPER 173: Section 2.
Challenging The Master's Authority
P1891:2, 173:2.1
On Sunday the triumphal entry into Jerusalem so overawed the Jewish leaders
that they refrained from placing Jesus under arrest. Today, this spectacular
cleansing of the temple likewise effectively postponed the Master's apprehension.
Day by day the rulers of the Jews were becoming more and more determined to
destroy him, but they were distraught by two fears, which conspired to delay
the hour of striking. The chief priests and the scribes were unwilling to arrest
Jesus in public for fear the multitude might turn upon them in a fury of resentment;
they also dreaded the possibility of the Roman guards being called upon to
quell
a popular uprising.
P1891:3, 173:2.2
At the noon session of the Sanhedrin it was unanimously agreed that Jesus must
be speedily destroyed, inasmuch as no friend of the Master attended this meeting.
But they could not agree as to when and how he should be taken into custody.
Finally they agreed upon appointing five groups to go out among the people and
seek to entangle him in his teaching or otherwise to discredit him in the sight
of those who listened to his instruction. Accordingly, about two o'clock, when
Jesus had just begun his discourse on "The Liberty of Sonship," a group of these
elders of Israel made their way up near Jesus and, interrupting him in the customary
manner, asked this question: "By what authority do you do these things? Who
gave you this authority?"
P1891:4, 173:2.3
It was altogether proper that the temple rulers and the officers of the Jewish
Sanhedrin should ask this question of anyone who presumed to teach and perform
in the extraordinary manner which had been characteristic of Jesus, especially
as concerned his recent conduct in clearing the temple of all commerce. These
traders and money-changers all operated by direct license from the highest rulers,
and a percentage of their gains was supposed to go directly into the temple
treasury. Do not forget that authority was the watchword of all Jewry.
The prophets were always stirring up trouble because they so boldly presumed
to teach without authority, without having been duly instructed in the rabbinic
academies and subsequently regularly ordained by the Sanhedrin. Lack of this
authority in pretentious public teaching was looked upon as indicating either
ignorant presumption or open rebellion. At this time only the Sanhedrin could
ordain an elder or teacher, and such a ceremony had to take place in the presence
of at least three persons who had previously been so ordained. Such an ordination
conferred the title of "rabbi" upon the teacher and also qualified him to act
as a judge, "binding and
loosing such matters as might be brought to him for
adjudication."
P1892:1, 173:2.4
The rulers of the temple came before Jesus at this afternoon hour challenging
not only his teaching but his acts. Jesus well knew that these very men had
long publicly taught that his authority for teaching was
Satanic, and that all
his mighty works had been wrought by the power of the prince of devils. Therefore
did the Master begin his answer to their question by asking them a
counter-question.
Said Jesus: "I would also like to ask you one question which, if you will answer
me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these works. The baptism
of John, whence was it? Did John get his authority from heaven or from men?"
P1892:2, 173:2.5
And when his questioners heard this, they withdrew to one side to take counsel
among themselves as to what answer they might give. They had thought to embarrass
Jesus before the multitude, but now they found themselves much confused before
all who were assembled at that time in the temple court. And their discomfiture
was all the more apparent when they returned to Jesus, saying: "Concerning the
baptism of John, we cannot answer; we do not know." And they so answered the
Master because they had reasoned among themselves: If we shall say from heaven,
then will he say, Why did you not believe him, and perchance will add that he
received his authority from John; and if we shall say from men, then might the
multitude turn upon us, for most of them hold that John was a prophet; and so
they were compelled to come before Jesus and the people confessing that they,
the religious teachers and leaders of Israel, could not (or would not) express
an opinion about John's mission. And when they had spoken, Jesus, looking down
upon them, said, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."
P1892:3, 173:2.6
Jesus never intended to appeal to John for his authority; John had never been
ordained by the Sanhedrin. Jesus' authority was in himself and in his Father's
eternal supremacy.
P1892:4, 173:2.7
In employing this method of dealing with his adversaries, Jesus did not mean
to dodge the question. At first it may seem that he was guilty of a masterly
evasion, but it was not so. Jesus was never disposed to take unfair advantage
of even his enemies. In this apparent evasion he really supplied all his hearers
with the answer to the Pharisees' question as to the authority behind his
mission. They had asserted that he performed by authority of the prince of
devils. Jesus had repeatedly asserted that all his teaching and works were
by the power and authority of his Father in heaven. This the Jewish leaders
refused to accept and were seeking to corner him into admitting that he was
an irregular teacher since he had never been sanctioned by the Sanhedrin.
In answering them as he did, while not claiming authority from John, he so
satisfied the people with the inference that the effort of his enemies to
ensnare him was effectively turned upon themselves and was much to their discredit
in the eyes of all present.
P1892:5, 173:2.8
And it was this genius of the Master for dealing with his adversaries that
made them so afraid of him. They attempted no more questions that day; they
retired to take further counsel among themselves. But the people were not
slow to discern the dishonesty and insincerity in these questions asked by
the Jewish rulers. Even the common folk could not fail to distinguish between
the moral majesty of the Master and the designing hypocrisy of his enemies.
But the cleansing of the temple had brought the Sadducees over to the side
of the Pharisees in perfecting the plan to destroy Jesus. And the Sadducees
now represented a majority of the Sanhedrin.