For YOU Jesus Went to the Cross!

Matthew 21:23-27 New International Version (NIV)

The Authority of Jesus Questioned

23 Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you this authority?”

24 Jesus replied, “I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 25 John’s baptism—where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or of human origin?”

They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘Of human origin’—we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet.”

27 So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”

Then he said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things. Friday, September 4 - Matthew 21:23-27 I am not a confrontational person by nature. One time I was very hurt and upset about things that someone had been doing. But I could not bring myself to talk to them about it. There was some indication of unethical behavior, but I really did not know for sure or have any proof. Much of the difficulties were personal. But one day, I was stirred up by others to stand up and confront! I have always regretted

that moment. To be sure, there are times when we need to confront each other

and hold each other accountable, but many times we are merely being

self-righteous and think we have all the answers. But Jesus is not interested in our

self-righteous games. He doesn’t really care if we don’t like the way he does things.

He is going to do what he came to do: forgive, save, and give new life. He knows we

need it. He went to the cross to forgive us and that’s all there is to it!