5th Wednesday of Lent (April 9). TELLING … NOT TELLING

Prepare to Listen.  The LORD has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.
 
Prayerfully Read Luke 20:1-8
One day, as he was teaching the people in the temple and telling the good news, the chief priests and the scribes came with the elders 2and said to him, ‘Tell us, by what authority are you doing these things?  Who is it who gave you this authority?’  3He answered them, ‘I will also ask you a question, and you tell me: 4Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?’  5They discussed it with one another, saying, ‘If we say, “From heaven”, he will say, “Why did you not believe him?”  6But if we say, “Of human origin”, all the people will stone us; for they are convinced that John was a prophet.’  7So they answered that they did not know where it came from.  8Then Jesus said to them, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.’
 
Prayerfully Wonder and Reflect
The story begins with Jesus “telling the good news” to lay people.  It ends with him saying to clergy, “Neither will I tell you.”  Why do you think lay people accepted his teaching and authority when their leaders didn’t?
 
The Jewish clergy, the chief priests, scribes and elders were rattled.  Jesus, ignoring their authority and rights, took over the Temple, first to drive out legitimate traders and then to tell the good news to the people who gathered around him.  In their minds what he did to the traders was bad; what he taught the people, the good news that the old was about to be replaced with the new, was worse.  It conflicted with what they taught the people.  And that’s why the rulers were mad and demanded that Jesus reveal his authority.
 
It was a legitimate request.  They were charged with ensuring that the truth was taught, and people weren’t being led astray.  It’s what good religious leaders do.  Before inviting someone to preach, they check the guest preacher’s credentials.
 
Jesus ignored their right to an answer and responded with his own question about the authority of John.  He wasn’t being evasive.  He was testing their willingness to hear the truth.  If they weren’t open to the truth, then no answer would satisfy them.  They weren’t open and evaded Jesus’ question by claiming not to know.  What they really meant was, ‘We dare not say.’  And that’s when Jesus said, “Neither will I tell you.”  They didn’t want the truth, dared not speak the truth and Jesus refused to tell it to them.  He was willing to tell the good news, the truth to the people, but not to his questioners.
 
What challenged you about this story and why?
 
Prayerfully Respond
Lord, don’t ever let me get so closed that you’d have to say, Neither will I tell you.  Amen.
 
Live obediently.  Be open to hear Jesus’ truth.