Reading
SAA Notes
Read Psalm 118 together with this passage. Hardness of heart is a great defect that our heart itself hides from us. Hardness of heart marked Jerusalem, even as superstition marked Galilee.
SJA Notes
* God Above, please help us know You better today.
“Tell us by what authority you do these things, or who it is that gave you this authority.”
These folk worked hard to undermine Jesus – His teaching, His authority.
These teachers and leaders of the people were scared of Jesus, what He spoke about, that the people hung on His words.
These people were full of anger and even hatred.
How does Jesus answer their attempts?
He doesn’t smite them down, showing with finality the truth of His authority.
No.
Jesus takes the opportunity to teach – Teach those listening then, and all of us through the ages.
God’s authority does not need defending.
God’s authority should be obvious. We all humanity have eternity set in our hearts, and the evidence is writ large through creation.
God’s authority will be absolutely obvious and expressed on that final day. All will come to light, including the full reality of the endpoints of both the broad and the narrow road.
* Almighty God,
You are the Sovereign Lord – Creator, Sustainer, Life-Giver.
There is none like You, Mighty God.
You are one God, three Persons – Father, Son and Spirit.
We praise Your Name!
Amen.