The Unspoken Next Answer

Scripture: And they discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ But shall we say, ‘From man’?”—they were afraid of the people, for they all held that John really was a prophet. So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” Mark 11:31-33a

Observation: Jesus' question was straightforward ... Was the message from John the Baptist inspired from God or not? The Pharisees are inclined to answer "from man" but are afraid to say it.  However, they do have a choice about how to answer ... they could say the message was from heaven, but they fear the implicit follow-on question to that answer.

However, what do they fear? It seems they do not fear Jesus, as they have been confronting him all day. So instead, they must fear their own answer to that follow-up question, and they fear speaking that answer at least us much as they fear the reaction from the crowed to their other response. So what would their answer be to the question 'If John spoke with the authority of God, why did you not believe him?' It would have to be either:

a) They were wrong and now they do believe him (which isn't the case, otherwise they would not be opposing Jesus).

b) John was a threat to their authority and teaching.

And if it is "b" then they would be confessing that ... the truth from God is in conflict with the teaching of the Pharisees, which in turn would require them to reassess their lives, and that was something they refused to do.

Application: In other words, the real issue for the Pharisees is an issue of repentance and life change. Most of them just aren't ready - or completely refuse to even consider it an option. As a result, anything opposed to their way of life was wrong. God has a term for that ... self-worship.

This is my challenge today: Are there any places where I am refusing to even listen to God because I'm afraid his instructions might require me to change? If so, am I going to stubbornly hold onto my old choices and thus worship myself ahead of God?

Instead of answering this, I will take time to meditate on it. I am ready to release all elements of my life as God would have me do, so I need to take seriously this issue through prayer and reflection.

Prayer: Lord, I place my life in your hands. I ask that you guide me to see where I am straying, and where I am ignoring, and where I am willfully rebelling, and aid me in setting aside to parts of my life to change and grow as a disciple of Jesus Christ. My life is yours - all elements of my life - so please forgive me for anything I am withholding, and show me how to release it to you. Amen.