“For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.” 1 Cor. 11:26

“Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Cor. 9:7

“By What Authority?” Mark 11:27-33

John 8:31,32 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.

All who come to Jesus must recognize His authority and willingly submit to it.

(1) The Challenging of Jesus’ Authority.

Mark 11:27,28 They came again to Jerusalem. And as He was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to Him, 28 and began saying to Him, "By what authority are You doing these things, or who gave You this authority to do these things?"

Num 11:16 The LORD therefore said to Moses, "Gather for Me seventy men from the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and their officers and bring them to the tent of meeting, and let them take their stand there with you.

Mar 11:28 and began saying to Him, "By what authority are You doing these things, or who gave You this authority to do these things?"

Mar 11:28 and began saying to Him, "By what authority are You doing these things, or who gave You this authority to do these things?"

Mar 11:28 and began saying to Him, "By what authority are You doing these things, or who gave You this authority to do these things?"

Mark 1:27 They were all amazed, so that they debated among themselves, saying, "What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him."

(2) A Lesson in Determining Jesus’ Authority.

Mark 11:29,30 And Jesus said to them, "I will ask you one question, and you answer Me, and then I will tell you by what authority I do these things. 30 "Was the baptism of John from heaven, or from men? Answer Me."

Mark 11:31,32 They began reasoning among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say, 'Then why did you not believe him?' 32 "But shall we say, 'From men'?"--they were afraid of the people, for everyone considered John to have been a real prophet.

Mark 11:33 Answering Jesus, they said, "We do not know." And Jesus said to them, "Nor will I tell you by what authority I do these things."

Mark 11:31 They began reasoning among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say, 'Then why did you not believe him?'

Luke 20:6 "But if we say, 'From men,' all the people will stone us to death, for they are convinced that John was a prophet."

Mark 1:9,10 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him;

Mark 1:11 and a voice came out of the heavens: "You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased."

All who come to Jesus must recognize His authority and willingly submit to it.