Mark 11:33 So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.” Jesus said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”
Have you ever noticed that is it best sometimes to not answer a question? You know no answer will be sufficient. You know, no matter what answer you give, it won’t really be acceptable. Or it will get you into needless trouble. Sometimes a question is asked with ulterior motives, so the question is superfluous.
When someone is grieving and they ask the question “Why?” there is never a good answer to that question. Nothing will satisfy the grieving heart. No answer at that moment will sooth the broken soul. So instead of trying to answer that question with facts and figures, reasoning and existential thoughts, simply be with them. Connect to their pain and suffering. Remember Job’s friends!
There is a story told of a boy who wanted to kiss a certain girl. So as they walked around the school, the boy stopped her at the bottom of a staircase and said, “Do you want me to kiss you now or at the top of the stairs?” He was answering for her. If she answered, the boy would get a kiss. Of course there is the third alternative. She could say, “Neither!” and crush his hopes.
Our text has a series of questions and answers. The religious leaders ask Jesus about the source of His authority to teach and perform miracles. But Jesus answers with a question of His own. Jesus wants clarification of their motive before they answer. Actually Jesus already knew their motivation, but He wanted them to have to work it out in their own heads and hearts.
Jesus wants them to commit to one position or the other. But they know that either position puts them in a bind. They know they are trapped with no escape hatch. They are challenging Jesus and they have come up with a losing hand. They draw the short straw. But their pride won’t allow them to answer honestly. Their inner thoughts stay hidden.
So since they won’t answer His question, Jesus doesn’t answer theirs. He knows they won’t accept His answer because they didn’t accept the origin of John the Baptist’s authority. So He doesn’t throw His pearls before the swine.
We often hear questions like this directed toward us a believers in Jesus. “If God is…, then why…? “What about the people who live in …?” “How can God love and yet allow…?” When these questions are asked we must discern whether they are genuine questions or questions used to deflect the conversation away from their spiritual condition. We need the Holy Spirit to do just that.
How would we answer the question posed to Jesus from our vantage point? Would we say that Jesus has the authority of God to do the things He did because He was God dwelling in human flesh? Or would we say He did them because He was a prophet and teacher, a holy man, an example to follow, but certainly not God in the flesh, fully God and fully man.
Our answers speak about our heart’s condition. When we hear someone’s questions expressed in stressing times, be aware that they might not want or need an answer. They might just need to express the ponderings and longings of their hearts. They put words to inexpressible sorrow and pain. And these kinds of questions need the answer of presence. They need to know they are not alone in that moment. For being alone is about the worst thing that can happen.
The Arnold Journey 