After Jesus entered Jerusalem during the first holy week, the tension and conflict with the Pharisees and other religious leaders reached a fever pitch. Jesus continued to speak out against the abuses and hypocrisy of the leaders, and they were conspiring to kill him. Whereas, their previous interactions were heated, in Jerusalem everything is magnified. More people are hearing Jesus' message, more people are seeing the Pharisees put to shame. The interaction over his authority and paying taxes to the emperor exemplify this heightened tension.
The chief priests, scribes,and elders approach Jesus and ask: "by what authority are you doing these things? who is it that gave you this authority?" (Luke 20:4) Their question assumes that the teachings of Jesus are only legitimate if they are authorized through the religious system. Jesus was not educated by the Pharisees or scribes, he did not serve as an apprentice, nor was he given authority to speak. Yet, Jesus' teachings resonated with the people and were powerful. Jesus is authorized by God to speak, but the leaders cannot see it and will not recognize his legitimacy. They are more concerned with right order than righteousness, proper authority than the author of life, maintaining power than serving others. Jesus challenges the leaders worldview and authority and publicly shames them through his rhetorical genius. When Jesus returns their question of authority to a question about the origin of John's baptism he exposes the true heart of the leaders.
They discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ all the people will stone us; for they are convinced that John was a prophet.” So they answered that they did not know where it came from. Then Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.” Luke 20:5-8
The leaders are more interested in saving face than engaging in a true conversation with Jesus. They would rather say nothing to his question and look foolish than actually share what they truly believe and risk alienating the people. Similarly, those who asked Jesus about paying taxes find themselves exposed: "and they were not able in the presence of the people to trap him by what he said; and being amazed by his answer, they became silent." (Luke 20:26) It is this kind of political expediency that Jesus rebukes. By contrast, Jesus speaks the truth and is willing to face the consequences.
It is not a mistake that Jesus' journey leads him to the cross. Like the ancient prophets before him, Jesus speaks God's truth to the people. He is willing to challenge the powerful and the status quo. He is willing to speak out and face the consequences. Good Friday is the temporary victory for the forces of this world, but Easter is the ultimate vindication.
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