The Real Question

The question of Mark 11.


It appears to be:

Whose authority?

Whose authority do you have to be doing what you're doing?


That's what the leading priests and teachers of the law had asked that day.




"If John's authority came from heaven, why didn't we believe?"

That's what He'll say.
Because if we believe,
that changes . . .
everything.


"Dare we say that He was merely human?"

We are afraid of what the people will do...
because everyone believed that John was a prophet.

And if John was a prophet,
well,
that changes...

everything.


Jesus knew what they would ask.

And they knew what He would say.


So they responded with what seemed . . .

SAFE.

I DON'T KNOW.
 

Because either answer causes trouble for them.

So that's what they answer.

When truly, they did know.

But they miss out on the revelation of truth.

They miss out on having their deepest question of the moment answered.



The one question that is right here.

Right now.

The question that says with its full weight:

I can't go on until this question is answered.

Until this is settled in my heart and my soul.

They were scared of the revelation that the truth would bring.
And how it would change their beliefs,
which changes their day-to-day lives,
their thoughts,
their actions.


And so I wrestle.

With the question.

The one that needs answering right here,
right now,
before I go one step farther.

Because I know the answer.

I'm just not living like I believe it.

Because if I did live like I believed it - it would change EVERYTHING.

I've been saying what seemed safe.

I DON'T KNOW.

Hiding behind this, as if it protected me. The real I DON'T KNOW is that I DON'T KNOW if I can believe you - if I CHOOSE to believe - You - Your promises - Your character. Because somehow I've gotten my mind warped into seeing you in the wrong light. And I know what everyone else says - how can YOU be all that?

And how can You be all that . . .

for a sinner like me?


That's just it.

You are ALL that.

You, Lord, are a great God, the great King above all gods.

Come, let us bow down in worship,

let us kneel before the Lord our Maker;
for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture,
the flock under his care.  Ps 95:3, 6-7

 

 

 

And You are for me. And you love me. You view me through eyes of grace - I needn't be afraid of intimate awareness You have of me. And Your forgiveness, its at the core of your abiding presence.