the king's authority

Scripture: Mark 11:27-33
Again they came to Jerusalem. As he was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to him and said, “By what authority are you doing these things? Who gave you this authority to do them?” Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin? Answer me.” They argued with one another, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ But shall we say, ‘Of human origin’?” —they were afraid of the crowd, for all regarded John as truly a prophet. So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”

Observation:
 The Jewish leaders had a problem.  Unauthorized, itinerant rabbis who attracted large crowds.  First, John was preaching and baptizing in the Judean wilderness by the Jordan River.  Crowds went out to hear him and be baptized as a sign of repentance and the forgiveness of sins.  If, however, they officially authorized John's ministry as God's work, the temple system and all of ritual Judaism would be called into question or even abandoned!  Jesus' works, words, and ways also confounded the authorized public religious leaders. He fed thousands and told them to practice personal piety, to ignore ritual cleanliness, and to serve others with humility--even those considered enemies or outcasts!  Who gave him permission to take public action as a rabbi? 
 Like the degree and certificate of ordination hanging on the wall of my office that say I am qualified to preach and teach, the office of rabbi was conferred on those who were properly educated, graduated, and authorized. The Pharisees exercised their office under the authority of the high priest and under the authority of the Rabbi in his school they studied.  They were highly educated men. Neither John nor Jesus practiced ministry under the authority of anyone.  They were not sanctioned by the religious institution. And so they question Jesus.  Who did he think he was anyway?  Who gave him permission to say and do these things?   Where was his certificate, his degree?
Jesus' authority came from God, His Father.  He says that he doesn't do anything unless it comes from the Father. But many leaders did not respect his authority or his powers.  Jesus was condemned and executed under the title "King of the Jews."  Christ is itself a title meaning anointed one or Messiah (also a Kingship).  The first Christian confession was "Jesus is Lord" as opposed to "Caesar is Lord."  Jesus' orchestrated a coup d' etat. Christians are those who have pledged allegiance to Him and work under His authority.     

Application:

Who is authorized to share God's grace; to offer mercy, forgiveness, reconciliation, and love to people who need it?  Ordained clergy?  The ones wearing the collar and the robe?  NO.  Everyone who has received it is sent to give it.  Jesus' movement of anybodies is for everyone.  Jesus talks a lot about the "Kingdom of God", or the "reign of God."  God's rule on earth is represented first by Jesus himself.  He shows us what it means to live under the kingly rule of the God of the universe, as a humble servant.  And then he invites and challenges disciples to do likewise.  His disciples were not authorized priests, but fishermen and tax collectors---uneducated anybodies.  He still recruits anyone and everyone.  The responsibility of the kingdom is ours to bear and share with Him  That's what he meant when he said, "Those who would be my disciples must deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow me." We all have a part to play, a cross to bear.  We don't carry Jesus' cross.  Only he does that.  But we are responsible for our part in God's restoration project. 
The King authorizes and empowers his disciples to continue his work in his absence. He told his disciples, whom he sent out to continue the love mission, that the Spirit would guide, equip, protect, and help them.  Christians are inspired to follow Jesus and continue his work.  Martin Luther called it "the priesthood of all believers" or "the vocation of the baptized." Jesus was under the authority of the Father and we are under the authority of the Son.  When we pray in Jesus' name, it's as if he is signing our requests himself.  Disciples of Jesus are sent out to serve others under his authority and with his power.  So, offer healing and forgiveness to people.  Tell them they are loved.  Show them mercy and generosity.  Stand against powers of injustice and oppression. Do Jesus' work until someone asks you, "who do you think you are, who told you you could do that?"  And then tell them, "Jesus did". Some will try to stop us. But we can trust the Lord to be with us even when it's hard.

Prayer
Lord, you invite me into your world, your works, your ways.  You challenge me serve others like you did.  Too often I fail to take up the responsibility that is mine as your authorized agent of grace. Send your Spirit upon me and empower me to do your work with my hands, my mouth, my feet, my heart and mind.  Amen.