Leaders Question Jesus but Refuse to Answer Him
Welcome to Day 291 of our journey with Jesus. Today, we see what happened when people met Jesus. The main truth for today is this: When leaders question Jesus' authority, he exposes their refusal to answer honestly and tells a story about rejecting God's Son. Let’s begin.
Current details of the journeyView the calendar, Episode and passage
Jesus in Action
Mark 11:27–12:12
Step 1 of 5
- Day 291 Meet You are here
- Day 292 Listen
- Day 293 Discover
- Day 294 Question
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Day 295 Respond Coming next
See what happened when people met Jesus.
Wakafika tena Yerusalemu, na Yesu alipokuwa akitembea Hekaluni, viongozi wa makuhani, walimu wa sheria pamoja na wazee wa watu wakamjia. Wakamuuliza, “Unafanya mambo haya kwa mamlaka gani? Na ni nani aliyekupa mamlaka ya kufanya hayo?” Yesu akawajibu, “Nitawauliza swali moja. Nijibuni, nami nitawaambia ni kwa mamlaka gani ninafanya mambo haya. Niambieni, je, ubatizo wa Yohana ulitoka mbinguni au kwa wanadamu?” Wakahojiana wao kwa wao, wakisema, “Kama tukisema, ‘Ulitoka mbinguni,’ atatuuliza, ‘Mbona hamkumwamini?’ Lakini tukisema, ‘Ulitoka kwa wanadamu,’…” (Waliwaogopa watu, kwa sababu kila mtu aliamini kwamba Yohana alikuwa nabii wa kweli.) Kwa hiyo wakamjibu Yesu, “Hatujui.” Naye Yesu akawaambia, “Wala mimi sitawaambia ni kwa mamlaka gani ninatenda mambo haya.” Yesu akaanza kusema nao kwa mifano, akawaambia: “Mtu mmoja alipanda shamba la mizabibu. Akajenga ukuta kulizunguka, akachimba shimo ndani yake kwa ajili ya shinikizo la kusindika divai, na akajenga mnara wa ulinzi. Kisha akalikodisha shamba hilo la mizabibu kwa wakulima fulani, kisha akasafiri kwenda nchi nyingine. Wakati wa mavuno ulipofika, mwenye shamba akamtuma mtumishi wake kwa hao wapangaji ili kuchukua sehemu yake ya mavuno ya shamba la mizabibu kutoka kwa hao wapangaji. Lakini wale wakulima walimkamata yule mtumishi, wakampiga, wakamfukuza mikono mitupu. Kisha yule mwenye shamba akamtuma mtumishi mwingine kwao; nao wale wakulima wakampiga kichwani na kumfanyia mambo ya aibu. Kisha akamtuma mtumishi mwingine, naye huyo wakamuua. Akawatuma wengine wengi; baadhi yao wakawapiga, na wengine wakawaua. “Mwenye shamba alikuwa bado na mmoja wa kumtuma, mwanawe aliyempenda. Hatimaye akamtuma akisema, ‘Watamheshimu mwanangu.’ “Lakini wale wapangaji wakasemezana pamoja, ‘Huyu ndiye mrithi. Njooni tumuue, nao urithi utakuwa wetu.’ Hivyo wakamchukua na kumuua, wakamtupa nje ya lile shamba la mizabibu. “Sasa basi yule mwenye shamba atafanya nini? Atakuja na kuwaua hao wapangaji, kisha atawapa wapangaji wengine hilo shamba la mizabibu. Je, hamjasoma Andiko hili: “ ‘Jiwe walilolikataa waashi limekuwa jiwe kuu la pembeni; Bwana ndiye alitenda jambo hili, nalo ni ajabu machoni petu’?” Walipotambua kuwa amesema mfano huo kwa ajili yao, wakataka kumkamata, lakini wakaogopa ule umati wa watu. Wakamwacha, wakaondoka, wakaenda zao.
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Yesterday we were called to recognize the King; today Jerusalem’s leaders confront Him with a question about His authority.
Jesus returns to the temple, where chief priests, scribes, and elders ask, “By what authority are you doing these things?” The question follows His public actions in Jerusalem and places His authority at the center of the conflict.
A Question About John.
Jesus answers with a question about John’s baptism: was it from heaven or from man? The leaders deliberate, but their reasoning is governed by consequences rather than truth.
We Do Not Know.
They refuse to answer because either response will expose them. Jesus therefore refuses to submit His authority to judges who will not answer honestly about the evidence already before them.
The Vineyard and the Son.
Jesus tells a parable about tenants who reject servants sent by the vineyard owner and finally kill his beloved son. The story turns the authority dispute into an indictment of rejection.
The Rejected Stone.
Jesus cites the stone rejected by builders becoming the cornerstone. The leaders recognize that the parable is about them. Their response is not repentance but a desire to arrest Him.
Tomorrow, listen carefully to how Jesus answers a question designed to place Him on trial.
Consider this.
What does this encounter reveal about Jesus?
Notice the encounter
Read Mark 11:27–12:12 and notice what Jesus exposes beneath the leaders’ question about authority.