Mark 11:27-33 – the reply of the Pharisees, when asked about the origin of John’s baptism, tells us all we need to know about their hearts. Jesus had asked them a simple question: Was John’s baptism from heaven or from human origin? This question had profound implications depending on what the answer was, but the question itself was very simple. His baptism was from one place or another. And when confronted with the question, the Pharisees didn’t even think to respond with the truth. They discussed the matter amongst themselves before answering, but they weren’t holding counsel to ensure their answer was correct, they were only concerned with the political implications of their reply. They chose to give a non-answer, thinking that by managing the conversation, they could somehow outmaneuver God, but Jesus simply called them out on their foolishness and ended the discussion.
It is interesting to see people work this same way today. We are told that truth is relative, and one person can have their truth while another person might have another, different truth; and the only version of truth in circulation that is universally agreed to as being wrong is the actual truth, the truth of God and the Bible. All of this is a ruse to deny God, but just like it didn’t work out for the Pharisees in Mark 11, this approach won’t work for people today either. We have all been warned.
Comments