On account of this, the Jews demanded, “What sign can You show us to prove Your authority to do these things?”  Jesus answered, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up again.” John 2:18-19

Jesus didn’t submit Himself to their  timeline by proving His authority to them as and when they requested; their question came from what they rationalised and judged according to what they saw, contrast this to Jesus who said of Himself in John 8:16 that His judgement is true, while they judge according to the flesh.

If we rationalise and plan without committing our plans to God, we’re no different in our “intelligence” to the Pharisees and the rest of the world who are not submitting to His will, so we’ll also be judging according to the flesh, and we’ll actually be more limited than if we think, speak and act in faith. Jesus was doing and saying what the Father gave Him authority and instruction to do, and no earthly intelligence could comprehend His wisdom, understanding, or being.

He always did and said what the Father willed, He worked in this submissive authoritative roll at all times.

In Matthew 7:28-29 after the sermon on the mount we read:

When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astonished at His teaching, because He taught as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.

Then in Matthew 21:23-27 we read more of His Godly authority in teaching:

When Jesus returned to the temple courts and began to teach, the chief priests and elders of the people came up to Him. “By what authority are You doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave You this authority?”
“I will also ask you one question,” Jesus replied, “and if you answer Me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
What was the source of John’s baptism? Was it from heaven or from men?” They deliberated among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will ask, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’
But if we say, ‘From men,’ we are afraid of the people, for they all regard John as a prophet.”
So they answered, “We do not know.” And Jesus replied, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

Their earthly logic didn’t help them get their answer even though they took counsel among themselves.

Of course, It wasn’t until after Jesus’s resurrection that His words were fulfilled about rebuilding the temple, and even when He was on the cross the scoffers there threw His words at Him in blasphemy as we read in Mark 14:58:

 “We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this man-made temple, and in three days I will build another that is made without hands.’”

And in Mark 15:29-32

And those who passed by heaped abuse on Him, shaking their heads and saying, “Aha! You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, come down from the cross and save Yourself!” In the same way, the chief priests and scribes mocked Him among themselves, saying, “He saved others, but He cannot save Himself! Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross, so that we may see and believe!” And even those who were crucified with Him berated Him.

When He answered them in the temple, they wanted His answer according to their earthly logic, we need to be sure that earthly logic doesn’t govern us in our words and actions, rather than faith, which rests in the knowledge that God always does what is right according to His time and His way for His glory and our good.


Godly authority isn’t present in man’s Godless systems of religion such as the Pharisees were practicing, nor is it present in any religious gathering where man’s systems have replaced God’s order, but when we submit to His will and live according to His instruction we are blessed with His wisdom and we speak the Word with authority in Jesus name.

John 8:16  But even if I do judge, My judgment is true, because I am not alone; I am with the Father who sent Me.

This passage is of course consistent with the prayer Jesus taught us to pray in Matthew 6:10: “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven…”

When the church are doing the will of the Father, the glory of Christ Jesus is seen in her, and His gospel of reconciliation to God is preached to the world with the power of Holy Spirit in God’s authority through Jesus.

John 3:35  The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand.

APO14May2024