John is a prominent Advent figure because he was sent by God to prepare the way of the Lord, i.e., the Messiah. While baptizing people in the Jordan River, he pointed to Jesus as the “One who is to come” (Mt 11:3). Not only is he a “baptizer”; he is also a “witness.” In turn, Jesus gives testimony to the precursor, pointing to John’s “authority” to baptize. The chief priests and the elders, the guardians and the authority in the Temple, are alarmed by Jesus’ actions and teaching, and so they confront him with a question: “By what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you this authority?” (v 23).

Instead of referring them to himself, Jesus directs them to John the Baptist. Did his authority to baptize come from God (heavenly) or did he appropriate it by himself (of human origin)? They are put in a dilemma. If they say “from God,” they incriminate themselves for not believing in John’s baptism. On the other hand, if they declare that John’s baptism is “from man,” they are afraid of the crowd who regard John as a prophet. Through embarrassment on one hand and fear on the other, the authorities claim ignorance of the origin of John’s source “authority.” As they show themselves incapable of speaking “with authority,” Jesus refuses to answer them regarding the grounds of his own authority. By refusing to take a stand, the authorities only reveal their own incompetence to teach.

When Balaam raised his eyes and saw Israel encamped, tribe by tribe, the spirit of God came upon him, and he gave voice to his oracle:

The utterance of Balaam, son of Beor, the utterance of a man whose eye is true, The utterance of one who hears what God says, and knows what the Most High knows, Of one who sees what the Almighty sees, enraptured, and with eyes unveiled:/ 5How goodly are your tents, O Jacob; your encampments, O Israel! They are like gardens beside a stream, like the cedars planted by the Lord. His wells shall yield free-flowing waters, he shall have the sea within reach;/ His king shall rise higher, and his royalty shall be exalted.

Then Balaam gave voice to his oracle: The utterance of Balaam, son of Beor, the utterance of the man whose eye is true, The utterance of one who hears what God says, and knows what the Most High knows, Of one who sees what the Almighty sees, enraptured, and with eyes unveiled. I see him, though not now; I behold him, though not near: A star shall advance from Jacob, and a staff shall rise from Israel.

“Teach me your ways, O Lord.”

When Jesus had come into the temple area, the chief priests and the elders of the people approached him as he was teaching and said, “By what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you this authority?” Jesus said to them in reply, “I shall ask you one question, and if you answer it for me, then I shall tell you by what authority I do these things. Where was John’s baptism from? Was it of heavenly or of human origin?” They discussed this among themselves and said, “If we say ‘Of heavenly origin,’ he will say to us, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we fear the crowd, for they all regard John as a prophet.” So they said to Jesus in reply, “We do not know.” He himself said to them, “Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2025.” E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.