DAILY READING
REFLECTION
Who Do You Think You Are?
by Mary Alice McGinnis
Have you ever said to someone, “Who do you think you are?”
Picture this in your mind. You have diligently designed the exact home you have always wanted. It has all the comforts, the state-of-the-art living room with a big screen TV, the elegant master bedroom, the attached master bathroom with the jacuzzi tub. It is in the perfect location, and your décor looks like something from a magazine cover. All the home comforts you have always wished for and longed for are at your disposal.
Then, someone walks in the front door with a sledgehammer and in minutes destroys it all. After destroying it, they look you in square in the eyes and say, “This is my house!”
Among other things, wouldn't you want to say, "Who do you think you are?"
Just before today’s reading in Mark chapter 11, Jesus waltzed into the temple and overturned the Pharisee’s comfortable ways, their system of doing business, and declared to them that this was His house. In responses, they asked a very logical question, “By what authority do you do these things?”
In other words, “Who do you think you are!”
Instead of answering their question, Jesus asks them a question, “John’s baptism – was it from heaven, or of human origin?”
Let’s look at what John had to say about Jesus. For the full reading, check out John 1:24-34. John testified about Jesus by saying these things:
“I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”
“Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
“. . . the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’”
“I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”
The Pharisees had refused to believe John even though he provided clear testimony back up by many other witnesses. John had seen the Spirit of God descending upon Jesus like a dove at His baptism. John heard the voice of the Father from heaven when He declared, “This is my beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased.”
When Jesus asked the Pharisees this question, “John’s baptism – was it from heaven, or of human origin?” it was meant to lead them back to John’s testimony. John’s testimony told them BY WHOSE AUTHORITY Jesus was doing these things.
The Pharisees were more concerned about what the people would say, about their own positions of honor, their own comfort, and their place of authority, than they were about TRUTH. Refusing to acknowledge the truth and admit they were wrong, they found themselves helplessly back into a corner. So, they respond to Jesus question by saying, “We don’t know.”
It causes me to ask myself, where in my life am I more concerned about what other people think, my own comforts, my own status or position, rather on the truth of who Jesus is and what He came to do? How have selfish pursuits led me to being helplessly backed into a corner, not knowing where to turn? Maybe I should be asking, "Who do I think I am?"
Jesus speak to us in these helpless moments. He invites us to turn to Him. His greatest desire is for us to fall on our knees before Him as our supreme authority. He is the Chosen one of God. He is the One whom the Father proclaimed from heaven, “This is my beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased.”
In exchange for God’s good pleasure, Jesus became the perfect, spotless Lamb of God, who came to take away my sin, and the sin of the whole world.
PRAYER
You have promised, Jesus, that if we come to You and confess our sins, you are faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from unrighteousness. Take away any foolish pursuits of my own selfish ambitions. Lead me instead to see You as You truly are, the Chose One of God, the spotless Lamb of God who died in my place. Thank You for calling me YOUR BELOVED so I may have a perfect forever home with You.
