While Jesus was teaching the people in the temple, the chief priests, scribes, and elders came to him and said, “By what authority are you doing these things? Or who gave you this authority?”

To them, in their mindset, it was impossible for someone to come from God outside of their religious paradigms.

No one could emerge spiritually if they did not go through the institutions they controlled.

In the midst of their confusion, Jesus asked them, “The baptism of John, was it from heaven or from men?”

And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say from heaven, he will say, “Then why did you not believe him?” But if we say from men, all the people will stone us,” because they recognized John as a prophet.

The truth is, both Jesus and John the Baptist received their authority and message from God. This same authority and message is what Jesus offers to all his disciples today.

He said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”