The Authority of Jesus Challenged (MRK 11:27-33)

[11:27] And they came again to Jerusalem. And as he was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to him,

[11:28] and they said to him, “By what authority are you doing these things, or who gave you this authority to do them?”

[11:29] Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.

[11:30] Was the baptism of John from heaven or from man? Answer me.”

[11:31] And they discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’

[11:32] But shall we say, ‘From man’?”—they were afraid of the people, for they all held that John really was a prophet.

[11:33] So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”