Catch Statements

Mark 11: ²⁷ Then they came again to Jerusalem. And as He was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to Him. ²⁸ And they said to Him, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority to do these things?”

²⁹ But Jesus answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one question; then answer Me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things: ³⁰ The baptism of John—was it from heaven or from men? Answer Me.”

³¹ And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ ³² But if we say, ‘From men’”—they feared the people, for all counted John to have been a prophet indeed. ³³ So they answered and said to Jesus, “We do not know.”

And Jesus answered and said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

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Collecting as much information as I could, I was on a quest. I asked several people and they gave me their version of the story. “Guilty” was my verdict, but I knew he was guilty all along. When I approached him I had my questions already prepared. I was going to catch him in a lie.

• There were times when I went out to interrogate.
• There were times when I demanded a confession.
• There were times when I wanted “that” person to say exactly what I wanted to hear.

The church leaders had their questions already prepared. They felt they were in charge and demanded an answer to their pointed question on authority. JESUS, being GOD, could easily see through their plot. HE asked them about something “they” were guilty about. They had no answer.

• JESUS wants me to stay away from twisting the truth.
• JESUS wants me to recognize when I am trying so hard to get my way that I would interrogate my opponents.
• JESUS wants me to grow up enough to seek grace instead of guilt.

When I choose to “get down to the bottom of this” I place myself in authority. This self-appointed search for “my” truth can lead to questions that pup people in catch 22 positions. In other words no matter what they say they would be wrong. BUT GOD wants me to set people up for success. No matter what they did, they are forgiven through JESUS. GOD wants me to seek grace.

• Are you looking for someone to be guilty?
• Do you like feeling you are in charge?
• Will you stop trying to be the one who catches people and see grace for them?