GREAT THINGS ENTERPRISE
CLAUDE BLACK
Mark 11:28
Right Place Wrong Motive
In May 2023, a 14-year-old wearing a police uniform reported to the Chicago Grand Crossing police station, was issued a police radio and a ticket book, and was assigned to ride with another officer in a police cruiser. He even assisted in placing handcuffs on someone suspected of violating a protective order.
At the end of the shift, a captain noticed the young-looking officer and asked him to produce a badge, which, of course, he could not. His gun holster was empty, and he wrapped newspapers around his body beneath his body armor to make it appear full. He was arrested for impersonating a police officer. He was at the right place but with the wrong motive.
After Jesus ended the commercial traffic in the temple court, Mark wrote, “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. And they said to him, ‘By what authority are you doing these things? Or who gave to you this authority that you should do these things?’” (Mark 11:27-28)
A dramatic change had taken place in the temple. The turmoil of merchants hawking their wares, the bustle of the crowd, and the traffic through the temple court were gone. It was possible to hear the teacher’s message and, likely, the prayers of the worshipers. At the same time, the fees paid by the merchants were gone. So, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to Jesus and demanded to know by what authority he had driven the merchants out of the court.
The temple authorities did not think that Jesus was simply taking matters into his own hands. No, they thought he was acting under authority; they just wanted to know what authority he was under. They came to the right person and were asking the right question—but for the wrong motive. This is still a cautionary example.
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