For many years, many years ago, Beaverton Christian regularly performed a “passion play”. It was pretty extensive, usually included music, and naturally a lot of members played the various parts in the play.
I remember one particular year, when Harold Smith was playing Caiaphas, who showed up in several scenes. One was the moment when Jesus was challenged in the temple. This scene:
23 When Jesus returned to the Temple and began teaching, the leading priests and elders came up to him. They demanded, “By what authority are you doing all these things? Who gave you the right?”
24 “I’ll tell you by what authority I do these things if you answer one question,” Jesus replied. 25 “Did John’s authority to baptize come from heaven, or was it merely human?”
They talked it over among themselves. “If we say it was from heaven, he will ask us why we didn’t believe John. 26 But if we say it was merely human, we’ll be mobbed because the people believe John was a prophet.” 27 So they finally replied, “We don’t know.”
And Jesus responded, “Then I won’t tell you by what authority I do these things.
Matthew 21:23-27 NLT
Harold delivered the line, “We don’t know.” that I still remember it to this day. The pharisees and scribes … foiled again by Jesus speaking the truth with authority.
