Daily Devotional
By Pastor Jerry Teboe
A Closer Walk with Christ in 2026
A Walk with the Master Series
Authority
Mark 11:27-33
And they come again to Jerusalem: and as he was walking in the temple, there come to him the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders, Mar 11:28 And say unto him, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority to do these things? Mar 11:29 And Jesus answered and said unto them, I will also ask of you one question, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. Mar 11:30 The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? answer me. Mar 11:31 And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him? Mar 11:32 But if we shall say, Of men; they feared the people: for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed. Mar 11:33 And they answered and said unto Jesus, We cannot tell. And Jesus answering saith unto them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.
The disciples were still walking with the Master and learning the lessons they would need to carry on the work once Jesus was no longer with them. Today’s lesson deals with authority.
The leaders of the religious ruling class came to Jesus to find out where His authority came from. Jesus realized that they were not serious in what they asked, so He responded by asking them a question. And they come again to Jerusalem: and as he was walking in the temple, there come to him the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders, Mar 11:28 And say unto him, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority to do these things? Mar 11:29 And Jesus answered and said unto them, I will also ask of you one question, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.
The question that Jesus asked was concerning the authority of John the Baptist. Where did he get his authority to do all that he accomplished before he was put to death by Herod? This then became a conundrum for those men. They realized that if they stated that John had his calling from heaven, then Jesus would claim the same, and they did not accept that Jesus was from God. They could not say that John had his power from men because the people looked at John as a prophet from the Lord. 30 The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? answer me. Mar 11:31 And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him? Mar 11:32 But if we shall say, Of men; they feared the people: for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed.
Since they did not have an answer, they pleaded ignorance because any answer would have put them in trouble with someone. Therefore, Jesus would not respond to their question concerning His authority. And they answered and said unto Jesus, We cannot tell. And Jesus answering saith unto them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.
We know where Jesus’ authority came from because it is stated in the Scriptures. In Matthew 28:18, it is clearly stated. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me (Matthew 28:18). That was when the Lord commissioned the disciples to go and make disciples. That commission is still for us today. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Mat 28:19-20).
We need to do as the Lord commanded and seek to bring others into the Kingdom of God also, for we have His authority behind us.
Bible Reading for the Year
May 6th, 1 Kings 16-18; John 1:29-51
Prayer Needs
Please pray for Shirley and Kenny Deans. Shirley saw the ear, throat, and nose doctor Monday about her throat cancer. She will have a PET scan on May 17th, then see her cancer doctor on the 27th. Kenny will NOT need a heart catherization. He saw a doctor on May 4th for a sore on his right leg that will not heal.
Please continue praying for Jennifer Teboe Buchamer. She will have a Keytruda infusion on Thursday, May 7th. She is also having stomach issues caused by the medication. Please continue to pray for complete healing.
Praise the Lord! Dr. Joe Jordan is still in the hospital, but his blood pressure is better. He is making progress in other areas too. Thank you for your prayers.
Please pray for Carolyn Tyson’s niece and her husband Pam and Joe Wobbleton. Joe is home after having open heart surgery. Pam will need surgery at Chapel Hill for ministrokes she has had.
Please pray for Robbie Harvey, who has MAC lung disease. He fell and broke several ribs. He is now home from the hospital but in a lot of pain. He has started a new medication for his lung disease.
Please pray for Peggy Warren. She is in a lot of pain from a partially crushed disc in her lower back. Doctors have put her on some new medication that seems to be helping.
Please continue to pray for Marvin Silverthorne for his eyesight to improve.
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Pray for our Missionaries!
Sue Singleton and the mission in Cambodia
Dr. Joe Jordan and the CBM (Cross and Bible Ministries)
Travis and Caroline Fennessy – IBM missionaries to Southeast Asia