The chief priests, scribes, and
elders asked Jesus, "By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave
thee this authority to do these things?" (Mark 11:28) These men recognized
the need for authority in religion. Jesus, with His reply, also recognized that
there must be authority in religion. Jesus asked them, "The baptism of John,
was it from heaven, or of men? answer me." (Mark 11:30) With this answer,
Jesus identified the only two sources of authority in religion: Heaven (God) or
men. Only one of these has the right to grant such authority, as identified by
the Apostle Peter in Acts 5:29, "We ought to obey God rather than men."
Though Jesus declined to answer those men who sought to cause him difficulty, he
did later answer the question that they asked him. In Luke 10:22 Jesus made the
statement, "All things are delivered to me of my Father ". In
Matthew 28:18 (ASV) Jesus said, "All authority hath been given unto me in
heaven and on earth." We see, then, that Jesus had authority from God to
rule over both heaven and
Earth.