John's baptism—where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or of human origin?" They discussed it among themselves and said, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask, 'Then why didn't you believe him?' But if we say, 'Of human origin'—we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a Prophet." So they answered Jesus, "We don't know." Then he said, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things." (Matthew 21:26)
Why didn't Jesus tell them?
We should note that this exchange is taking place between Jesus and "the chief priests and the elders of the people," according to Matthew 21:23.So why didn't Jesus tell them where his authority came from? Because they were not willing to admit publicly that John the Baptist's baptism (and teachings) were from God, Jesus was not going to state to them that his authority also came from God.
This response by the temple chief priests and elders is critical to the time and circumstances surrounding Jesus’ teachings, Jesus’ relationship with John the Baptist, and how John the Baptist is key to our understanding of who Jesus was. How so?
While many might try to deny that Jesus was actually the disciple of John the Baptist, this is confirmed in the priests and elders' statement and Jesus’ response. It is also confirmed by the fact that John baptized Jesus.
From their statements, we can see that John the Baptist was an esteemed teacher in those times, and was widely recognized as a Prophet.
Jesus' statements also indicate that Jesus was teaching the same teachings as his teacher, John the Baptist. These are the same teachings of the Prophets.
These points and others indicate that John the Baptist was Jesus' teacher.
Was John the Baptist a Prophet?
Many would have us believe that John the Baptist's role was only to introduce Jesus. As though John the Baptist did not teach to thousands of people, and people didn't journey hundreds of miles to hear him speak:Even tax collectors came to be baptized. "Teacher," they asked, "what should we do?" (Luke 3:12)
"For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did." (Matthew 21:32)
After John's messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are in palaces. But what did you go out to see? A Prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a Prophet." (Luke 7:24-26)
John was by Jesus' own words, a true Prophet. "More than a Prophet" doesn't disregard Prophets like Moses and Abraham, which Jesus quoted and followed. John was "more" because he dedicated his life to teaching people. John's entire life was to serve and please the Supreme Being by educating people.
Many teach that the Prophets merely “Prophetized” - or foretold events of the future, primarily Jesus' coming. This is a blatant twisting of the content of the Bible in an attempt to downplay the importance of the teachings of the Prophets.
If this were true, this would mean that for thousands of years, no one could be saved. They would have us believe that billions of people had to await Jesus’ birth and suffering on the cross in order to have salvation. This indeed is a twisting of all the essential teachings of Moses, Abraham, David, Solomon, Job, Jacob, and all the other messengers of God who came to teach humanity to love and serve God.
Those who downplay the teachings of the Prophets cause us to ignore Moses' teaching:
"Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." (Deut. 6:5)Which Jesus quoted in his teachings, adding: "This is the first and greatest commandment.” (Matthew 22:38)
Are we automatically saved by Jesus' crucifixion?
Why would Jesus bother to quote Moses and other Prophets if their teachings were not important? Why would Jesus bother to teach if all we had to do was stare at a depiction of Jesus suffering on the cross and be saved?This teaching that we are automatically saved by Jesus' "dying" on the cross is ludicrous. It assumes that every other teaching of the Bible is moot. It assumes that a person does not have to change. It assumes we can continue to live our self-centered life and still be saved after we make that declaration that we are saved - essentially wiping our sins off on Jesus.
This has nothing to do with Jesus' teachings. It has nothing to do with the examples of all the lives of the Prophets, and their teachings. If they did, why didn't Jesus just come out and say "Just wait until I am crucified and then just stare at the cross in church on Sunday and you'll be saved."?
Rather, he said:
“Not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21)The teachings of Jesus and all the Prophets are the same, and it is these teachings that can save us - assuming we hear them and we make the necessary changes to comply with them. It is coming to know and love the Supreme Being - and taking refuge in Him - that will save us.
Following the teachings of Jesus and the Prophets, including John the Baptist, means to recognize that God is the most important person in the universe, not me. It means giving up our self-centered lives and becoming God-centered. It means learning to love and serve God with all our hearts.
This requires a change of heart and a change of consciousness. Something that Jesus and all the Prophets were trying to teach us with their lives.
