Traps or Truth: Mark 11:27-33
Sometimes truth is the hardest thing in the world to accept. Sometimes we want to be right. Sometimes we’d rather live in ignorance rather than go through the work of growing. Sometimes we tire of change and would rather live in the lie we create for ourselves.
The religious elite come to Jesus and ask Him a question. They aren’t being spiritual; they are looking to trap Jesus. The create a scenario where Jesus is given two options. Regardless of which option Jesus picks, they can make His answer look bad in the eyes of the people.
Fortunately, Jesus is too smart for this tactic. He counters their question with His own two-way trap. Jesus is willing to trade trap for trap. If they are willing to enter His trap, then He will willingly enter theirs.
Some people consider Jesus’ proposal a lose-lose scenario for the religious elite. If the religious elite claim John’s baptism was from heaven, then Jesus will ask why they didn’t follow John or at least welcome him. If they say that John didn’t get his authority from heaven, then the religious elite would lose esteem among those in the crowd who believed John. Either way, if they answer Jesus’ question, they give up power and notoriety.
The problem isn’t with the trap, though. I don’t consider Jesus’ trap a lose-lose; I believe Jesus’ trap is a win-win. If the religious elite genuinely believed John’s authority was from God, they benefit from being challenged about why they didn’t believe. If the religious elite genuinely believed John’s authority was not from God, they benefit by being given an opportunity to explain their thinking and hearing the other side.
Just because a question is hard doesn’t mean it isn’t good. Just because an answer isn’t popular doesn’t mean it is wrong. It is good to talk and get explanations out in the open. Whichever answer the religious elite took, it would have allowed the door for conversation with Jesus to remain open. It would have allowed relationship to take root.
The reason this situation turns into a loss for the religious elite is because they say nothing. When they choose to not answer Jesus, they demonstrate they are not interested in growing by being challenged. They demonstrate they are not interested in relationship with Jesus. The door for conversation slams shut, and with it also goes the opportunity for growth.
Here is the great sadness of this story. Jesus gave them a choice, and either choice would have given an opportunity for truth to be proclaimed. Instead, in remaining silent the religious elite allow the ensuing silence to keep the truth in the dark. Jesus’ trap is more than just a logical test in a conversation. Jesus’ trap is a test of character. By avoiding the trap, the religious elite fail the character test and demonstrate they prefer their character to stay hidden. Sometimes truth is the hardest thing in the world to accept.
