3 Jesus answered and said to them, “I will also ask you a question, and you tell Me:
4 “Was the baptism of John from heaven or from men?”
5 They reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’
6 “But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us to death, for they are convinced that John was a prophet.”
7 So they answered that they did not know where it came from.
8 And Jesus said to them, “Nor will I tell you by what authority I do these things.” Luke 20:1-8.
This Scripture carries more meaning than just the wisdom of Jesus in avoiding a hostile question by His reply in the form of another question. In addition, this Scripture calls for more than a search through Scripture of Jesus’ authority. The chief priests and the scribes with the elders were only hostile and not searching for the truth. They did not deserve an answer. Jesus did not give it to them. And, we also should not trouble ourselves providing an answer.
Rather than these topics, this Scripture provides a unique opportunity to compare the baptism of John with the baptism of Jesus, the nature of our baptism as Christians, and how our baptism gives us authority and power.
“John answered and said to them all, “As for me, I baptize you with water; but One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to untie the thong of His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Luke 3:16
Likewise, Matthew 3:11 states: “As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
What authority is given to us through the Holy Spirit?
Here is the final address of Jesus to His disciples before He ascended. It does not take much insight to realize the importance of this address.
“Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. Acts 1:4-9.
Through our baptism with the Holy Spirit, we have the authority and power to be effective witnesses for Jesus. God will use us to draw His elect to Jesus.
We should not be discouraged when some (even many) do not believe. Jesus said: “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master ‘ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also.” John 15:20.
There were those people who followed Jesus and literally saw Jesus and His miracles and heard His words, and yet still did not believe. Jesus said: “But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him. And He was saying, “For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.” As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore.” John 6:64-66.
John 8:47
“He who is of God hears the words of God; for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God.”
But, there are also those Elect who will hear our words and believe. “When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.” Acts 13:48
Deuteronomy 33:3 provides a fitting conclusion. “Indeed, He loves the people; All Your holy ones are in Your hand, And they followed in Your steps; Everyone receives of Your words.”
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 