Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day.

Today's shout-out goes to Daniel Offutt from Kingman, AZ. Thank you for standing with us throughout Project 23. You’re helping people encounter truth—and wrestle with it honestly. This one’s for you.

Our text today is Mark 11:27-30:

And they came again to Jerusalem. And as he was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to him, and they said to him, “By what authority are you doing these things, or who gave you this authority to do them?” Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. Was the baptism of John from heaven or from man? Answer me.” — Mark 11:27-30

The religious leaders confront Jesus again—this time with a loaded question. Here it is:

“By what authority are you doing these things?”

They aren’t curious. They’re calculating. This isn’t about truth—it’s about control. Jesus had turned their tables. He had called out and shut down extortion in the temple. He had exposed their spiritual hollowness. Now they’re demanding credentials. But Jesus doesn’t answer directly. Instead, he asks his own question about another man who came before him, John the Baptist:

“Was his baptism authority from heaven or from man?”

It’s brilliant. Because their response to John reveals everything about their posture toward truth. If they say John’s ministry was authorized from heaven, they know Jesus will say, “Then why didn’t you believe him?” If they say it was authority from man, they’ll lose their influence over the crowd. So they dodge the question altogether.

Sometimes people ask spiritual questions, but not to get answers. They ask to stall. To spin their version of the truth. To stay in control because they resist surrender. And we do this, too, when we question God's timing. His Word. His commands. But deep down, it’s not always a question of gaining understanding—it’s about resisting total surrender.

The truth is: Jesus has authority. Over all belief. Over all morality. Over all future. Over all life and death, whether you like his authority or not. So the real question isn’t: “Who gave Jesus all this authority?” It’s: Will you submit to the authority he already has?

Jesus, we submit to you again today. Amen.

#JesusIsLord, #AuthorityOfChrist, #Mark11

ASK THIS:

1. Why were the religious leaders really questioning Jesus?
2. What does Jesus’ counter-question reveal about their hearts?
3. Where are you resisting God’s authority in your life right now?
4. What would it look like to submit to Jesus fully today?

DO THIS:

Ask God to expose any area of your life where you’re questioning, not out of hunger, but out of hesitation to obey.

PRAY THIS:

Jesus, you don’t need my permission to have authority. You already have it. So help me stop resisting and start surrendering. Amen.

PLAY THIS:

"Forever Reign."