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•27他们又来到耶路撒冷。耶稣在殿里行走的时候，祭司长和文士并长老进前来，28问他说：“你仗着什么权柄作这些事？给你这权柄的是谁呢？”29耶稣对他们说：“我要问你们一句话，你们回答我，我就告诉你们，我仗着什么权柄作这些事。30约翰的洗礼是从天上来的，是从人间来的呢？你们可以回答我。”31他们彼此商议说：“我们若说‘从天上来’，他必说：‘这样，你们为什么不信他呢？’32若说‘从人间来’，却又怕百姓，因为众人真以约翰为先知。”33于是回答耶稣说：“我们不知道。”耶稣说：“我也不告诉你们，我仗着什么权柄作这些事。”

我从这场交锋中学到了什么?首先，这再次提醒我耶稣是神的儿子，因为无论在什么情况下他都能给出完美的答案。耶稣看透了他们的问题背后的意图。“谁给你的权柄做这些事？”不管耶稣怎么回答，他们都会挑他的毛病。如果耶稣说他的权柄是人给他的，他们就会挑战他的权柄无效。如果说是凭着自己是神的儿子的权柄，那么他们就说他在亵渎神。所以耶稣以同样方式对待他们，说自己也要问他们一个问题，如果他们回答了他的问题，那么他就会回答他们的问题。耶稣的问题是，“谁给约翰权柄（施洗）?”如果他们说那是从神来的，耶稣就可以说，“那么你们就应该相信约翰指着我所说的话。”如果他们说这不是从神来的，他们就会得罪百姓。耶稣再一次难倒了他们。

我从这个故事中学到的第二点是，不是每一个问题都需要去回答。这个世界总想让我卷入争论之中。那些带来争论的话题，通常不会产生任何有用的结果。我可以整天跟人辩论创造论，但这真的能让那些无神论者变成信徒吗?我不这样认为。有时候，当有些人不相信上帝和耶稣，而只坚持他们自己所相信的，这时我们所能做的就是在他们心中种下怀疑的种子，怀疑他们所相信的那些东西。我喜欢问的一个问题是:“你读过圣经吗?”如果他们说他们没有，我可能会敦促他们去读一读，因为一个真正开明的人确实应该去读一读有史以来最广泛阅读的书。或者一个更好的问题是，“你知道耶稣是谁，他做了什么吗?”看看他们自以为知道什么，然后告诉他们耶稣到底是谁，他做了什么。没有必要争论。把耶稣的故事讲出来就好了。

彼得前书3:15说:“有人问你们心中盼望的缘由，就要常作准备，以温柔、敬畏的心回答各人”。与不信的人争论永远不会有结果，因为这种争论缺乏温柔和敬畏。有时候，我们能做的最好的事情就是针对别人的阐述问一个问题，然后告诉他们，针对这个问题，我们从我们的信仰中找到了什么安慰。

祷告:主耶稣，当我的信仰受到质疑的时候，请常常给我一个答案，让我能回答我在你里面有盼望的原因。阿们。

Mark 11:27-33: They arrived again in Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him. ²⁸ “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you authority to do this?” ²⁹ Jesus replied, “I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. ³⁰ John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or of human origin? Tell me!” ³¹ They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ ³² But if we say, ‘Of human origin’ …” (They feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet.) ³³ So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.” Jesus said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.” (NIV)

What do I learn from this exchange? First, I am again reminded that Jesus is the Son of God, just because of his perfect answers in every situation that confronted him. He saw behind their question. No matter how he answered them, they would find fault. If he said his authority was from God, they would challenge him. If he said he spoke by his own authority as the Son of God, they would say that he was blaspheming. So Jesus turned it back on them. He would answer their question if they answered his question. “Who gave John his authority?” If they said it was from God, then he could say, “Then believe what John said about me.” If they said it was not from God, then they would lose favor with the people. Once again, Jesus stumped them.

The second thing that I learn from this is that not everyone deserves an answer from me. The world will always try to get me into an argument. Those arguments usually don’t lead anywhere useful. I could argue creation all day long, but will that ever really make a believer out of an atheist? I doubt it. Sometimes the best we can do is to plant the seeds of doubt in their minds, doubt in whatever they really do believe in besides God or Jesus. One of the questions I like to ask is, “Have you read the Bible?” If they say that they haven’t, I might urge them to do so, simply because a truly enlightened person should really read the most widely read book of all times. Or even better, “Do you know who Jesus is and what he did?” Find out what they think they know, and then tell them who Jesus really is and what he has done. No need for an argument. Just tell the story.

1 Peter 3:15 says, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” An argument with an unbeliever is never productive because it lacks gentleness and respect. Sometimes, the best we can do is ask a question that challenges their narrative, and then tell them what comfort we find in what we believe.

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, when my faith is questioned, always give me an answer for the reason of the hope that I have in you.  Amen.