The Gospel of Mark, Chapter 11:28

When the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders questioned the authority of Jesus on account of what he was doing and asked him for an explanation, he wouldn’t give them one. He knew their evil intentions. They wanted to trip him up in order to bring an accusation against him; which eventually they did when they condemned him to an ignominious death.

The exercise of authority by Jesus was vastly different from the abusive exercise of authority by the religious leaders of the time. How could they not resist it? It threatened their whole ‘modus operandi.’

Jesus exercised his authority in the spirit of service, not lording it over people. He spoke with conviction and power, not like the professional scribes and Pharisees. His words and his deeds demonstrated an authority that was of God; and all those who came to believe in him were renewed spiritually.

Their lives were beautifully changed; changed utterly.
That is true authority.

Fr. Hugh Duffy