EXAM DAY ONE - WHO SENT YOU?

Over the next four days, the four-footed Pesach lamb would be examined in the temple courtyard by the chief priests, to determine if there was any blemish or flaw. The lamb was tied to the horns of the altar for four days, and the Priests and the Levites would examine it, whether or not it was pure, spotless, without blemish, they would examine it for broken bones, infected or discolored flesh everything was scrutinized.  

Jesus, as the Lamb of God, was submitted to the entire examination process so that all things would be fulfilled. 

It was during these same four days immediately following His triumphal entry that Scripture records that the Herodians and the Jews began to test Jesus, trying to catch him by His words.

Now it happened on one of those days, as He taught the people in the temple and preached the gospel, that the chief priests and the scribes, together with the elders, confronted Him 2 and spoke to Him, saying, “Tell us, by what authority are You doing these things? Or who is he who gave You this authority?” 

3 But He answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one thing, and answer Me: 4 The baptism of John—was it from heaven or from men?” 

5 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’  

6 But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet. 

7 So they answered that they did not know where it was from. 

8 And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”   Luke 20: 1-8

The Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers

“Hear another parable: There was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country.

 34 Now when vintage-time drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit.  

And the vinedressers took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. 36 Again he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did likewise to them.  

Then last of all he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 38 But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’39 So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. 

“Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?”  They said to Him, “He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons.”

Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:

‘The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone.
This was the Lord’s doing,
And it is marvelous in our eyes’?[j]

 “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it.44 And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.” 

Now when the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they perceived that He was speaking of them. 46 But when they sought to lay hands on Him, they feared the multitudes, because they took Him for a prophet. Matthew 21:33-45

They were unable to find any fault in Him. But still, they sought to destroy Him. 

And He was teaching daily in the temple. But the chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people sought to destroy Him, and were unable to do anything; for all the people were very attentive to hear Him. Luke 19:47-48 

Jesus answered their Question: 

Who are you?  I am the Beloved Son 

By What authority do you do these things?  

As the heir of the vineyard, I come in my Father's name and authority. 
Yet you will seek to kill me and take my inheritance. 

Check back here tomorrow at sundown for the EXAM DAY TWO.