Eggs or Potatoes?

Over the few days of this devotional, our trust in the Lord has grown. This season is not about the weather, the music, or wrapping paper but is rather about softened hearts preparing for the Baby who was born a King. As you read Luke 20, you experience the contrarian disposition of the religious leaders of Jesus’s day, often questioning Him not out of curiosity but in hopes of setting a successful trap. As you read their question below, picture the stern and defensive faces asking in a harsh tone:

“Tell us, by what authority are you doing these things? Who is it who gave you this authority?” (Luke 20:2)

You can sense the tension as they emphasize “these things.” These things like healing, teaching, caring for the least of these, and helping those in need. “These things,” they say as if they walked in on a disobedient toddler with a wagging finger.

We need more of “these things” in the world, like a million times more! Yet these leaders are blinded from the truth and are prideful. They have had enough of this Jesus' life-changing “things.” Their goal is to put this rebel born in Bethlehem back in line, but they don’t know who they are dealing with. He’s not just an upstart religious entrepreneur. He is the Creator of the universe, and He has ultimate authority over all. Even them.

The heart of this confrontation is their questioning of His authority. As children would say, “Who made you the boss?” I wish this question was foreign to us and distant from our hearts, but unfortunately, the desire to be our own boss dwells deeply within us as well. Yet He is the boss, and He has the authority because all authority has been given to Him in heaven and on earth. He is the King and worthy of our worship.

God is big enough to manage our questions, and we see Jesus answer so many questions during His ministry. The problem here is the intent of the question. It’s not really a question; it’s questioning. There’s a difference between a question and being questioned. There was a lack of trust in Jesus and a deep skepticism and disdain for Him by these leaders. A “Who do you think you are, mister?!” mindset.

Trusting the Lord is a crucial Christmas and Christian principle, even more so when we don’t understand or agree with His instruction. Trust comes with a posture of humility in these moments rather than frustration or disdain because trust positions God as the rightful authority, the One who holds good and right plans for our lives and the world.

The characters of Christmas lived this out as examples to us. Zechariah didn’t believe Gabriel’s prophecy for John’s birth, and he left the temple speechless for months as he learned to trust. Elizabeth, his wife, remained in seclusion for five months but believed God’s favor was on her. Mary pondered it all in her heart and declared she was God’s servant, willing to do as the angel said because she trusted God. Joseph needed a dream to set him straight, but when he awoke, he chose to walk faithfully, taking Mary as his wife and living under God’s authority. Mary and Joseph lived lives of submission to Him, whether it was an Egyptian escape, a donkey ride to Bethlehem, or the burial of their completely innocent, thirty-three-year-old beloved Son.

Each one of these heroes in the nativity account trusted— instead of questioned—the authority of God. Pause to think this through: When their lives took a sharp turn, radically changing their plans and destiny, they didn’t question God’s authority. With prayerful and humble “Lord, increase my faith” moments (sans back talk or pushback), they processed and pondered, ultimately proceeding in obedience.

Whose authority will our hearts follow today? Is there an area of your life that is off-limits to God? See, hot water makes an egg hard and a potato soft. Which will we be? I want to encourage us to soften our hearts this Christmas. Trust instead of questioning that God’s authority is for our good. He has a plan that is different from the ones we come up with on our own, but celebrate because it is a good plan—the best and eternally sovereign plan for you.

Every day of our lives will offer hot-water opportunities to question God’s authority, and the days leading up to Christmas are no different. But don’t harden like an egg, pushing back against God’s good guidance. Instead, pray sincere “Lord, increase my faith” prayers. Live with a softened heart of trust even when you don’t fully understand.

Prayer

Father, I know so little of what life will bring, and You know so much. Help me walk in faith trusting Your authority in my life.

Thank you for reading!

This plan was adapted from Salvation Has Come: 25 Christmas Devotions in Luke (B&H Publishing Group, 2023) by Greg Matte. Click here to learn more or to purchase your copy.