Authority.

One of the first things that fundamentalist Christians talk to you about is authority.

The authority of Jesus and the Bible.

Jesus himself never spoke about authority.

Others spoke of his authority:
"for he taught them as one with authority."  Matthew 7:29a (NRSV)
"A new teaching - with authority."  Mark 1:27 (NRSV)
"They were astounded at his teaching , because he spoke with authority."  Luke 4: 32 (NRSV)

It is the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders who ask Jesus by what authority he is teaching and healing.
In response to which Jesus refuses to tell them - "'neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.'"  Mark 11:33b (NRSV)


[Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission.  All rights reserved.]