By What Authority?

The priests, scribes, and elders in Jerusalem wanted to know by what authority Jesus had cleansed the Temple in Jerusalem of its merchants' abuses. These men were in a position of authority themselves, and so their question for Jesus was legitimate. Nevertheless, in failing to see agreement between Jesus' prophetic ministry and that of His forerunner, John the Baptist, they made a shameful error in bringing their questions to Jesus in public. But where does Jesus get the authority for doing what He did? What about John the Baptist: where did he get his authority to preach repentance toward God and faith in the Lamb of God? For that matter, what is authority, and where does it come from?