Many texts make up today’s readings. I would lift up one text that keeps the thread of the passion story going.  In Matthew 21:23-27 the authority of Jesus is questioned. Therein we read:

When Jesus entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of
the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what
authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?”

Jesus said to them, “I will also ask you one question; if you tell 
me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do 
these things. Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it 
of human origin?”

And they argued with one another, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of
human origin,’ we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a
prophet.” So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.”

And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am
doing these things.”