Have you noticed that when people bombard God with questions, designed to put Him under their control, He has little to say.  But when God puts men on the spot, they debate it furiously.  In their attempt to control God, they find that they are trapped. If these religious lawyers had admitted that John the Baptist had God's authority to announce Jesus as Messiah, the case against Him would immediately collapse.

Previously, they had tried to trap Jesus by asking Him, "'By what authority are you doing these things?' they asked. 'And who gave you authority to do this?'" (Mark 11:28).  Jesus replied, "'I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. John's baptism – was it from heaven, or of human origin? Tell me!'" (Mark 11:29-30).  If they said that John was not God's prophet, the crowd would riot.  If they said that John was God's prophet, then Jesus would point to the same authority from John's words, "'I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptise with water told me, "The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptise with the Holy Spirit." I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.'" (John 1:32-34)

In the end they took the coward's way out: they plead ignorance and handed the conversation to Jesus to explain what He thought.  Jesus reverted to His deal with the lawyers - if they would not answer His question, neither would He answer theirs.  They were not interested in the truth. They only wanted to destroy Jesus, who is the Truth (John 14:6).  Neither were they interested in God.  For them, religion was a job, a profession, a powerbase.  What mattered to them was to keep their power over the people.  Like any politician, ultimately they feared the people (Mark 12:12).  But because they did not fear God they became fools (Psalm 53:1; Romans 1:21-22).  They justified their foolishness as being in the national interest (John 11:48); but they were really driven by their own self-interest, encouraged by Satan.  

The arrogance of religious people (atheism is a religion too) in trying to get God on the ropes, is on the increase again.  You don't have to be a Richard Dawkins to ridicule the Almighty.  Just get into a position where you insist you are right, when you are wrong – and whatever argument you use will be false.  The way forward is to repent.  Having repented, accept what is true from God and obey Him.  James, the half-brother of the Lord Jesus understood this: "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up." (James 4:7-10).  Do that today.  It is never good to believe that truth is wrong.