Why is the sky blue?
Why do peanut butter and chocolate taste SO GOOD together?
Who was the twelfth president?
Where IS Duluth?
When most of us are children, we have a lot of questions about the world--and we're not afraid to ask them. I'm not a parent (yet), but I DO know that one of the favorite pasttimes of toddlers is asking "What's that?" And for teenagers, the question becomes, "Why?"
As we grow up, I don't think the questions go away. They just get harder. We ask ourselves things like, "Why am I here on this planet?", "Why do bad things happen to good people?" and "Does God REALLY exist?" However, most adults don't ask questions like these out loud.
But if Jesus came visit you in person, I bet you'd have some questions (I know I would!).
Today as I read Mark 12-13, I felt a little bit like the people were playing a "20 Questions with Jesus" game. But sometimes, He asked them questions, too. Here are a few personal observations:
- Jesus sometimes answered questions with very clear, straightforward answers. (Example: "Which is most important of all the commandments?")
- At other times, Jesus answered questions by first questioning back. (See: "Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?")
- Jesus answered some questions people didn't explicitly ask out loud...but were probably curious about. (For example, I think He answered the question, "What is true generosity?" when He talked about the widow who gave all she had. )
- Jesus also initiated discussions by asking people questions. (Illustrated when He asks, "How is it that the religion scholars say that the Messiah is David's 'son,' when we all know that David, inspired by the Holy Spirit, said...?)
- Sometimes, He answered questions with clues, but not clear-cut answers. (This is exemplified with His answer to, "What sign will we get that things are coming to a head?")
Jesus' approach to answering and asking questions was interesting for me to think about...mainly because I think that God still operates that way today.
Some of His answers to my questions have been pretty clear-cut...the answers are laid out clearly in the Bible so if I know what it says (or who to ask), I can find a very straight answer.
Sometimes, I think God questions us back--kind of like a good parent. For example, if I asked my mom and dad, "What do you think I should do with my life?", they would probably ask me questions like, "What are you interested in? What are your strengths? What are you passionate about doing? Who do you want to help through your work? What do you feel called or drawn to do?"
I know for sure Mom and Dad wouldn't want me to be a stripper (and I think God has boundaries like that, too). However, I think my parents would be pleased whether or not I chose to be a stay-at-home mom (well, as long as I was married first!), writer, project manager, teacher, speaker, researcher, etc. The point is that in some areas of our lives, I believe God gives us choices, but guides us to possible answers by asking us questions or providing some clues along the way.
Finally, I think sometimes God still wants to initiate discussions by asking us questions. This may sound a little strange...but I think every human being has a little bit of wonder in them (and I'm not talking about that cheap, airy white bread!). :) We wonder about the future and about the past. We wonder about good and evil, heaven and hell. We wonder about the meaning of our lives and we wonder about sickness and death. But have you ever asked yourself this important question--where does that "wonder" come from?
Tomorrow: Mark 14
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