As we become better acquainted with the teachings of our Lord we note the frequency with which he used questions in relating to others. There are more than 500 questions in the gospels. Mark, the shortest gospel, has 119. Chapter eight, for example, has only 18 verses containing the words of Jesus; but in them, he raises 15 questions. Thus if we are to know our Master better, we need to attend to his style of raising and responding to questions.
At 12 years old
In the first recorded occasion of Jesus conversing with others, we find him “in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.” Upon finding Jesus, Mary asks, “Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us?”
Jesus’ style, when questioned, is usually to respond with even more questions: “How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” (Luke 2:46,48,49).
Expressing unasked questions
On some occasions, Jesus states for others the questions that are in their minds and then answers them. “And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish…He spake also this parable…” (Luke 13:2-3,6).
“And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath clay? And they held their peace…And answered them, saying, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day?…And he put forth a parable…” (Luke 14:3-6,7).
The pattern in these two cases is that Jesus, knowing their hearts and innermost thoughts, initiates a question which goes unanswered. He then answers the question and elaborates further on the answer by telling parables. This is the pattern affecting chapters 13-15 of Luke.
Exposing wrong thinking
In these chapters in Luke, Jesus seems to be keeping before the Pharisees the rhetorical question: Is your conduct congruent with an attitude about yourself that you are more righteous and worthy than others? The Pharisees could hardly answer, “Yes.” They could not say that they were as a fig tree known for its fruit (Luke 13:6-9).
They could not say, in looking after their own interests on the sabbath day, that they were truly better than others who deserved the best rooms at a wedding feast (14:7-11).
And they would have to admit, along with the elder son, that they were bitter because the father continued to love the sinful, but now repentant, younger son (15:11-32).
Exposing wrong thinking was the objective of questions Jesus asked of his disciples: “And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way? But they held their peace; for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest. And he sat down, and called the twelve…And he took a child…” (Mk. 9:33-36).
While Jesus was more gentle with his disciples, he still sought to direct their thoughts away from themselves. He sought to convert them by illustrating their need to become as little children who are able to respond to love without regard to their own importance.
Jesus’ style with answers
“Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not” (John 8:4-6).
Jesus had a way of responding to questions that can be easily overlooked. His style was to be comprehensive in his answers even when he appeared to be ignoring the question. John 8 is one example. The background is that the Pharisees questioned Jesus’ origin and were ready to accuse him of illegitimacy and suggest that his mother was guilty of adultery (see Deut. 22:23-24 and John 9:19).
We may not know what Jesus wrote on the ground but it should be clear that this was part of his answer. Possibly he wrote relevant passages from Jeremiah 17:9-18. After stating that the heart is deceitful above all things, this passage goes on to say, “they that depart from me shall be written in the earth” (v.13). If Jesus was referring to Jeremiah 17 and started to write individual names, he would be suggesting the woman’s accusers would be blotted out of the book of life. This would explain why their conscience convicted them (John 8:9).
The last question
All who are waiting the Master’s return are eager to know when he will come. The apostles asked: “Lord, wilt thou at this time return again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:6-8).
It is easy for us to relegate this answer solely to the first century. We do so because of the special power bestowed on the apostles. We need to remember, however, that the apostles had earlier been able to perform miracles. They did receive special gifts at Pentecost but even more important to their preaching of the word was their faith in the resurrection of Christ and the truth of the gospel. The power of faith is something we, too, can have and which will make our preaching powerful.
We need to remember the parable of the talents (Matt 25:14-29). We can be consumed with doubts because we perceive ourselves to be lacking in talents possessed by others. We then hide our light under a bushel, fearing it is too dim. In the end, we render ourselves ineffective in communicating to others about the gift of eternal life.
There are some things we can do to overcome problems we may have in this regard.
Preparing for his return
Following are five suggestions:
- Become students of prophecy (Rev. 1:3).
- Keep Christ’s commands (Rev. 1:3).
- Forsake the things of the world (Matt. 24:15-16).
- Actively preach in his name (Mk. 16:15).
- Prepare for active discipleship (Matt. 25:14-29).
The last item may be the hardest, yet it represents the underlying theme of the gospel. To be active disciples, we need to examine ourselves and struggle with the deceitfulness of our hearts. Reflecting on Christ’s answer to the apostles, we should pray that we gain the confidence and inner strength to become active disciples who are able to witness for our Master.
Questions and answers. As we note carefully the Lord’s technique, we are helped in our study of the gospels and, if we apply the points to ourselves, in our own growth in discipleship.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One