Questions, Questions

Questions are not new to us. We ask questions on a daily basis like "What is the time now?" or "Where shall we meet for a cup of coffee?", etc. As I was reading the bible I came across quite a questions there as well. Some of these questions were thought provoking, which I thought of sharing here.

Question of Clarification:

Luke 1:34 "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"

When the angel Gabriel announces the birth of Jesus to Mary, she has a question. Her question was a genuine question to clarify what she did not understand. The angel was prompt in replying to this question and Mary had received her answer.

Question of Doubt:

Now take the case of Zechariah ; when the same angel announced the birth of John the Baptist, Zechariah raised a question too. Luke 1:18

Zechariah asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this?"

Unlike Mary's question, this was a question of doubt and showed faithlessness toward the word of God and showed no trust in this message from heaven, especially because he was a priest of God. The angel was displeased and Zechariah could not speak till the promised was fulfilled! Such questions of doubt show the lack of faith and break the heart of God.

Close-minded question:

The pharisees questioned Nicodemus in John 7:52 ,

They replied, "Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it & you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee." 

This question came from the Pharisees who were well-versed in the Torah and the scriptures, well-learned in those times, and it also has a fact in it - that Messiah will come from Bethlehem and not Galilee. But it also shows that they were not open-minded to go to Jesus or his disciples to clarify if he was from Bethlehem and whether he was a descendant of David. Their knowledge only raised a barrier from seeking and knowing the truth.

Dr. Ravi Zacharias in one of his books writes, "Intellect is not an end by itself, it is a means to the very mind of God."  Let our questions help us to seek the truth.

Question of sarcasm:

John 18:38 records yet another question,

"What is truth?"

This was asked by Pilate to Jesus. Jesus had just told him, "I came into this world to testify to the truth." But pilate cross questioned Jesus, "What is truth?" however he did not wait to receive the answer. He went out to the Jews. This question was not a seeker's question to understand the truth but one of sarcasm, which left Pilate in the dark while he was in the presence of the 'Light and Truth'.

Questions of Jesus:

Jesus asked many questions during his life time, however I want to highlight three question here.

Matthew 16:26 records, "What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?" 

Jesus' question opens  our mind and heart to the condition of our soul. Bible says the word of God is a double-edged sword that judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. As we meditate on God's word, let us allow it to inspect the need of our hearts and the condition of our soul in order to remedy it at the foot of the cross.

John 4:7 records the question Jesus asked the Samaritan woman,

"Will you give me a drink?" 

Jesus did not ask this question because he was thirsty. But he spoke to her to introduce to her the living waters! No matter what our caste or creed or position in life, Jesus' questions are targeted at helping us to know him.

Another question from Jesus to the blind man who vociferously called our to Jesus "Son of David, have mercy on me." is recorded in Matthew 20:32.

"What do you want me to do for you?". 

To this blind man who so eagerly called on his name, Jesus asks what he can do for him? He is willing to forgive, love and bless us if we seek him diligently. The bible assures us in John 6:37,

"and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out."

So let us avoid the questions of doubt, close-mindedness and sarcasm and open our mind to the questions of Jesus that inspect our soul, seek after us beyond barriers and compel us to ask for his blessings in our life.  Amen.