Responding to the Questions That Jesus Asks

In a post last week, I commented on a passage from Stan Guthrie’s book All That Jesus Asks, which I am currently reading. Let me take you deeper into the book by asking a question: Have you responded to all of the questions that Jesus asks of us?

First you might ask a question: What questions does Jesus ask? Since we are talking about questions, that is a good question. The answer is quite simple: All you have you to do is read the Gospels — just as we are going through the Gospel of Luke with my messages this year — and you will find that one of Jesus’ primary methods of teaching is to ask questions.

Guthrie sums up the questions Jesus asks us like this: “His questions prompt our participation, inspection, and reflection. His questions draw us into the mind of God and invite us to grow as we walk with him. As we grapple with Jesus's questions, we learn what we truly believe-and what we don't…. Jesus, the master teacher of history, asked probing questions of all who came to him: friend and foe, skeptic and follower, seeker and betrayer. And he still asks today.”

Here are some of the questions Guthrie explores that Jesus asks:

First Guthrie seeks to answer the vital question, “Who is Jesus?” Guthrie says, “Jesus was intensely interested in knowing what people thought of him, because our relationship to him determines our eternal destiny.” So he explores questions such as:

• “What did you go out into the wilderness to see?” in exploring the crowds’ response to John the Baptist.
• “Can a blind man lead a blind man?” as he discussed the context of his teachings.
• “How can someone enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man?” in discussing his authority.
• “Why do you not know how to interpret the present time” as he discusses his mission and his followers’ awareness of that mission within the world.
• Most importantly, “Who do you say that I am?” as Jesus explores with us his identity.

Those are just some of the questions that Guthrie suggests explore Jesus’ identity. Jesus also asks questions about following him, questions that explore our thinking and whether we love the Lord with al of our minds, questions that explore our character, and questions that challenge some of the critical doctrines we must believe.

As I read Guthrie’s book while I am also studying Luke in preparation for my messages each week, I find myself paying closer attention to Jesus’ questions and how I would answer them. Let me give you one brief example:

The first question that Jesus asks in Luke during his ministry is in Luke 5:23: “Which is easier to say, ’Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ’Get up and walk.’” With this question, Jesus forces us to think about the forgiveness that we need and his ability to forgive anyone, in any circumstance, of their sins. You and I need to keep the power of his forgiveness in front of us.

So let me ask you, are you willing to let Jesus explore your commitment to him by seriously giving consideration to his questions?