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Hopefully these last posts have shown something of why Jesus' questions matter. Of course questions in general are an important way of communicating because they offer such dynamic direct ways of dealing with people. They are so different from teaching or story-telling, though questions occur in both. I marvel that Jesus asked 292 questions and that he so frequently used this form of speech - often at very important moment in the gospels. He is a questioning Lord. And what makes his questions in the gospels a matter of eternal significance is that he continues to ask them by his Spirit, and he asks them personally out of knowledge about us.
I have selected eight of these questions and over these next months shall continue working on them. However, I think that my blog's format, with its relatively short postings, is not the appropriate place to try and publish any more of my work in detail. If any friends out there would like to follow my progress in more detail please let me know on mjquicke@yahoo.com and I shall try to keep you in touch.
Meanwhile, I hope that whenever you are reading the gospels you will be looking out especially for Jesus' questions with willingness to respond! Thanks for reading.
Showing posts with label Jesus questions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jesus questions. Show all posts
Friday, February 4, 2011
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Truth Spaces (9) Another big difference!
3) Jesus knows us
There is one other huge difference about the questions of Jesus that makes his questions unlike anyone else’s in human history. While others ask questions to teach the right answers (top-down) or lead us in conversation (side-by-side) without necessarily knowing us well, Jesus asks because he always knows us so well. He has knowledge about us unlike anyone else. When he questions people, he already knows what it going on inside them!
Scripture claims that God alone knows what is in a person’s heart (1 Kings 8:39). When Samuel was so sure who to appoint as king he was rebuked: “for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart” (1 Sam 16:7). One of the truths about Jesus that is often missed is that he looks on the heart. It is stunning to realize how all the gospels agree that Jesus possessed deep spiritual discernment about the people he met. Jesus “himself knew what was in everyone (John 2:25); “Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were discussing these questions among themselves” (Mark 2:8); Jesus knew their thoughts (Matt 12:25, 22:18; Luke 6:8; 11:17). Jesus is in a unique category because his questions arise out of deep knowledge of those who are questioned. Jesus asks questions not in order for him to find out about us, but for us to discover with him what we don’t yet know about ourselves.
No one knows us like God’s son, so when he asks us about ourselves it is for our own sake that we might grow into his purposes. He knows who and where we are on the journey with him. By his questions he expresses love and understanding just as they are needed. Jesus specializes in personal questions because he knows and loves persons through and through.
There is one other huge difference about the questions of Jesus that makes his questions unlike anyone else’s in human history. While others ask questions to teach the right answers (top-down) or lead us in conversation (side-by-side) without necessarily knowing us well, Jesus asks because he always knows us so well. He has knowledge about us unlike anyone else. When he questions people, he already knows what it going on inside them!
Scripture claims that God alone knows what is in a person’s heart (1 Kings 8:39). When Samuel was so sure who to appoint as king he was rebuked: “for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart” (1 Sam 16:7). One of the truths about Jesus that is often missed is that he looks on the heart. It is stunning to realize how all the gospels agree that Jesus possessed deep spiritual discernment about the people he met. Jesus “himself knew what was in everyone (John 2:25); “Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were discussing these questions among themselves” (Mark 2:8); Jesus knew their thoughts (Matt 12:25, 22:18; Luke 6:8; 11:17). Jesus is in a unique category because his questions arise out of deep knowledge of those who are questioned. Jesus asks questions not in order for him to find out about us, but for us to discover with him what we don’t yet know about ourselves.
No one knows us like God’s son, so when he asks us about ourselves it is for our own sake that we might grow into his purposes. He knows who and where we are on the journey with him. By his questions he expresses love and understanding just as they are needed. Jesus specializes in personal questions because he knows and loves persons through and through.
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