Questions Jesus Asked

Do you see these great buildings? (Mark 13:2) This question preceded a prophecy from Jesus. "Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down." This was the destruction of the temple foretold by Jesus. Awareness of the present is sometimes enhanced by a sense of what could possibly come. We see and appreciate our church buildings, but true awareness says, "There is still work to do in bringing others in; for if we stay doing the same, we shall surely die; true life comes from hard work for the Lord in reaching others for God's kingdom, and that blesses our church." Great as our buildings may be, it was hard work on someone's part blessed by God in the past that brought them to be; hard work on our part trusting and relying on God will preserve them for our children and their children. What role do you play in this?

‘Why are you putting me to the test?' (Mark 12:15) The traps for Jesus got ridiculous. This one involved paying taxes. In the history of humanity, very few instances of joy in the paying of taxes can be found. And in Jesus' day, the very idea that Jews should pay taxes to the Romans was an idea that everyone hated, included the Pharisees and Herodians, who ask Jesus if it was lawful for Jews to pay taxes to the emperor. Jesus asks the question: ‘Why are you putting me to the test?' and asks that a denarius (from which the word dinero comes from, which we know to mean money), and uses it to squash the trap. We many times, have also put Jesus to the test with our wants and desires. We know better. We should instead help those asking that question by answering what God has done for us.

‘What do you want me to do for you?’ (Mark 10:51) This questions continues the story of the blind man who came to Jesus. His name is Bartimaeus, who was known for being a beggar. As soon as he hears that it is Jesus walking by, he begins to yell out to Jesus. Jesus heard his pleas and asked the question for today: ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ Jesus responds to the man's need by affirming his faith and sending him forth. Jesus hears our prayers and loves when we spell out what we need. As soon as our prayers are answered, the command is like that to Bartimaeus, Go!

‘Why do you call me good?' (Mark 10:18) A rich man asks Jesus about eternal life, and how he could inherit it. But he addresses Jesus as "Good Teacher," to which Jesus asks today's question: ‘Why do you call me good?' And tells him that no one is good except God alone. This should not surprise us because Jesus sought to humble Himself always, giving honor and glory to God, not to Himself. We can't deny that Jesus was and is good, but that should motivate us to seek to be as good as we can. Would someone accuse or address you as good?

‘What did Moses command you?’ (Mark 10:3) The Pharisees asked Jesus about divorce, whether it was lawful or not. Jesus, as was His custom, answered with a question: ‘What did Moses command you?’ That was an easy question for them, as they just quoted the law concerning divorce; but Jesus wanted to know if they knew Moses' heart. In other word, why did Moses command what he commanded? As we read God's word, get to know God's heart and the heart of those whose stories we read in the Bible. Then the questions that may come to us, like Jesus' ‘What did Moses command you?’ will allow us to share our hearts with Him.

Salt is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it? (Mark 9:50) "Would you like salt for your salt?" I've been tempted to ask those who pour salt nonstop on their food. Salt is good, but for those of us whom the doctor has asked us to cut back on it, we want to warn others, too. Jesus knew the power and purpose of salt, and He also knew how worthless salt becomes if it loses its saltiness (think of an old, stale Saltine cracker!). Our Christian life, if we lose touch with Jesus, becomes almost worthless too. Stay close and in love with Jesus, and you'll bring solid flavor to your life and the lives of those around you! Stay salty, my friends!

What were you arguing about on the way? (Mark 9:33) Again, a question for the disciples. They had been arguing along the way, about who among them was the greatest. Each man was special, for indeed, they were handpicked by Jesus to serve on this elite team of evangelists; but the question shows that Jesus knew their hearts and with love, taught them the answer: "Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all." Not what they expected to hear. Their dreams were grandiose; one ruling over this, another ruling over that. Jesus wants servants, not superstars; if you want to be first, go to the back of the line.

How then is it written about the Son of Man, that he is to go through many sufferings and be treated with contempt? (Mark 9:12) The road down from the Transfiguration was a hard road. The disciples, Peter, James, and John, could not make sense of what had happened and were asking about Elijah, whom they had just seen. Jesus answers that and then asks the question: How then is it written about the Son of Man, that he is to go through many sufferings and be treated with contempt? The belief was that Elijah's appearance would restore all things, and that is taken to mean make the wrong things right, suffering is removed, and life is generally better. But Jesus, ever ready to prepare His followers for the reality of life, shares that question as a warning of what was yet to come. The Son of Man would go through many sufferings, and these three and the others would see it. He was treated with contempt and so were they. The question really is asking also, Are you ready? We pray

‘Can you see anything?’ (Mark 8:23) A blind man was brought to Jesus with the hope that his sight might be restored. Jesus takes the blind man by the hand, leads him outside of the town, and put saliva on his eyes. Then Jesus asks, ‘Can you see anything?’ The man answers that he can see people, but they appear to be like walking trees. Jesus then laid His hands on him, looks intently and the man's eyes were opened and he saw everything clearly. The same may be asked of us in our daily walk with Jesus, especially after a worship service or a Bible study: ‘Can you see anything?’ Has our vision or perspective changed about life? Can we see God at work in our lives and the lives of others? Or, are we closed to letting Jesus transform us from the physical-centered beings we are, to truly spiritual beings? Jesus asks again: ‘Can you see anything?’

‘Do you not yet understand?’ (Mark 8:21) The last question on the disciples not quite "getting it" about the miraculous feedings. I would honestly have to say there is much about Jesus and the awesome things He has done in my life that I just don't understand. But I do know one thing! It is reason enough to praise and glorify Him! Blessings come and they sometimes come with no explanation, but we just say, "Thank you, Lord!" I understand that! Do you?

‘And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you collect?’ (Mark 8:20) Yet again, more followup to the question of the disciples, this one reminding them while asking about the second miraculous feeding of 4,000: ‘And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you collect?’ Of course they knew, seven. Why worry at the side of Jesus? Jesus cares and provides. Do we tire of hearing or saying that? I trust not. After Jesus has blessed you, what abundant extras did Jesus leave you with?

When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you collect? (Mark 8:19) This continues the discussion with the disciples about their question about not having bread. Jesus asks a question that really stresses the outcome of the miracle of the feeding of five thousand: When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you collect? The answer was twelve. A biblical number for the number of tribes in Israel. The leftovers were symbolic of God's power to provide for all of Israel and beyond. Why argue and doubt about having bread when you walk alongside the One who has done so much the leftovers are plentiful? Jesus is able. And Jesus is willing. Why do we question and doubt?

‘Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes, and fail to see? Do you have ears, and fail to hear? And do you not remember? (Mark 8:17-18) These are several questions asked of the disciples. You have to pity these 12; they saw so many things they could not explain, and the constant challenges by their enemies made it hard for them to keep focus on Jesus. And as Jesus is teaching about the "yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod," they miss the point, and thus the questions: ‘Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes, and fail to see? Do you have ears, and fail to hear? And do you not remember? We, too, sometimes because of stress or challenges of life, tend to rely more on ourselves than on the Lord. He would be ready to ask us that same question. But, we can pause right now and simply say, "Lord, I may

Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation. (Mark 8:12) The Pharisees missed the feeding of the four thousand, and came to test Jesus by asking for a sign. Jesus' reply: "Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation." Jesus did miraculous things to meet needs and to bring blessings; not to amuse and entertain those who looked for that, thus His question and remark. As we pray and walk with Jesus, it is to satisfy our spiritual needs and to ask for our physical needs. Jesus answers all prayers. Not all according to our wants and needs, but according to God's will for our lives. We should ask, "What more can I do to bring a blessing to others?"

Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile? (Mark 7:18) This continues Jesus' discussion with the disciples about what truly makes a person unclean. Jesus says it is not what goes into one's mouth that makes one unclean; it's the other way around: What we say reveals what is in our heart. And Jesus added a list of those things: fornication, theft, murder, adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly. All of these defile. We can easily say it's not what we eat, but what we consume that can consume us. A steady diet of less than positive television, reading, music, etc. can serve to make us unclean. Seek the things of God.

Then do you also fail to understand? Mark 7:18 Again, this question is for the disciples. They failed to understand the parable of unclean hands. He has to ask them: Then do you also fail to understand? meaning the was putting them into the same category as the religious of His day. Jesus wasn't really thinking they were dull; He was thinking that they were not listening and perceiving as they should. We should listen and understand all that Christ tries to teach us. Let us not fail to understand the things of God.

Why do you make a commotion and weep? (Mark 5:39) It's okay to cry and weep. What bothered Jesus was the cries of desperation that come from those with no faith. We've been in difficult situations and we have cried, and even in ugly ways, but we held on to the promises of Jesus. We may limp along emotionally, but still we move forward. The cries of those who have given up are the ones who bother Jesus. Jesus has the last word in all things. In this case, Jesus is upset with those who should have had more faith than they should have had. If we must cry out today, cry out to Jesus! With faith!

Who touched my clothes? (Mark 5:30) The woman who had suffered for twelve years had the nerve and the faith, to touch Jesus in hopes of being healed. She was right and she was healed, but Jesus felt the touch and thus the question: "Who touched my clothes?" The disciples could not believe the question because Jesus was being touched on all sides. But this touch was different. It was a sincere touch, and a needy touch. It was a touch that called out for help, which Jesus gave. We don't have a physical Jesus we can touch, but by our prayers we can reach out and pray to touch Jesus with our needs and with our love. Our sincere prayers for healing, either for us or a loved one, do reach Jesus and we should persist in our prayers, always trusting and never giving up so that Jesus would be glorified in our lives. Reach out and touch Jesus today. And maybe you may touch someone's need.

What is your name? (Mark 5:9) This question comes as Jesus encounters the demon-possessed man known as the Gerasene Demoniac. His was a troubled life, utterly destroyed by the presence of evil in his life and body; chained, but free from those chains because of his strength, forced to live among the dead in a cemetery, never sleeping, but howling and hurting himself, Jesus comes to him. This demoniac screams at Jesus, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me." Jesus then asks the question of today: "What is your name?" Who are you really, Jesus is wanting to know; what's really inside of you to make you live the way your are living? And that question applies to us as well. What has driven our lives to get us where we are today? What have we tried to hide; what makes us torment ourselves, causing us to lose sleep, and fight with God? I pray we could say, "My name is Yours, Lord; set me f

Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith? (Make 4:40) After calming a storm at sea, Jesus had to calm the disciples. This was His question: "Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?" Storms scare us and Jesus knows this, and storms sometimes leave us with nothing and a long road of rebuilding and restoration, but Jesus' question still stands as an encouragement towards the future and to whatever we are facing now. We do have faith in Jesus and we know Jesus has never left our side and so we say, "We are not afraid, for God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of love and hope, for now and always." Amen.

With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? (Mark 4:30) This question is the introduction to the parable of the mustard seed. As Jesus prepares to describe the glorious kingdom of God, He asks about the comparisons with earthly things to best describe God's work in our realm. In other words, what can best help us understand Who God is, what God is doing, and what that means to us? If we daily think on God, God will show us.

Is a lamp brought in to be put under the bushel basket, or under the bed, and not on the lampstand? (Mark 4:21) As Jesus explained His purpose through parables, He asks this question to see if they understood the purpose of using these stories to explain the Kingdom of God: "Is a lamp brought in to be put under the bushel basket, or under the bed, and not on the lampstand?" Jesus is the Light of the World. His love, power, mercy is too bright to be hidden. Why would a person in the dark want to place a light under a basket or under the bed? Those of us who experienced power outages with this last storm understand this completely! Nellie and I some years back bought a small LED lamp that charges while plugged in and then lasts hours when not connected to a power source and it was that little lamp that lit up the parts of our home that needed light. In the same way, Jesus lights up the dark corners of our lives and brings the light and love of God to them and to us. &q

Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? (Mark 2:8) This is Jesus' first question in the Gospel of Mark. It comes after four friends bring their paralyzed friend to Jesus; Jesus first tells the man that his sins are forgiven. This shocks the religious of His day and they accuse Jesus of blasphemy. They raise their own question, "Who can forgive sins but God alone?" Jesus knew in His spirit what they were saying and so asks the question: Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? We don't always understand what God is doing in our lives or in the lives of loved ones, but we should be asking, "Lord, what more can I do?" and not expect God to ask us: Why do you raise such questions in your hearts?