Questions Jesus Asked

If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Image from bandofbrothersdevotional.com Peter asked Jesus a question about "the beloved disciple," who was John. Peter wanted to know what would happen to John. Jesus replied with the question: If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? And the question was immediately followed by a command, "Follow me!" We can preoccupy ourselves with matters about other people, but the question Jesus asks is about us and what we are doing. And the same command follows that: Follow me! We have barely enough time to worry about our spiritual life, why spend too much time worrying about those for whom we can probably do nothing for? It's like the airline procedure; make sure you're first, then help out. But, Jesus still says, "Follow me!" Dear friends, thank you for reading these points. This was the last question asked by Jesus and so this ends this blog. I have...

Do you love me? (John 21:17) Image from jeussisgod.blogspot.com This question was asked three times by Jesus to Peter. "Do you love me?" Yes, was Peter's response, and to each response Jesus said what he should do. The question is still asked of us today, over and over, and our actions or responses or lack of responses, answers that question to Jesus. We sometimes say in worship, "Turn to two people and say, 'I love you and God loves you, and there's nothing you can do about it!'" But the reality is there is a lot we can do about it. The question is, are we?

Children, you have no fish, have you? (John 21:5) Image from jamesjohnsonart.blogspot.com The resurrected Jesus appeared to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. It seems the fishermen disciples took the others and themselves for an evening fishing excursion. They caught nothing. As Jesus appears to them He calls out this question: Children, you have no fish, have you? It's one of those questions that gets asked and the person asking already knows the answer. Many will remember your mother or father asking a question to which they already knew the answer and our response would probably define the reaction we would get from them. Jesus still knows our situation. He may ask the same type of question of our ministry or behavior, or lack of ministry; and He knows the answer. We should know to do all we can to change the answer. In this situation, Jesus offered the solution: Try it another way. And their obedience to that changed the results. We have to listen to Christ. W...

Woman, why are you weeping? For whom are you looking? (John 20:15) Image from adamswife.wordpress.com This question comes from the resurrected Jesus to Mary Magdalene who had come to the tomb. The question is to a grieving person mourning the loss of someone special in her life. It is a good question given what she and the believers all had heard that after three days would rise again. Crying is not bad, in fact, it is part of the healing process and a manner of coping for many people. But to weep in the face of answered prayers a cry of helplessness is not good. If we had sought the Lord and the Lord has appeared in the answers to our prayers, we have found the Lord, or better yet, the Lord has found us. We can then, weep tears of joy. Lord, bless those still weeping and those still seeking.

Image from bibleencylopedia.com But if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me? (John 18:23) Jesus stands before Annas, the high priest, and His answer from yesterday to repeated questioning from all, prompted an officer to strike Jesus on the face. Thus, Jesus' question: But if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me? It is sad to hear Jesus even have to ask such a question, but it was all part of the suffering He knew He had to endure for our sake. All the striking, spitting, ridicule, humiliation Jesus suffered was because of our sinfulness. Such is the love of Jesus for you and me. Have you stopped to think that sometimes our actions strike Jesus in the face again and again? His question still remains; But if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me? Let us live a life that glorifies Jesus not strikes Him.

Why do you ask me? (John 18:21) Jesus is being interviewed by the high priest. His intentions were to trap Jesus once and for all; anything Jesus said could be and would be used against Him. The questions centered on Jesus' teaching in the synagogues and the temple; thus Jesus asking, "Why do you ask me? Ask those who heard what I said to them; they know what I said." We can ask Jesus anything we want. We can even try to trap Jesus and He will lovingly answer our questions and may even ask us if we love Him. Love is the foundation of trust, and trust the foundation of faith. Love more and believe more; believe more and serve more.

Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me? (John 18:34) Jesus is on trial before Pilate. Pilate has just asked Jesus if He is the king of the Jews. Jesus, as was His custom, answers questions with questions, and this is His response to this question: Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?' Jesus is basically asking, "How much do you know about me?" This question is a serious question and Jesus knew His fate to be what it was; but He wanted those hearing the interrogation to hear the truth that was coming out from the discussion they were having. Jesus is the King of kings, and Lord of Lords. For the believer, there is no question about that; Jesus is our Lord and Savior. But it falls on us to believe and live the response to knowing those things. Have you a personal faith in Jesus? And have YOU told others about that faith?

Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me? (John 18:11) Have you ever considered a challenge or an ordeal through which you are passing or facing, as a cup? Jesus sees His upcoming ordeal and death as a cup and says so to Peter. Jesus knew He was not alone, and He knew that He would emerge from the other side victorious. The cup handed to Him was a bitter one, but Jesus did not drink it alone. Nor do we. What cup has been served to you? Before that first sip, what are your thoughts? What's in your heart about that first sip or the first big gulp? You do not drink alone. The cup has been poured, and Jesus holds you as you hold the cup.

Whom are You Looking For? (John 18:4, 7) Twice within this chapter, the same question is asked: Whom are You Looking For? Jesus asks this of those who came to arrest Him at night, bringing torches and weapons. Jesus asks them the question and replied it was He whom they were seeking. When Judas approaches and betrays Him, Jesus asks again, Whom are you looking for? Jesus knew His fate and answered twice so that His disciples would not be taken away. Jesus never hid nor ran. In fact, He was always in the temple during the day and out in public when He was not in the temple during these days. If you're looking for meaning and purpose in Your life, seek Jesus. If you want answers to challenges and problems, seek Jesus. Jesus never hides.

Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? (John 14:9) In the midst of great revelations about death and life beyond death, Jesus has to ask this question because Philip says he does not know the Father. Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Philip and all who traveled with Jesus had seen things they had never seen before in their life; countless miracles, including the recent resurrection of Lazarus, and now that Jesus is speaking of Heaven, Jesus speaks of His Father, and Philip has to ask the question that prompts Jesus' question. If we know Jesus and love Jesus; then we know God the Father and love God the Father; all that Jesus has done in our lives has been the work of God! I hear Jesus and God saying, "Don't be strangers to me!"

Do you know what I have done to you? (John 13:12) Jesus had just washed His disciples feet, and probably had blown away their minds with that action. For a man in His position to assume that of a servant or slave, was unheard of. And so, the question is a good one: Do you know what I have done to you? They probably did not know what Jesus had done for them. It was just something that a rabbi or teacher, like Jesus, to do for anyone. Yet, in the verses that follow, Jesus speaks of servanthood and what we need to assume as our duty, to better serve God and get across the message of God's love for all people. The best sign of a leader is one who is willing to do what is necessary and perhaps what no one else would ever think to do. Our model for leadership is Jesus.

Where have you laid him? (John 11:34) This is the question Jesus asks when He desires to see the resting place of his friend Lazarus. Lazarus had died, though Jesus told His disciples he was merely sleeping. But Jesus wants to be with the grieving sisters and He wants to glorify God by doing what He did once He got to the tomb. Key that two verses later, we find the shortest verse in some versions of the Bible, "Jesus wept." Jesus' emotions got the best of Him and He wept, just like any human, because He was fully human. Jesus' question from that point on speaks of the truth of those who die in the Lord. We are laid to rest, awaiting that moment when Jesus will call us to life and entry into glory. Our call it live a righteous life and one that is ready to glorify Him.

and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?’ (John 11:35) Ah, the sisters of Lazarus! They loved their brother and were lost without him. They even sent for Jesus to come and heal him before he got worse, but he died. Four days later, they confront Jesus with basically the same question many of us ask at funerals of loved ones, "Lord, where were You?" Jesus reveals the truth in the first part of today's question: "and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" Martha replied that she believed, and her faith said that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God. Our faith should match Martha's; we believe in Jesus and we believe and trust in His words.

Jesus answered, ‘Are there not twelve hours of daylight? (John 11:9) News of the death of His good friend Lazarus, had the disciples worried about a trip through a certain area, and worried that another death may occur by going that way. Jesus was not concerned about His safety and thus His question: Jesus answered, ‘Are there not twelve hours of daylight?' He followed it with "Those who during the day do not stumble, because they see the light of the world. But those who walk at night stumble, because the light is not in them." Jesus' desire was to do good always; He did not worry about those whose motives were best served in the dark. You and I were meant to follow the light of the world and reflect it; leave the night work to be done by those lost. Tell them about the light is our job.

can you say that the one whom the Father has sanctified and sent into the world is blaspheming because I said, “I am God’s Son”? (John 10:36) This question comes as Jesus was staring down the stones held in the hands of those who wanted Him dead. Their charge was that Jesus was claiming to be the Son of God. Jesus defends Himself by quoting their own scripture where it was said that those to whom the word of God had come were "sons of God." Following that logic, Jesus counters, to say He is the Son of God is not a chargeable offense and certainly not worth death. Jesus asks for them to believe in the works He was doing so that they could see that the Father was in Jesus and Jesus in the Father. What evidence have we given lately that Jesus is in us?

If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? (John 8:46) How frustrating for anyone, even Jesus, not to be believed. You and I have been in that situation, and it angers us to not be believed. Imagine Jesus. Jesus never spoke a lie; all He shared was the Truth. He lived the truth, and the truth was that God loved and wanted everyone to be in relationship with Him. How sad to know that not all people welcomed the Truth, and in fact, some hated Him. Not one word out of His mouth did they believe. And to have Him ask this question is sad to us, but made them laugh. Someone is not laughing now. Let it not be us. We know Jesus. We love Jesus. We trust Jesus. Let His words bring life to us and to those we are around.

Which of you convicts me of sin? (John 8:46) Jesus now asks those who would seek His death, this question: Which of you convicts me of sin? In all their search, did these religious men find any evidence of sin in Our Lord? The obvious answer is no. In fact, the only one in the Bible without sin is Jesus. Yet, their search, their questions, their lies were all geared to make Jesus look guilty and sinful. And they could not find any sin in Him. How I wish that were true of you and me. We are indeed guilty of sin; but He who was without sin, removes our sins whenever we ask. Let us therefore, live as forgiven people of the Lord!

Why do you not understand what I say? (John 8:43) Jesus was right; when we don't accept something, we easily can say we don't understand it. If we're facing someone whom we oppose or dislike, and they say something, we might say we don't understand what they are saying. Jesus' accusers did not like Jesus and wanted Him dead, and didn't try to hide that either. And so as Jesus teaches on God in ways that were contrary to theirs, they said they did not understand what Jesus was talking about. Of course not, Jesus' words were making liars and frauds out of them, so they conveniently did not understand. Seek to love all, and we will understand better.

Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you? (John 8:10) A woman caught in adultery was brought to Jesus and He was asked what they should do; beginning of course with them quoting Moses' law about stoning her to death. Jesus knew their hearts and the desire of their hearts was to kill this woman. This taking place at the Temple. Jesus bends down to write on the ground, then says, "Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her." And once again, Jesus writes on the ground. One by one, the accusers left, leaving the woman alone with Jesus; this His question: Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you? Sometimes the greatest condemnations on us come from us; Jesus calls us to be without sin. And if we are free from sin, we will be free of self-condemnation and the condemnation that easily and freely comes from others. Jesus is there to remove our sin.

Are you angry with me because I healed a man’s whole body on the sabbath? (John 7:23) Jesus' healing of a man's whole body on a Sabbath angered more people than blessed them. The Law forbid most things on the Sabbath, but they did not understand God's love behind the law. The letter of the law was more important to them. They had the law to follow and they sought that instead of blessing God. Jesus' holy action of restoring a man's body to wholeness made the religious think about murder. What does that say about their hearts? What does that say about our hearts? Do we place higher importance on some things, like tradition, ritual or habit above grace and compassion? Does anger rule our responses to things we don't understand? Lord, help us to see healing and restoration to wholeness as being above what we think. Your will be done.