Ask Questions. Engage with the Answers

Introduction

Throughout the gospels we read of encounter after encounter between Jesus and the religious leaders of the day. It may be the chief priests, or the teachers of the law, it may be Pharisees, or Herodians. We also read conversations between Jesus and the people He ministers to; those He heals or otherwise brings freedom to. Quite often we see these people asking questions of Jesus. While the contents and heart behind the question is interesting and we can learn from that, and while the answers Jesus gives have much to teach us, I think there is much to learn, about Jesus and ourselves, from looking at the way the questioner engages with the answer.

The focus of this study is exactly that - how to engage with the answer. Asking questions is a good thing, even if the heart behind them may be misplaced. How we engage with the answer really shows where the heart is really at.

There are numerous examples of this, and I’m going to pick up on a few such conversations.

The Rich Young Man

First, let’s start with the Rich Young Man in Mark 10: 17-22. This encounter starts with a sense of urgency.

“As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?””

Mark 10: 17

What a question. This verse tells us very little about this man, Matthew (19:16) tells us he was young, Luke (18: 18) tells us he was a ruler, or a member of the ruling class of society. We don’t know if that means Jewish or Roman. Given that during this conversation the man confirms he has kept the Jewish commandments since boyhood (Mark 10: 20) it would suggest he is Jewish, and therefore a member of the Jewish ruling class, though not a priest or rabbi himself. All three accounts agree that this man was wealthy.

The man's approach to Jesus shows that he recognises someone greater than himself. Kneeling is not a common act and is done, typically, as a sign of respect or acknowledging someone of higher status. Then we have the term of address, both Mark and Luke have the man address Jesus as “good teacher”. Morris, in his commentary (Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Matthew, IVP, 2008, p283-284) suggests this term was not in common use as it ascribes to man an attribute belonging only to God. He goes on to suggest that this was perhaps an attempt at flattery in the man's opening. Something that the question itself perhaps supports.

The question hints at a fear in the man, he is uncertain about eternal life, and is worried that some good deed he is not doing is what will be required. This, it seems, is the heart of the question. It is certainly how Matthew records the question- “what good thing must I do” (Matthew 19: 16).

Before we look at Jesus' answer it is important to say that there is nothing wrong in asking this question, there is perhaps nothing too wrong in the underlying motivation for the question. Without the question the man would not get the answer that Jesus gives, an answer that speaks to his fear and seeks to bring peace and freedom.

There are two parts to the answer, first in Mark 10: 18-19 and then in verse 21. Part one comes with a question, one we never see an answer to, but it is a statement of truth that God alone is good. It is like Mark is reminding us here who Jesus is - He alone is good, He is God. Then there is a summary of the “easy” commandments, these rules are simple to understand and to follow.

The man needs more, he has done this, he knows something else is missing, he needs something that will last into eternity, so he presses on.

““Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”

Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.””

Mark 10: 20-21

The answer here is specific to this man. His security is in his wealth and his ability to generate wealth. Jesus is challenging him to find his security in Him. This is the heart of the answer. While the specific challenge is different from person to person, the call to follow Jesus is the same, and the challenge is the same - will we find our security and identity in Jesus or in what we can do for ourselves?

What happens next is key for this man.

“At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.”

Mark 10: 22

This is where engaging with the answer is key. This man does not engage with the answer, maybe if the answer was keep doing what you're doing, or possibly even if it had been to donate something to the poor he could have done it. The trouble with those answers is they keep the man in control. Jesus wants to be in control. Jesus is the one we should find our security and identity in. Yes, the heart of this question may have been about future security and how he could ensure it, but the answer could still have led to a new life, a fuller life. The question is only the start of the conversation, how we engage with the answer could be the start of a new life.

The Religious Leaders

In this category I’m including the chief priests, the teachers of the law and others who are sent to represent them.

There are many examples we could use for this, but one that I think speaks of this particularly clearly is in Mark 11: 27-33. Shortly after Jesus has cleared the temple of the money changers and other sellers, an interesting event worthy of its own study, we get this exchange with the chief priests, teachers of the law, and the elders. This is a group who, according to verse 18 are looking for a way to kill Jesus.

What is their question? They want to know about Jesus’ authority.

““By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you authority to do this?””

Mark 11: 28

Jesus has done some incredible things. By this point in Mark we have seen Jesus calm the storm, feed large multitudes, heal the sick, free the demon possessed, and raise the dead. Not to mention the amazing teaching and the very recent clearing of the temple. Asking about His authority seems fair. Jesus does not seem upset at the question. But, the question itself is not the issue, the heart behind the question is the issue; Jesus knows the heart, He understands the ulterior motive, and so brings a question of His own. This is where we see how willing these leaders are to engage with the answer, to engage fully with Jesus.

“Jesus replied, “I will ask you one question. Answer me and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. John’s baptism – was it from heaven, or from men? Tell me!””

Mark 11: 29-30

Jesus is not tricked by their question, and in this answer He is directing them back to the prophets, back to their scriptures that they know and love. In asking about John’s baptism He is asking about Isaiah 40. If John is the fulfilment of that prophecy then Jesus is the one John was preparing the way for. In this case the authority Jesus has is from heaven. This opens up even more questions for those challenging Jesus, questions they do not wish to address. The following verses, 31-33a, show us that these people cannot dismiss John because they fear the reaction of the people. This fear of men prevents them from fully engaging with Jesus, it stops them from getting the full answer from Jesus, and even worse blocks the way to new life.

Once again, the question is not the issue, even the heart behind the question is not too much of a problem. A refusal to engage with the answer is where the problem lies, this is what prevents Jesus’ challengers from finding the freedom and victory they have been longing for.

We see this even more clearly, and with greater immediacy in the next example.

Crucified Criminals

Luke, in his account of the crucifixion, records a conversation between Jesus and the two criminals crucified next to Him; Luke 23: 39-43.

This conversation starts with a request for rescue, a request laced with insincerity and mockery.

“Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!”

Luke 23: 39b

It reads like a final plea, but one filled with doubt and delivered with a mocking tone. It fails to acknowledge who Jesus is. The second criminal defends Jesus, and explains that Jesus is an innocent man, wrongly accused. Jesus says nothing at this point. But the second criminal is prepared to engage fully with Jesus.

“Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.””

Luke 23: 42

The result, we read in verse 43, is a promise that he will be with Jesus in paradise. This is the result of full engagement with Jesus. There may not be a question and answer session here, but there is an example of not engaging with Jesus and one of engaging with Jesus. It serves to show us that we really must engage fully with Jesus, to acknowledge that He alone is good, He has done nothing wrong. It is in this acknowledgement that the criminal finds real rescue, a rescue better than what the first one was asking for.

It is the same for us. Rescue may not look like we imagine, it may not be what we ask for, but the rescue Jesus offers, when we fully engage with Him, is so much better.

Can I come with you?

Having looked at a couple of examples of people not engaging with the answer, let’s look now at a couple of examples where people do engage.

In Mark 5 there is the story of the demon possessed man who Jesus sets free. As Jesus’ boat comes ashore in the region of Gerasenes He is met by this man. The man comes to Him. Jesus sets him free and if we jump to the end of the story we see the positive response from the man.

“As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. Jesus did not let him, but said “Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.”

Mark 5: 18-20

There is a lot we could pick up on here, the fact that Jesus is in a non-Jewish area, the fact that this is the first person Jesus instructs to spread the news and not to keep quiet. But what I want to pick up on here is the response to the miracle and the response to the instruction.

This man has been set free and he is ready to follow Jesus anywhere and everywhere, he is begging to go with Jesus. Jesus, seeing this heart, this desire, and knowing what is to come has a different idea. The man needs to spread the word in this region. It is possible this could lead the man to do nothing, to have the attitude of if I can’t do what I want, I won’t do what you want. That is not the response. No, he does what Jesus asks. We know he does this, not just because Mark tells us here, but because in Mark 7:24-8:10 Jesus returns to the area and we read of a large crowd gathering. News of Jesus had indeed spread.

This is what engaging with the answer Jesus gives looks like. It changes the life of this man, but also of many more later on.

From Hiding to Declaring

In John 4 is the story of Jesus talking with the woman at the well. This is a fantastic example of someone fully engaging with Jesus, and the answers He gives.

Jesus starts this encounter, asking for water, and the conversation moves quickly to the woman asking for the water of life, verse 13-15. From here it moves on again to Jesus explaining worship and declaring who He is (verse 21-26). This declaration is in response to the woman's question about worship in verses 19-20. Her response to this is to declare Jesus to the whole town.

Jesus has talked with her, moving her from shame and misunderstanding to freedom and confidence in who He is. The result is that she is no longer hiding, she is now declaring Jesus to her town. We see that many people of the town come to believe in Jesus, verse 39-41. Not only that, in Acts 8: 4-8 we read of Philip in Samaria, and there is a great work of God that is done in that area. It is the further fruit of this woman engaging with the answer Jesus gives to her request for living water.

When Jesus asked her for water she could have gone home and hid. Or when Jesus started to tell her of her past she could have run away, or denied it, or in some other way refused to engage with Jesus. Had she done that she would not have found freedom, she would have remained in her shame. By engaging with Jesus, by allowing Him in she learns who He is and she is set free by Him.

Engaging with Jesus changes her life, and the lives of those in her town. It later results in many more lives being changed.

Conclusion

There is nothing wrong with questions, even those we may ask with the wrong motives. What matters is how we engage with the answer, how we engage with Jesus in our questions. For it is in this engagement that we find the freedom of Christ, the fullness of His rescue, and experience His love and compassion towards us. The answer may be painful, it may seem too big to follow through on, but it is always worth engaging with Jesus in His answer.