May 27, 2019
In this morning’s Fruit of the Vine, Howard Macy points out that Jesus asked a lot of questions. Take the 20th chapter of Luke for example:
- John’s baptism — was it from heaven, or of human origin?
- What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them?
- Then what is the meaning of that which is written: “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone”?
- Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?
- Now then, at the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?
- Why is it said that the Messiah is the son of David? .... David calls him “Lord.” How then can he be his son?
Howard reminds us that “in Jesus’ time, a common way to learn was to ask the rabbi questions and to engage in the dialogue that followed. Jesus knew that pattern.... Jesus was good with questions.... Jesus was so good with questions,” Howard writes, “that one day he dazzled his antagonists with such a puzzler that ‘from that day forward nobody dared to ask him anything’” (Matthew 22:46, CEB).
But we shouldn’t be afraid. “We can still learn from Jesus by asking questions,” according to Howard. “I’m sure Jesus welcomes our questions.”
Think about what you might want to ask Jesus. After all, if Jesus is present with us, then every moment of every day is an opportunity for conversation, an opening for learning and growth, a chance to ask the questions we’ve been carrying.
Howard offers a prayer for us: “Jesus, through questions and listening, help us learn from you as our Teacher.”
Eric Muhr
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