Questions

Dear Faith Family,

This Sunday’s Gospel is a funny one. When the chief priests, scribes and elders approach Jesus to ask Him what seems to be a valid question, Jesus gives them a pretty complex answer. Why is that?

Growing up, I was always raised to believe that I should ask God any questions. While I do think it’s true, why is it that Jesus didn’t answer the questions posed in the Gospel?

If we look at the tone of the question asked, the chief priests, scribes and elders are obviously trying to bait Jesus into speaking some form of heresy. I would argue that they probably know the answer to the question asked, but are trying to find any way to weaken Christ’s impact on the world that he had at the time. Jesus, all the wiser, evaded the question, knowing it’s a trap.

I don’t know about you, but when I think of the personality of Jesus, I tend to think of His mercy, compassion and unconditional love. Sometimes on reflection, I fail to realize that Christ was also incredibly wise and understood the human person. His wisdom is evident in his “answer” to the question posed.

His answer didn’t lack love, nor was it intended to be snarky. Rather, his answer showed that his purpose on earth isn’t just for political gain, but his answer showed that he is indeed one with the Father.

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I try to bait God into questions that I already know the answers to. Instead of asking for change, I try to be clever to convince God that my way is the right way. These are the questions that tend to be unanswered in my life. Why? Because I don’t need to hear what I already know, sometimes.

So what’s the purpose of this passage? For me, personally, it teaches me to be earnest in my conversation with God. Our God is all-­loving and wants the best for us and wants to answer the pressing questions in our lives. Let’s not waste our time asking questions that try to mold God into something that he is not.

God Bless!

​Brett Becker
Youth and Young Adult Minister

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