What Does The Bible Say?
Did Jesus ever ask any questions?
Jesus often taught by asking questions of those he was teaching. In Luke 6:46 Jesus asks- “why do you call Me Lord, Lord, and not do what I tell you? He asked this question to get them to think about who they were, and where they were in relationship with God. Many today behave as these people in this text. Many religious people, if not all of us at times, are inconsistent in the way we obey what God says. But that does not excuse us from correcting our lives. The fact is that we are all weak and fall short of God’s standard at times. We are never to present ourselves to others as people who do not sin, but as people that do sin and repent. Jesus said- “except you repent, you will all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:3).
Many religious people today are worshipping God in vain, by not teaching His teachings, or teaching doctrines that are the commands of men, but not of God (Matt. 15:9).
Jesus also asked numerous questions about His identity. “Who do men say I am?" “Who do you say I am?” are two questions He asked of his followers in Matthew 16:17,18. It is important for all of us to answer this question today.
Some at that time thought He was some prophet, perhaps even Elijah of one of the prophets) or still others thought Him to be John the baptizer. Peter is recorded as saying that Jesus was the Christ the Son of the living God. In saying this Peter identified what all of us must believe.
If Jesus is not the Son of God and if He did not come to die for the sins of all men, to redeem them, then our faith in Him is vain and we are left hopeless and helpless. Jesus’ question about His identity is still am important questions for all of us to ask of ourselves.
To many people, Jesus was a great Rabbi or teacher, but not deity. To the Hindu and Muslim, He is a notable prophet sent by God but not Deity. To the Jehovah’s Witness teaching He is an agent of God (similar to an angel) but not deity. All of these concepts of Jesus are untrue. We must confess with our mouths that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (Rom. 10 :9,10; Acts 8:37).
Finally, Jesus asked this question among so many others. What is a man profited, though He gains the whole world and loses his own soul or what will a man give in exchange for his soul (Mark 8:36,37: Matt.16:26). The answer one gives to this question determines the course of his life on this earth as well as his eternal destiny. Jesus is teaching the futility of valuing earthly possessions and relationships over our eternal well-being. He is stressing the superior value of seeking the security of our souls in Christ, over the mundane of this life. Everything we enjoy in the flesh is fading (we will leave it all here when we die). How we live and in what spiritual state we die is the most important of all things. Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:33 to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added."
Regarding the value of relationships in this life, Jesus asked, “who are my mother and brother” (Matt. 12:48-50). He replies by saying that “whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother, sister and mother” There is no person, place or thing that is valued more than my relationship with Christ and the condition of my soul.
Yes, Jesus asked probing questions. He did not ask questions to confuse or muddy the waters. Every question He asked was to get His audience to think and answer. Sometimes the replies he received were negative, but he did not withdraw the question because it was hard. His questions must be asked not only of those in his day, but all of us today.
Please address all questions and comments to us at What Does the Bible Say? c/o Maple Street Church of Christ P.O. Box 3086, Liberty, TX 77575 and visit our website at maplestreetliberty.org