Do you still have questions for God?

There are many things we will never understand this side of heaven, yet our inquiring minds want to know. But I was humbled, recently, when I realized that Jesus had many questions of us — to determine our motives, to get us to think about where we are going for our advice, and to help us examine the sincerity of our hearts.

As a follow-up to last week’s widely-read blog “Five Questions God Has For You” here are “Five More Questions Jesus Asked”:

1. Do you still not see or understand?

Jesus likely asked this question in Mark 8:17 out of frustration. No matter what they saw Him do, His disciples still didn’t get it. Jesus had just fed 4,000 people with seven loaves of bread and a few fish. Prior to that he had fed another 5,000 with just five loaves of bread and two fish, healed a deaf and mute man, cast a demon out of a young girl just by saying the words, and walked on water in front of them while they watched from a storm-tossed boat! What more did they need to see to understand that He was the Son of God? 

What have you seen Jesus do? How many coincidences do you have to experience to know His hand is working in your life and circumstances? How many times does He have to come through for you financially to make you trust His provision? May our answer to His question be: Open my eyes to see You for who You really are and to never again doubt Your presence, your power, or Your provision. 

2. Are you also going to leave? 

Jesus said some things that were pretty hard for people of His day to swallow. He said things like “anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise that person at the last day” (John 6:54, NLT). Scripture tells us, “At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him. Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?” (John 6:66-67). 

 Jesus’ words – and much of the New Testament letters – are especially difficult for people today. His words seemed intolerant, his ideas radical, His statements, at times, seemed judgmental. Wouldn’t you rather have a God you can conform to your own image? One who goes along with everything you believe is right today? Are you also going to leave? May our response be as pure and undefiled as Simon Peter’s in verse 68: “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life.”

3. What does Scripture say?   

Scripture tells us in Luke 10:23-28 that an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus and asked Him what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus answered the question by asking the religious leader a question: “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?”  When the man quoted the Greatest Commandment, Jesus replied “Do this and you will live.” 

Scripture is our sole authority today. It is referred to as the living Word of God and Second Timothy 3:16-17 tells us “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

When you’re in a predicament, when you have to choose between offending someone else or offending God, when you have to draw a line in the sand, instead of asking “What would Jesus do?” and taking your best guess, ask instead “What do the Scriptures say?” After all, that is what Jesus would say if you asked Him what He would do. 

4. Who touched Me? 

In a crowded place, where people were brushing up on all sides of Him, Jesus asked this question, not because He didn’t know who touched him, but because He wanted everyone else to know. Jesus was well aware of the woman who had been hemorrhaging for 12 long years and had spent every last cent she owned trying to get well, but only got worse. He knew she was desperate to be healed. He knew what she risked by going out in public and touching a Rabbi, which would, under Jewish law, make Him ceremoniously unclean. Jesus asked the question because He wanted her to speak up. He wanted her story to be told. .  

In Mark 5:33, we read “then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth.” She told her story. Publically. Everyone there suddenly knew who she was, what her condition had been, and how she had been healed by simply touching Jesus’ garment. 

Have you experienced Jesus’ healing touch? Has He forgiven you and given you a new lease on life? Then tell the world Who has touched you so God is glorified.

5. Do you love Me?  

Jesus asked this of Peter, not once but three times, after His disciple – who claimed to be the most loyal of the bunch – had three times publically denied knowing Jesus on the night of His arrest and crucifixion. Jesus asked this question three times as a giftto Peter, by giving him the chance to three times reaffirm his love for his Lord, after having blown it a few days earlier (John 21:15-17). 

Have you blown it with Christ, too? It’s never too late to reaffirm your love for Him. Jesus said in Matthew 22:37 that the greatest commandment was to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” His question to Peter penetrates our hearts daily as we are faced with the choice to follow Him or the world? Him or our money? Him or another love? Do you love Me? How I long for my answer to be: Yes, Lord, more than anything. “Whom have I in heaven but You and earth has nothing I desire besides you.” (Psalm 73:25). 

I would love to know which of these questions of Jesus is resonating with your heart this week. Let me know in the comment section below.