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Why does Jesus ask us questions?
This morning I was reading the Gospel of Saint John. I like to read the Gospels while sitting in front of the Blessed Sacrament. As I read the words of Christ, I look at the tabernacle and think, “Wow, Lord you are speaking here. This is really you. The same historical Jesus of Nazareth.”
This morning I read the following verse and it challenged me:
“When Jesus therefore had lifted up his eyes and seen that a very great multitude cometh to him, he said to Philip: Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? And this he said to test him: for he himself knew what he would do.” (John 6:5–6, D-R)
Why did Jesus ask them a question? Christ did not desire to discover anything new. He asked a question to draw something out from them. He wanted to “test” them.
Does Jesus ask you questions? I don’t hear the audible voice, but God sets up moments in my life that beg for a question. The questions of Christ are to my heart are clear even if I don’t audibly hear them:
Why are you having children?
Why are working at this job?
How will you encourage your friend?
Why are you so sad?
Why are you so happy?
Do you think this is worthwhile?
Are you doing this for your glory or God’s glory?
Why are you writing a blog?
Our life frames these questions to us and I think that if we abide in prayer and stay near to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we can hear His voice in them. Again, Christ our Lord is not trying to learn something new from us. He already knows all the answers. But we don’t. And that’s the point.
Do you remember what happened when Adam and Eve sinned? God did not give them a discourse on original sin, mortal sin, and sanctifying grace right away. Rather, we read, “And the Lord God called Adam, and said to him: Where art thou?” (Genesis 3:9, D-R) It’s a question.
And then God follows up with another question:
“And he said to him: And who hath told thee that thou wast naked, but that thou hast eaten of the tree whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldst not eat?” (Genesis 3:11, D-R)
This is how God interacts with man. Questions.
These questions teach us.
If we go back to the passage just cited (John 6:5–6) you’ll notice that His question becomes the prelude to the great “Bread of Life” discourse in which Christ gives His most clear teaching on the doctrine of the Eucharist and transubstantiation. His question leads first to confusion. Which leads to a miracle. Which leads to profound teaching.
“Then Jesus said to them: Amen, amen, I say unto you: except you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you shall not have life in you.” (John 6:54, D-R)
Are you bothered by questions and uncertainty? Good. That is the life of the disciple. If you aren’t struggling with the questions, you are not on the quest. The quest for Jesus and His plan for your life.
Let’s open us the comments box. What are the questions that you are trying to answer?
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