Questions

So, time has passed. I spent two weeks without social media, and I have scads of notes from sermons, Sunday School and verses I had read on my own. Where to start? And that question made me think of Pastor’s Sunday night sermon about questions and answers. It was a good sermon using a question and answer session Jesus had (in Matthew 21 and 22, Luke 20) with a variety of groups, and I have notes on it that I’ll be using later.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have a question and answer session with Jesus?

Don’t wait for it, though I do believe we will have such opportunities. Just take a look at the question He asked:

And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am? (Luke 9:18 KJV)

The answer came quickly – from more than one person, since the Bible says:

They answering said, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others say, that one of the old prophets is risen again. (Luke 9:19 KJV)

They knew their history. They knew of the prophets and the impact their preaching, their fulfilled prophecies, had on the nation of Israel. Jesus had been telling everyone who would listen about God and what He expects from men, and what He has to offer to those who believe following His steps is the way to live. Sounded much as those earlier prophets – and, Jesus spoke with authority. People identified Him with those prophets. But – Jesus had another question:

He said unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

That, my beloved readers, is the one question we must each answer – no one can answer it for us, no one can make that decision for us. How have you answered it? My answer matches Peter’s:

Peter answering said, The Christ of God. (Luke 9:20 KJV)

The promised Messiah, sent from God to . . . do what?

For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:10 KJV)

Those aren’t my words – Jesus spoke them to a large gathering at Zacchaeus’ house. Those words answer Pilate’s question:

Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all. (John 18:38 KJV)

Pilate had an earlier question – and Jesus gave Him the truth in answer:

Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. (John 18:37 KJV)

Jesus knew who He was, where He was, why He was here. Can we say the same? What are our answers to those same questions?