When words are printed in red
in the Bible, I tend to pay more attention.
After all, if Jesus said it, there’s something to be learned! As I have been reading those red-letter words
in the Gospel of John, I noticed that Jesus often uses questions. Let’s look at three questions He asked and
see what we can learn from His model.
John 1:38 – What do you want?
John 5:6 – Do you want to get well?
John 18:4 – Who is it you want?
Things to think about:
· I guess the
first thing to say about Jesus’s questions is He wasn’t actually seeking
information. As the omniscient Son of
God, He already knew the answers. The questions
were more for the benefit of who He was asking.
o
Why are questions effective tools to drive a deeper discussion?
· The first
question in John 1:38, What do you want?, was posed to His first disciples. They were following Him after John the
Baptist pointed at Him and said Jesus was the Lamb of God.
o
They were curious about where He was staying and wanted to spend
some time with Him
o
Everyone comes to Jesus with their own motivations. Are you merely curious or are you after
something deeper?
· The second
question, Do you want to get well? was asked of the invalid who was always
missing out on the chance to get in the healing waters near the temple.
o
The man was disabled for 38 years and Jesus wants to know if he
wants to get well???
§ Mankind has a
disease much worse than this poor man, a terminal illness called Sin. God will not force Himself on us but rather
asks if we want to be healed. Only those
who say Yes can pick up their mats and walk into eternal life
· The third
question, Who is it you want?, is the most important
one.
o
It is the essence of Christianity because Christianity is about
Who
o
This happened when He was being arrested and Judas identified Him as
the man they were in search of
o
They replied, Jesus of Nazareth” to which He responded, “I am He.” They fell to the ground and again He asked, “Who is it you
want?”
· The question
for everyone ever born is the same one, “Who is it you want?”
o
Do you want yourself and to have your way?
o
Do you want others and their affection and approval?
o
Or do you want the living Son of God Who came to take away your sin
so you can be with Him for eternity?
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