Asking Honest Questions

While preparing for a sermon this week, I was reminded of an occasion years ago when someone came to me with a question.  It was apparent he was looking for a particular answer that I did not give him, for he immediately went to another believer and asked their opinion on what the Bible said concerning a topic of interest.  It seemed he wanted to use the Bible to affirm his convictions so he could have the backing of Scripture to impose a rule that forbade his employees from having tattoos.  I suspect when I have been asked questions about the Bible, many times there have been ulterior motives that were not freely disclosed, and often hypothetical questions raised are personal questions in disguise.

These thoughts all flooded into my mind when I read a chapter in the Gospel of Mark today.  One observation that always amuses me is how many times the Pharisees posed a question to Jesus' disciples about Jesus rather than asking Him directly.  The disciples of Jesus also struggled to be honest and transparent with admitting they did not understand Jesus to His face, to actually ask Him to answer their questions who knows all and discerns the hearts and thoughts of men.  Mark 9:9-11 provides an example:  "Now as they came down from the mountain, He commanded them that they should tell no one the things they had seen, till the Son of Man had risen from the dead. ¹⁰ So they kept this word to themselves, questioning what the rising from the dead meant. ¹¹ And they asked Him, saying, "Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?"  The disciples obeyed Jesus to keep private the information He revealed to them, yet they did not understand Him and questioned what He said.  Then they asked Jesus a completely unrelated question instead of asking their burning question:  what did Jesus mean when He spoke of rising from the dead?

Later in the chapter, Mark 9:30-32 says:  "Then they departed from there and passed through Galilee, and He did not want anyone to know it. ³¹ For He taught His disciples and said to them, "The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him. And after He is killed, He will rise the third day." ³² But they did not understand this saying, and were afraid to ask Him."  Jesus taught His disciples concerning His future death and resurrection, and none of His disciples understood what He meant about rising from the dead.  This time we are told they did not ask because they were afraid!  This is quite strange to me, for Jesus never rebuked His disciples for asking honest questions.  In fact, when they were alone Jesus explained parables to His disciples whenever they asked Him.  Why were they afraid to ask Jesus a question?  Perhaps because they did not want to appear ignorant in front of each other.  Maybe the subject matter was confronting.  What we know is they were afraid to ask, and so they remained ignorant.

In response to His disciples' query about who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven, Matthew 18:1-4 says:  "Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, ³ and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."  Jesus provided an object lesson when He called a little child who came to Him, and Jesus set him in the middle of their group.  Jesus has called all people to Himself, and those who willingly come and submit to His rule in obedience are greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  One thing I have observed in children is they realise they are not as big or strong as their parents, and they have much to learn.  They ask a lot of questions because they are curious and want to understand everything of interest.  While they may not spend much time processing the answer as they should before they fire off more questions, they do not frame their question to look intelligent to others.  Fear of being judged by others does not prompt them to ask hypothetical questions to avoid implicating themselves.  They ask questions that are so honest and naive it is can embarrass parents to hear the question voiced in public!

Jesus called His disciples to follow Him, and they decided to leave their families and workplaces and follow Him faithfully.  At the same time, they argued over who among them would be the greatest in the kingdom of God.  They did not understand what Jesus said sometimes, and they were afraid to ask Him.  Jesus exhorted them to be like the little child who came at His call and was content to sit in the midst because Jesus placed him there.  Knowing Jesus loves us and His perfect love casts out all fear, may we be like the child who demonstrated faith by simply coming to Jesus.  As little children do not try to pass themselves off as intellectuals or seek to impress others when asking a question, may we be transparent in our conversations, ask honest questions when we do not understand and examine our hearts to uncover ulterior motives that seek to employ answers as ammunition, to find fault or to accuse.