and the answer is....... What was the question?

I loved teaching Sunday School....especially the younger kids.  We would sometimes start out by asking questions.  The kids got used to a lot of the answers being "Jesus".  Eventually as the year went on, we would barely get the question started and the kids would start raising their hands and whispering and I could see their mouths saying "Jesus".  Which is great except that wasn't the answer to the question we were asking.  ex.  Who was a little boy that wore a coat of many colors?  (Joseph)  JESUS  Always made me smile....still does.

Jesus is the answer to a lot of life's issues.  Sometimes we try every other answer we can think of first...and then turn to Jesus as a last resort.  Sometimes we'll try an answer along with Jesus and question which one really worked.  Sometimes we pray first, then act and we are sure the answer was Jesus.

I typed "Jesus answer" into Bible Gateway to find a verse or 2 to go along with this.  I was surprised how many verses came up that started with "Jesus answered".  In the NIV version, they are in the 4 gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

Matthew 4  When the devil tempted Jesus after 40 days in the wilderness, Jesus answered by saying "it is written".   This is a good reminder to us that when things get tough, looking into God's word and reminding ourselves of the promises there can help us through the questions we have.

Sometimes Jesus answered a question with a question as the religious rulers at the time were trying to trap him. 

Matthew 21:23-24 Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you this authority?”  Jesus replied, “I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

Sometimes Jesus stayed silent even when asked a question.  Sometimes the best answer IS no answer.

Matthew 26:62-63  Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” But Jesus remained silent.

Many times Jesus is the answer, but people in His days on Earth and even now will not acknowledge Jesus as the answer.

Luke 22:66-68 At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and the teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus was led before them. “If you are the Messiah,” they said, “tell us.”   Jesus answered, “If I tell you, you will not believe me, and if I asked you, you would not answer.

What are some of the questions you're facing right now?  Are you willing to seek out answers and accept the fact that in our lives the answer really is Jesus?

Questioning......

Luke 2 : 45-47 (New International Version)
45When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.

When Jesus was a boy, he stayed in the temple when his parents moved on. It took them 3 days to find him. He was asking questions and answering questions with an understanding that was well beyond his physical years. They were amazed.

Do you ever question why something happens? Why it happened now? Why? Why?, etc. and many times it does not seem like we get a good answer. Is it OK to feel unsure and want an answer even if it means questioning God?

I wrote this awhile ago when I was in one of those moods. It seems a little intimidating to question God. Maybe we need to remember from our school days...there's no such thing as a dumb question. For some reason, I felt like I was supposed to post this now. If it's for you, know that God is OK with the questions and you may not get the answer you want right now, but He'll listen and answer in a way you might not expect. Sometimes we look....but we don't see.

Why do I question?
Why do I doubt?
Why do I feel I need
to figure it all out?

You said I could question
You said I could ask
You said that you are up for the task

I don’t have to do it all on my own.
You made a promise
I’m never alone.

Help me not let my feelings rule
Know that you’re loving
Not far away or cruel

Search for answers inside the Book
You’re always around
I need to see when I look

kjjalsweet
10-19-07

Thinking of you and hugs too!

PS I can't even count the number of times that surrender came up today! On talk radio, in songs, in conversations with other people. Must be the word for 2008!