The Art of Asking Questions – Part I
Scripture — Mark 8:27-28 (NRSV)
Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Phillipi, and on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” And they answered him, “John the Baptist; and others, Elijah, and still others, one of the prophets.”
Focus
Creation and created non-human beings declare the identity and point to the person of Jesus, directly or accidentally. I love the wide range of the human and non-human experience. I appreciate that the journey to discover Jesus is filled with belief, unbelief, and partial belief. The road is cluttered with misunderstanding and doubts. Quiet questions and uncertainty abound. As we enter into this season of Lent, the art of asking questions of Jesus and conversing with the questions he asks of us might be our most ordinary and holy practice on the road to resurrection.
Devotion
Jesus is a great question-asker. He asks about 309 questions throughout the gospels, while being asked 183 questions in return. The most frustrating thing is he only directly answers about three. Instead, he loves answering questions with another question. Often I have found that the answers are found in the questions themselves.
The first half of the gospel of Mark hints at the identity of Jesus and the authority he possesses. By the time he asks his disciples this inquisitive question, Who do people say that I am? We have seen a wide range of experiences that people have of Jesus. And something begins turning at this point in the gospel.
Who does Herod say that he is?
He believes that Jesus is John the Baptist reincarnated. An ironic thing to see this cruel ruler who has beheaded John the Baptist, claim that he believes…wait, in a resurrection?
Who do the demons say that he is?
In the previous chapters, when demons were near the presence of Jesus they would fall down before him and confess his identity, “You are the son of God!” Even the demons believe in his identity.
Who does a bleeding woman say that he is?
She would say that a man who praised her faith told her that her faith has made her well of her affliction. Not the doctors that treated her. Not the religious rulers that banished her from temple worship due to her uncleanliness. The one whose robe she touched with faith enough to stop the bleed.
Who does the wind say that he is?
The wind and the waves are battering a boat, and scared disciples wake up Jesus. To their surprise, he commands the wind and the waves to cease and be still. Even the wind is a witness of his authority.
Creation and created non-human beings declare the identity and point to the person of Jesus, directly or accidentally. I love the wide range of the human and non-human experience. I appreciate that the journey to discover Jesus is filled with belief, unbelief, and partial belief. The road is cluttered with misunderstanding and doubts. Quiet questions and uncertainty abound.
As we enter into this season of Lent, the art of asking questions of Jesus and conversing with the questions he asks of us might be our most ordinary and holy practice on the road to resurrection.
Reflect
In this season of your life, who do others say that Jesus is?
Act
In your Lent journey, consider reading the gospels while paying close attention to the questions, whether it’s the questions that Jesus asks or the ones asked of him.
Pray
God who invites questions, as we journey towards the cross, may we slow down on this road to pay attention to your presence. May we be quiet and attentive to you walking with us, co-suffering with us and others. May we ask courageous questions of you as you ask intimate questions of us. May these questions lead to an intimacy in our friendship with a messiah well acquainted with grief. Amén.
Find all Life for Leaders devotions here. Explore what the Bible has to say about work at the unique website of our partners, the Theology of Work Project. Reflection on today’s Life for Leaders theme can be found here: Discipleship in Process (Mark 4:35-41; 6:45-52; 8:14-21).
Inés Velásquez-McBryde
Chaplain at Fuller Theological Seminary & Pastor, Preacher, Speaker
Inés Velásquez-McBryde is a pastor, preacher, reconciler and mujerista theologian. She is the lead pastor and co-founder of The Church We Hope For. She is originally from Nicaragua, a third generation pastor, and the first pastora in her family. Inés earned her MDiv at Fuller Theolo...