The Art of Asking Questions – Part II
Scripture — Mark 8:29-30 (NRSV)
He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah.” And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.
Focus
This question becomes a fascinating marker in the gospel. Jesus looks into your eyes the same way he looked into Peter’s eyes. Imagine a friend sitting across a coffee table from you, asking questions of identity, belonging, calling, relationship. All of us who seek or want to follow Jesus have to face this question, at least once, if not multiple times in our lives. In this season of Lent, may this be a question that you lean into with curiosity, again and anew. In fact, why don’t you flip the question back to Jesus? Ask him, And Jesus, who do YOU say that I am?
Devotion
Yesterday we leaned into the first question in this conversation between Jesus and his disciples. The second question is a linchpin in the gospel. Jesus listens to the disciples respond to what others say about him. Jesus seems to be less interested in what others think about him, his words and his works. He seems to know exactly who he is and why he has come. So this question has nothing to do with stroking his ego. But now he draws close, comes near. But who do you say that I am?
The ones he has called friends are the ones he cares about. The ones on the journey with him are the ones that will change the world. He cares what they believe because they will be both conduits of God’s witness to the world that God is love and in him there is no darkness at all.
For the first time in the gospel, a human makes a declarative statement that descends from the biblical memory of Israel of a long-awaited Messiah, the anointed one who will one day right all the wrongs.
This question becomes a fascinating marker in the gospel. Jesus looks into your eyes the same way he looked into Peter’s eyes. Imagine a friend sitting across a coffee table from you asking questions of identity, belonging, calling, relationship. All of us who seek or want to follow Jesus have to face this question, at least once, if not multiple times in our lives. In this season of Lent, may this be a question that you lean into with curiosity, again and anew. In fact, why don’t you flip the question back to Jesus? Ask him, And Jesus, who do YOU say that I am?
Reflect
With your story and all that you are currently holding, who do you need Jesus to be?
Act
Continue with yesterday’s prompt: 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 lets us ask questions, who do you say that I am in this season? May we sit with you as you sit with us, may you look deeply into our eyes, as you patiently listen to our questions. Jesus, we know that you aren’t asking us to do or be anything that you haven’t done or been yourself. Quiet us with your love, sit with us in our grief, surprise us with joy. Resurrect us on the road to resurrection. Amén.
Find all Life for Leaders devotions here. Explore what the Bible has to say about work at the High Calling archive, hosted by the unique website of our partners, the Theology of Work Project. Reflection on today’s Life for Leaders theme can be found here: Who Do You Say I Am?.
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...