April 29, 2018 Sunday 

“Now when He came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching, and said, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?” But Jesus answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things: “The baptism of John — where was it from? From heaven or from men?” And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ “But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the multitude, for all count John as a prophet.” So they answered Jesus and said, “We do not know.” And He said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.” (Matthew 21:23-27 NKJV)

            When we come to God we want answers to our questions.  While Jesus does at times give us answers many time Jesus gives us questions.  Why does Jesus do this?  Maybe God wants to give us better questions so we can get better answers?

            The priests and elders come to Jesus with a question about His authority and where it came from.  Could it be that Jesus saw into their hearts that this question was both a trick and a way for them to not have to face who Jesus really is?  Questions can at times be a deflection of something we do not like or even an attempt to not have to face our need by putting it or someone down.

            As people who treasured and paraded their authority the priests and elders felt Jesus was a threat to their power and thus them.  They may delude themselves that they were working for the good of Israel but to quote Mel Brooks they were really “protecting their phony baloney jobs”!  In Luke chapter 20 we see this clearly as Jesus not only knew their hearts but let them know He knew!

            The question Jesus asked them may also be seen as a deflection until you look closer.  When Jesus asks where did John get his authority we might fail to realize John got his authority from the same place as Jesus.  So even in the new question Jesus answered their question.

            Part of the problem for us is we do not see questions as an attempt to learn but as recognition of a lack in us if we answer the question wrong.  A wise teacher once told me a test should not be feared because they were a way to find out not only what you know but what you needed to learn!

            When you have questions do you “bring them to the Lord in prayer”?  Or do you seek human wisdom for God questions?  Are you afraid to ask God your questions or are you afraid of the answer?

Over the next week we will look at Seven Deadly Questions which I have discovered most people want to ask but often are afraid to.  That is why the subtitle is But Were Afraid to Ask.  Some of the questions will bother you and some of the study will bother you even more.  But these questions are only deadly if you are too afraid to ask them.  Please take time to ask yourself these questions and by reading the scriptures and seeking God’s wisdom discover the question or answer you need.  Do not try to answer these questions by your own wisdom but seek God’s wisdom for the answer.