TEXT: ‘Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions’ – Luke 2:46 THOUGHT: In this final part of “Questions Jesus asked”, we will look at three questions to do with who Jesus is and what that means to our lives. Someone wisely said, “If Jesus is not Lord of all, then He is not Lord at all! Who do you say I am? – Matthew 16:15 Jesus asked the blind man He healed, ‘Do you believe in the Son of God?’ He replied, ‘Who is He, Lord that I may believe in Him?’ – John 9:35-36. Being blind, he had never seen Jesus, because his miracle of healing only happened once he had arrived at the place Jesus told him to go to, the pool of Siloam. How would he recognise Jesus once he could see? I believe that when he heard Jesus ask him this question, he recognised His voice as the One who had told him to go and wash in the pool of Siloam. That was enough for him to have faith and say, “Lord, I believe” and he worshipped Him. When Jesus asked His disciples who...
Learn MoreTEXT: ‘Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions’ – Luke 2:46 THOUGHT: In this second part of “Questions Jesus asked”, we will look at another question. I often say when evangelising or witnessing, “Can I ask you a question?” When they reply, “Yes” it gives me permission to ask and they are more ready to answer because they have allowed me to ask. Often news reporters ask irritating and irrelevant questions which annoy both responder and viewer alike, so care must be taken. Questions should be pertinent and not creating the suggestion that the one asking is merely collecting information. Saul, why are you persecuting Me? – Acts 9:4 Have you ever found yourself fighting the wrong battle? The religious authorities in Jerusalem had been warned by a wise counsellor called Gamaliel, to be careful they did not end up fighting God, as they sought to stop the apostles from preaching about the name of Jesus. They ignored his advice and sent a firebrand named Saul of Tarsus off to Damascus to stamp out Christianity there. As Saul neared Damascus, a sudden bright light startled him and he fell...
Learn MoreTEXT: ‘Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions’ – Luke 2:46 THOUGHT: Surveys! The latest craze, particularly on-line ones. After any enquiry, complaint, purchase and delivery, companies and service-providers ask, “How did we do?” My latest experience was when we needed a plumber to fix the central-heating boiler. Two days in a row the company informed us he could not come and re-arranged for the following day. Each time they also cautioned us we could face a £30 fine if we were not in for the appointment! On the third day the work was satisfactorily carried out and a day or so later the “Survey” phone call. When I pointed out the cancelled appointments and the £30 threat, the caller did not want to ask any more questions. All they were really looking for was another “5 stars” to boost the company’s rating. Jesus asked questions to gather information and to understand what people were really thinking. Once He came alongside two depressed disciples and asked two simple questions, “Why are you sad?” and “What things?” Before long they were out of their depression and returning to Jerusalem to...
Learn MoreTEXT: ‘Jesus wept!’ – John 11:35 THOUGHT: What a crazy world we live in. During the coronation of our present queen the Archbishop said, “Our gracious Queen: to keep your Majesty ever mindful of the law and the Gospel of God as the Rule for the whole life and government of Christian Princes, we present you with this Book, the most valuable thing that this world affords.” Today anyone can take the Lord’s name in vain, frequently using it to curse and swear, causing distress and offense to Christians all over the world, yet a Christian cannot quote from that same Bible words they believe are true without being pilloried and disciplined. It’s about time the pendulum swung the other way. Try using the name of Mohammed in a derogatory way and see how quickly Muslims would rise up in anger, but Christians are not supposed to react when the name of the One they worship and believe in is made a mockery of and used as a swear word. In 1977, while living in Doncaster attending Bible College as a Day Student, my neighbour asked me to give him a hand mending his scooter. Dropping a spanner he exclaimed, “Jesus wept!” I said nothing at first, but when...
Learn MoreTEXT: ‘Some Greeks were among those who had gone to Jerusalem to worship during the festival. They went to Philip (he was from Bethsaida in Galilee) and said, “Sir, we want to see Jesus.”’ – John 12:20-21 GNT. THOUGHT: Proselyte Jews from Greece who had come to Jerusalem to worship, approached Philip with the request, “Sir, we want to see Jesus.” When Jesus was aware of their desire He said, ‘Now the time has come for the Son of Manto enter into his glory. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives’ – John 12:23-24 NLT. It’s wonderful when someone wants to see Jesus. To see Him now physically is impossible but we can through the eyes of faith. Someone else who wanted to see Jesus was Zacchaeus – read Luke 19:1-10. The most unlikeliest of people want to see Jesus Zacchaeus was the last person anyone expected to want to see Jesus because of his responsibilities, reputation, ruthlessness and riches. He was the worst of the worst! He had become chief tax collector because he had learnt how to extract the most taxes. Yet...
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