Journey of the Word

If I walked this earth when Jesus did, I would ask him lots of questions.

Then again . . .

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It all started when Jesus performed his first miracle.

And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” Mark 1:27

Just a few days later, the scribes were watching, a mess of questions rumbling inside them. But they dared not say a word.

Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 2:6-7

Leave it to Jesus to change that privacy setting.

And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts?” 2:8

So they mustered up some courage . . . and asked the disciples. #wimps

And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 2:16

They couldn’t even bring themselves to ask Jesus a direct question, until finally, months later . . .

And as he was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to him, and they said to him, “By what authority are you doing these things, or who gave you this authority to do them?” 11:27-28

And when Jesus didn’t answer their first question, they couldn’t stand the embarrassment, so they enacted Plan B.

And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians, to trap him in his talk. And they came and said to him, “. . . Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?” 12:13-14

That attempt failed, so a new group showed up.

And Sadducees came to him, who say that there is no resurrection. And they asked him a question, saying, “. . . In the resurrection, when they rise again, whose wife will she be?” 12:18-23

Though every one of Jesus’ answers always left the scribes fuming and scheming, this particular Q & A session left one lone scribe amazed.

And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that [Jesus] answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” 12:28

And with that little Q & A, Jesus and one sincere, humble scribe silenced them all.

And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions. 12:34

 [image credit: pixabay.com]