No Such Thing as a Stupid Question

Scripture: Job 23-24; Mark 11-12

Mark 11 27-33
Then when they were back in Jerusalem once again, as they were walking through the Temple, the high priests, religion scholars, and leaders came up and demanded, “Show us your credentials. Who authorized you to speak and act like this?”

Jesus responded, “First let me ask you a question. Answer my question and then I’ll present my credentials. About the baptism of John—who authorized it: heaven or humans? Tell me.”

They were on the spot, and knew it. They pulled back into a huddle and whispered, “If we say ‘heaven,’ he’ll ask us why we didn’t believe John; if we say ‘humans,’ we’ll be up against it with the people because they all hold John up as a prophet.” They decided to concede that round to Jesus. “We don’t know,” they said.

Jesus replied, “Then I won’t answer your question either.”

Observations: Folks felt that they had to test Jesus before they could hear what he said. Some actually tested him to avoid hearing what he had to say–with no intention of listening, even if he had a good answer.

Application: Clever questions have no place in my discipleship. Honest, probing questions are the ones worth asking or answering. Its time–and past time–that we stopped talking about Jesus and started teaching and learning how to be like Jesus.

Prayer: God, help me remove the questions in my heart that are designed to block and oppose your will. Replace them with questions that will cause my life to change, that will challenge my mind to conform to your will, and will cause my heart to wrestle with a deeper, more significant meaning. Amen.