“Jesus replied, “I will ask you one question.”

Questions are powerful things and can be used for either constructive or destructive purposes.  Consider the question raised by the serpent: “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” (Gen. 3:1).  Just that question got the seeds of doubt and confusion rolling in Eve’s mind.  She suddenly found herself recounting precisely what the Lord had said and Adam.  Before she had a clear picture in her mind, the serpent continued, “You will not surely die,” quoting the exact words God said earlier, only in the negative.  The moral collapse of the universe began with a question.  Now that’s power!

But they can also do a wealth of good.  Frequently Jesus would ask a person, such as blind Bartimaeus, what he wanted (Mark 10:51).  “What do you want me to do for you?” is more than a silly inquiry of ignorance.  Jesus wanted the individual’s verbal testimony known to the surrounding crowd to verify his miraculous grace and power as he healed.  At other times Jesus wanted to make a point, as when he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” (Matt. 16:13).  Far from getting the latest gossip or breaking news, Jesus asked this question to set up the next one: “But what about you?  Who do you say I am?”  Ah, now it gets personal, and more important.  Jesus interrupts their hearts to release them by giving a verbal testimony, thereby strengthening what little faith they (and we) presently have.  Far from acting like most men who won’t ask questions when they’re lost, Jesus’ manhood was never in doubt and never driven by pride or foolishness or the flesh when he asked questions.

But then we come to our text in Mark 11.  During his Passion Week, he visited the Temple every day, teaching the masses and responding to the trick questions of the religious establishment.  Foolishness never looks more foolish than when it’s demonstrated by ‘the powers that be.’  “By what authority are you doing these things?  And who gave you authority to do this?” asked the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders (v. 27).  Their intent was to trap him and justify putting him away…forever.  They were evil, petty and jealous of his popularity.  They were also unnerved by the testimony of miracles everywhere he went.  Knowing this, Jesus turned the tables on them: “I will ask you one question.  Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things.  John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or from men?” (vs. 29-30).  Not wanting to cause a riot or admit rejecting God’s prophet, they couldn’t say.  If the masses had figured that out, why couldn’t they?  Like I said, foolishness never looks more foolish…

We also find this kind of questioning, particularly as it relates to authority, in another portion of the sacred text.  Job had lost virtually everything in one day:  his ten children, his flocks and herds, most of his servants (ch. 1) and later his health (ch. 2).  Typical of the thinking not only in his day but also in ours, local observers believed the cause of such personal catastrophe was Job’s sinfulness.   Job’s response was, “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised” (1:21).  To onlookers this sounded more like complete denial rather than faith.  Even his wife in her grief (she was hurting big-time too) shouted, “Are you still holding on to your integrity?  Curse God and die!” (2:9).

Then three “comforters” came to visit Job, unleashing an extended dialog about the nature and purpose of suffering.  Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar proceed to accuse and rebuke Job while he maintained his innocence.  The younger Elihu arrives later and joins in the discussion, concluding that we cannot know what God does not disclose (37:21-24).  Notice then what God does — he asks questions.  “Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.  Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?… Who marked off its dimensions?… On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone…?  Have you ever given orders to the morning…?  Have the gates of death been shown to you? …  What is the way to the abode of light? (vs. 3, 4-5, 6, 12, 17, 19).  God goes on for 4 chapters of this.  It’s not easy being on the hot seat when God is the examiner!  His purpose for all these questions could be summarized by one question:  Who do you think you are??  There is only one authority, and it is not us.  God never answers the question of suffering because there is a greater lesson to be learned: we must trust and honor him regardless of our circumstances, not question his authority or wisdom or plan.

Job despised himself and repented “in dust and ashes” (42:6).  Will you?