DON’T YOU CARE?
Many parents have heard their children ask whether or not they care about them. Those parents are in good company. There were at least two occasions when people asked Jesus if he cared and both times it was by people who loved him. Once was when Martha complained she was left to do all the work (Luke 10.40). Another was when his friends thought their boat was sinking (Mark 4.38). On both occasions, Jesus cares enough to challenge the way people think. He cares about our choices.
WHAT MUST I DO?
A rich young man thinks he knows the answer to this question (Mark 10.17). He has followed all the rules of his religion. As usual, Jesus answers a question in a way that only invites more questions. He looks at the young man with love and tells him to sell everything he owns and give the proceeds to the poor. ‘Then you will have treasure in heaven.’ The man is sad. This was not the answer he wanted. Let’s think of this when God does not bend to our way of thinking.
WHO IS MY NEIGHBOUR?
If the quality of a question is measured by the brilliance of the answer, this must be one of the best in history. Jesus met a smart person who was trying to trick him with words. He often told people to stop being clever and get back to the simple things of the heart. Jesus explained the word ‘neighbour’ by telling the story of the good Samaritan (Luke 10: 25-37). We all understand the message. The people who knew better did worse. The man at the bottom of the social heap rose to the challenge. It takes a lifetime to put this parable into practice.
WHY HAVE YOU TREATED US LIKE THIS?
Mary and Joseph were worried when the young Jesus got lost in the Temple for three days. By the time they found him, they must have been out of their wits. Fear and anxiety sometimes sound like anger. ‘Why have you treated us like this?’, they ask, clearly confused (Luke 2.48). Jesus’ answer implies that he is part of a bigger context than just his family. This may have been cold comfort to Mary and Joseph then, but the story goes on to reassure us that he was henceforth an obedient child.
HOW CAN ANYONE BE BORN AFTER HAVING GROWN OLD?
Nicodemus was a Pharisee which means he was well educated. He came to see Jesus at night, presumably to avoid detection. He was a seeker. Jesus tells him he has to be born again. Nicodemus knew his Scripture but this idea seemed illogical. It didn’t fit with his expectations of God or life. How is it possible? (John 3.4). Jesus means, of course, that faith turns our lives upside down and inside out. It is, indeed, like being reborn.
WHAT IS TRUTH?
Jesus faces a lot of questions during his trial and execution. Surely you don’t mean me? Are you the Messiah? Are you a king? But no question is as sad as Pilate’s lost and empty plea, ‘what is truth?’ (John 18.28). Pilate has nothing to believe in other than his career and he wants to solve a political problem. He will do the expedient thing and Jesus, like so many others in history, is collateral damage. Pilate does not appreciate the close relationship between love and truth. Jesus, on the other hand, dies because he is both truthful and loving.
WHO IS THE GREATEST?
Some people love making lists. They can tell you the 10 greatest movies, the 10 greatest songs, the 10 greatest restaurants, the 10 greatest presidents and so on. Of course, this is all subjective. Jesus loves an upside-down list. When someone asks him ‘who is the greatest?’ (Matt 18.1) he brings over a little child. Elsewhere, he responds by saying that the greatest among his friends must be the least. (Mark 9.34).