The Power of Questions

After Jesus drove out the money changers from the temple courts and began teaching the good news (Luke 19:45-20:8), those in "authority” questioned Jesus’ authority. Have you considered how important a question can be? Asking a question can be THE motivator for some meaningful endeavors. Questions can become leverage for problem solving and discovery. Questions serve as fuel for conversations. Questions can help define your passion and purpose. Think of passion and purpose as a push/pull effect, where passion pushes you toward a goal, then purpose tugs you along. Nobody likes being pushed, which is why passion only lasts for so long before it runs out. Jesus’ response wasn’t hateful, but it exposed the religious leader’s passion or purpose.

Think through scriptures to see where some important questions were asked by mankind or by God. Genesis 3, God asked Adam and Eve, “Where are you?” There’s more to that question than just a logistical inquiry: “Where are you with Me?” or “Why aren’t you where you usually meet Me for our daily walks?” To think that was a question that God asked not too long after creating mankind, but those same kinds of questions would repeat themselves. God asked Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast?” (Genesis 4:6). Then He gave him the wise counsel that Cain refused to listen to. If we consider that God is asking us to “follow Him,” although He knows we have fears and doubts, then perhaps we see Him guiding us towards something that we can appreciate and become passionate about, and then find our purpose.

Purpose is different than passion. Purpose pulls you along while continually beckoning you to confirm—and re-confirm—its validity. Our purpose can be driven by our passions, which tends to be a dangerous thing. A noble purpose like service, growth, improvement, and making a positive difference, is the exception rather than the rule.

David said in Psalms 26:2-3, “Test me, Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; for I have always been mindful of Your unfailing love and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness…”

The religious leaders seemed to recognize Jesus’ authority (John 3) but were unwilling to humbly accept it and adopt His purpose for their life. Instead, they were on a path to destroy Him. It seems they were too proud to ask the question about their own passions and purposes. What’s your passion when it comes to your religious convictions? Do you find yourself opposing God?

Consider these instructions from James 4:7-10, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God, and He will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn, and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.”

The Triumphal Entry

Think about the biggest event that has happened in your life as of today. Although everyone’s “big day” might look different, there are some that are obvious to all. Jesus had one of those days. While He did a lot of amazing things that impressed people, changed lives, and even revealed the true nature of God’s will, there was still one day that was the culmination of His entire ministry and purpose for being here – The Crucifixion.

It’s the highlight of the Good News “Gospel.” Why? Because His death paid the penalty for our sins. The forgiveness of sins is essential for salvation. Thankfully, Jesus was willing to do that. The interesting thing, however, is how the entire Jewish sacrificial system reflected this one event in history that would change all cultures forever.

It began with the lamb selection day, or the triumphal entry (Luke 19:29-44). This was part of the Passover meal preparations. The Passover was a time of feasting and tension. It was a time of deliverance and fear. Those trusted God were delivered; those that failed to trust Him… weren’t.

That feast was intended to be an annual reminder of their freedom from bondage (Exodus 12:14). Yet, the Israelite history was full of captivity, defeat, failures, and rejections. It seemed that what they had been freed from still haunted them for many generations. In fact, even during Jesus’ time on earth, the people still didn’t truly honor God for being the source of deliverance. Many had a different idea in mind – a more selfish idea of what the Messiah would do for them.

Christ’s sacrifice clearly demonstrated God’s level of commitment to redeem us. Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Even though His own disciples urged him “not to return to Jerusalem!” (Matthew 16:21-23) to which Jesus replied, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

What Jesus was doing was fulfilling a greater ancient story of redemption that served as further proof of His deity and His purpose for mankind (Philippians 2:6-8) -- starting with allowing Himself to be “selected” for slaughter. 

This was one of many prophecies that would be fulfilled before Jesus would proclaim, “It is finished” (John 19:30). Perhaps as we read these passages, we can find reassurance that Jesus truly is the king that we’ve been waiting for. As the people in Bethany shouted the 118th Psalm, “…Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. From the house of the Lord, we bless You. The Lord is God, and He has made His light shine on us. With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar. You are my God, and I will praise You; You are my God, and I will exalt You. Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.” (Psalms 118:15-29).

Risks and Rewards

There are many important lessons we could learn about building our character rather than focusing only on building our careers. This can be a challenging balancing act; and one that many young professionals are constantly faced with. “Get ahead without losing yours (spiritually speaking).”

There was a concept I heard years ago in the real estate industry that I think is definitely applicable to our responses to opportunities in life… “If the joy of having it (whatever the ‘it’ may be) is worth the pain of paying it off, then the price is right.” But it takes spiritual wisdom to see the “it” from God’s perspective.

Jesus tells us, “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 10:39). Jesus also reminds us it will cost us to be His disciples (John 14:25-35). Initially, we may think the risk of giving up our own desires and comforts is too great. However, when we begin to experience a transformed perspective (Romans 12:2), the Holy Spirit enables us to see and receive the rewards of a life lived in Jesus Christ.

Jesus’ first disciples risked a lot to follow Him—they left jobs, family, and security. What the disciples saw in Jesus was so profound the rewards of following Him outweighed the risks. To the disciples, the joy of following Jesus was worth the pain of losing all that was familiar to them.

Consider how that might look in the secular arena. Young professionals have to weigh the risks and rewards of taking an entry-level job after college. Should I move across the country in order to follow a career? Should I seek a higher degree to help in my career?

As God builds my character and opportunities arise, He gives me a kingdom lens to see my life. Having a kingdom view of life means God gives me the strength and the desire to love and serve others, even when it is inconvenient. It also means that God enables me to find my true identity in Jesus Christ and not in my job. Perhaps most importantly, having a kingdom view of life allows me to consider risks and rewards from an eternal perspective.

What Do People Think of You?

In A Christmas Carol, Ebenezer Scrooge had a bad reputation among his peers. His selfish, cruel way of living created barriers for him. Throughout the course of his three visitors, he was given a chance to change his heart. And he did! But did people instantly trust Scrooge?

Changing your reputation can be a very difficult thing to do, perhaps because it involves a level of humility. The apostle Paul understood that very well. We can read about a time when the believers near Damascus didn’t really believe he’d changed his ways of persecuting Christians (Acts 9:23-24).

What’s your reputation like? Would you want to know how people think of you? We can spend countless hours creating an image that we want the world to see – virtually or physically – but as Jesus said in Matthew 7:20, “by their fruit you will recognize them.”

How do you change what you’ve been or how others see you? Sometimes it requires gathering new friends around you. Friends that resemble the reputation you want to emulate. Another important reputation-rebuilder is to join a team! Get involved in a place where the group has a goal of helping others. Hebrews 10:24-25 reminds us of one of the reasons for congregational assembly… “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another…”

Another thing might be to smile more. It may be skin deep sometimes, but there’s something about smiling more that helps us focus on more positive things. Paul said in Philippians 4:4, “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do.” 

We can look back through scriptures and see several people who had to redefine who they were to their peers. One, in particular, was Zacchaeus, the tax collector. To be a Jew collecting Roman money from the Jews created instant enemies. Regardless of his job, his heart longed to see Jesus. But even Zacchaeus understood that in order to be accepted as a true follower of Jesus, he’d have to change his reputation. So, he proclaimed to the crowd, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!” (Luke 19:8).

Consider how we can learn from Zacchaeus’ brave move. Do you see something in Jesus’ life that makes you want to stop being or doing things a certain way? God wants us to respond to His presence the same as Zacchaeus – in repentance!