Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
whose trust is the Lord.
(Jer. 17:7 ESV)
Questions, answers. Answers, questions. It seems the more answers we get, the more questions we have. At one end of the “answer sheet” are the conspiracy theorists. At the other end are the “do-whatever-the-WHO-says” activists. Both groups seem to contradict themselves on a daily basis. If there’s one thing we’ve learned from this pandemic, it’s that everyone has answers, but rarely are they the right ones. Sadly, people are sharing misinformation, untruths, and outright lies. There’s only one person we can go to for the truth, and that person is Jesus. Jesus asks questions, and Jesus gives answers. And unlike the answers we get from others, His are always truthful and insightful. Let’s turn to the Answer Man, and see what He has to say.
Photo by Bruce Mars – Unsplash.com
Q1 – Are you not of more value than they?
(Matt. 6:26 ESV)
This seems like a redundant question. Right before this, Jesus shares a simple fact. “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.” Jesus – hopefully – makes us think about this question, and I hope we don’t think for very long. Jesus makes it very clear that we’re each held in high value by the Heavenly Father. Where do you turn for your self-worth? There’s only one place to turn, and that is to God.
Q2 – Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them?
(Mark 2:19 ESV)
Some context: Fasting was associated with three things: (1) sorrow for a deceased person, (2) penitential mourning to nullify the wrath of God and to avert calamity, and (3) petition to God. * Jesus used the analogy of a wedding to show that someone fasting at a wedding would draw attention to him/herself and away from the newlyweds (a selfish act).
It’s a reminder to us to reflect on the motivation for doing what we do. Are we truly doing it for God, or is there a selfish motivation to draw attention to ourselves? God (Jesus) was with them, and there was no reason for the people to fast – for He wouldn’t be with them much longer. This was a time for celebration. Today, even through adversity, we live in a time of celebration, for Jesus is with us (Emmanuel). Fast? Yes! But do so for all the Godly reasons.
Q3 – Why do you question in your hearts?
(Luke 5:22)
This question comes in the middle of the account of the paralytic man (whom Jesus heals). It’s a question for the Pharisees, and He performs the miracle for all to see – so they may realize He is the son of God (yet some still would not believe). It’s a question that’s still relevant today. Why do you question the validity of Jesus? There’s more than enough proof, yet the deceiver still deceives. See through the lies, and know the truth.
Q4 – Woman, what does this have to do with me?
(John 2:4)
Mary, Jesus’ mother, wants her son to help out with a situation at a wedding (they have run out of wine). This is a redundant question by Jesus because He has already decided to help out. The significant part of this encounter is Mary’s response: “His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’” (v. 5). Mary had complete trust that Jesus would do what was needed. No argument, no discussion, just instructions to the servants to do whatever Jesus asked. Mary didn’t know what Jesus would do, but she did know that He could be relied on for the proper outcome. Do you have the faith that Mary had? Are you trusting in Jesus for the outcome – whatever we/you are going through?
Q5 – And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?
(Matt. 6:27)
This is an additional question that Jesus adds to question 1 (above). Are you not of more value than they? It’s another redundant question (Jesus asks a lot of them), but less redundant than first thought. Jesus asks this because He wants us to think about it. Once again, trusting in Jesus is the antidote for anxiousness. It’s difficult to do both simultaneously (trust in Jesus and be anxious).
We live in anxious times (or so media portrays), yet we ought not succumb to these cultural norms of anxiousness. Go forward knowing that this, too, shall pass – not because it’s a mistaken Bible verse, but because God is in control, not viruses, not governments, and definitely, not social media.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
(Prov. 3:5 ESV)
* Taken from a commentary by Garland on the Book of Mark.