Whatever our age, we have a need for our questions to be answered – but do we always listen to the answers we are given? In this reflection, we wonder what the Apostle John might be saying to us about this Jesus who listens and answers even ‘the question behind the question’.
Photo by Emily Morter on Unsplash
Today’s New Testament story is from John’s Gospel – a pivotal question and answer scene taking place in the Temple Treasury at Jerusalem during the annual Festival of the Tabernacles. You can find Chapter 8 here, and we paraphrase verses 21-30 below:
“Jesus says to the Jews:
‘I am going away, and you will search for me, but you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.’
Then the Jews replied:
‘Is he going to kill himself? Is that what he means by saying, “Where I am going, you cannot come”?’
He said to them:
‘You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins, for you will die in your sins unless you believe that I am he.’
They responded:
‘Who are you?’
Jesus said to them:
‘Why do I speak to you at all? I have much to say about you and much to condemn; but the one who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.’
They did not understand that he was speaking to them about the Father.
So Jesus said:
‘When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will realise that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own, but I speak these things as the Father instructed me. And the one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what is pleasing to him.’
As he was saying these things, many believed in him.”
Can you picture this scene? Is Jesus standing up or sitting down as he interacts with the Pharisees? Perhaps there is a lot of noise in this Temple Treasury, important business exchanges might be taking place in the background – can you hear the rattle of coins? Or maybe business as usual is suspended once Jesus begins to speak? The Pharisees are people of status – accustomed to deference from the Jewish people. Being told that ‘they cannot come’ where Jesus is going, challenges this status. Instead of listening to Jesus, these puzzled Jews continue to question him about his identity. Some of them fail to understand who he is – but many others listen to his words and believe in him.
Ponder on this passage for a moment, if you like, particularly on its themes of listening, questioning and answering.
Does it prompt any particular feelings – perhaps even a sense of confusion?
Have there been times in your own life when you’ve felt frustrated – wanting to ask ever more questions until you get the answers you want to hear?
How might it feel to listen with an open heart and mind – rather than formulating more questions?
To truly listen to someone can be a blessing. Questions sometimes don’t need to be asked…
Perhaps try listening intentionally to someone in your own life, without speaking; then speak to that person as they listen to you – in this noisy world it’s an amazing thing to do!
In the bible stories, Jesus reveals himself to be the person who listens – then answers, ‘the question behind the question’. For example, later in John’s Gospel 13:6-10, as Jesus is washing the feet of his disciples:
“Simon Peter asks:
‘Lord, are you going to wash my feet?’
Jesus responds:
‘You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.’
And when Peter says to him:
‘You will never wash my feet.’
Jesus answers:
‘Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.’
Then Peter says:
‘Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!”
Here, we see that Peter, unlike the Pharisees in the previous passage, is listening to Jesus – his tone suddenly shifts from hesitancy to joy and acceptance, as if he has just experienced a ‘light-bulb moment’!
Have you ever experienced a ‘light-bulb’ moment when you suddenly understood the need to respond to Jesus, not with more questions, but by offering yourself to him unconditionally? Can you relate to Simon Peter’s response of overwhelming joy?
When we are puzzled by the answers to certain questions, it can sometimes lead us on a journey of learning, revelation and response. In this time of Lent, we can ask, in the hope that like Simon Peter, through questioning and attentive listening we too will receive understanding and be raised up with joy.
You might like to listen to this piece of music – words by R Loveland/B Graham; sung by Aled Jones.
It talks of being weary and burdened; sitting in silence with God; filled with wonder and raised up – all our questions answered in His loving presence and care.