We have a lot of questions in life, don’t we? And for many reasons. Through questions, we feed curiosity, clarify misunderstanding, validate skepticism, or even assert our hostility. Yet perhaps the primary driver of our inquiries is to assess how new thoughts or realities fit within our frame of reference. Does this proposition align with my experience, values, or beliefs? Do I even have a category for it? If not, do I accept this new assertion or explore it maybe, or do I reject it outright?
So as the Son of God “became flesh and dwelt among us,”1 we can sense the agita surrounding the Man, not only by the questions people asked Him, but also the diversity among the askers. Consider these. “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?”2 — the Maji. “Where are you from?”3 — Pilate. “Are you the one?”4 — John the Baptist. “Where did this man get this wisdom?”5 — the synagogue faithful. “Who gave you this authority?”6 — the chief priests and scribes. “Where is your father?”7 — the Pharisees. And perhaps the most fundamental question of all: “Who is this?”8 — twelve men in a boat on a raging lake grown calm. The paucity of precedent sent the people pressing: Who IS this?
Peter figured it out. (He’d had help.) When Jesus queried His friends, “Who do you say that I am?”9 the loquacious disciple characteristically answered first, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”10 This is bedrock truth that matures us into humble submission of self and fitting dependence on Him. So it was a saddened Peter who asked the departing Jesus, “Lord, where are you going?”11 After all, he and the other disciples had left everything to follow Him.12 “I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”13 This is who He was and where He has gone. Was that the end?
Not at all; the story continues. For this eternal Son of God has finished the divine work He came to accomplish and returned home, not only to be with the Father He’s known forever, but also to prepare a place in Heaven for us. “And if I go and prepare a place for you,” He assured them, “I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”14 This is His promise. No questions asked.
“He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.” — Hebrews 1:3 ESV
Father, You always keep Your promises. Fill us with Your Spirit, that You may bear eternal fruit through us, the church on Earth. In Christ we pray. Amen.
1 John 1:14 ESV
2 Matthew 2:2
3 John 18:33
4 Luke 7:19
5 Matthew 13:54
6 Mark 11:28
7 John 8:19
8 Mark 4:41 NIV
9 Matthew 16:15 NLV
10 Matthew 16:16 NIV
11 John 13:36 ESV
12 Mark 10:28 13
13 John 16:28 ESV
14 John 14:3 ESV
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Paul Nordman—Author 