The Power of Questions

This week in my small group, we considered the incident Mark records after Jesus descends the mountain of Transfiguration.  Jesus had literally had the greatest mountaintop experience of his earthly life.  He had taken Peter, James, and John with him to the top of the mountain.  They'd witnessed him transformed before their eyes into a glorious body and seen him converse with Moses and Elijah.  I imagine they were blown away by the experience they had just shared together.  Can you imagine how eager they must have been to share what had happened with other people?  Yet as they descended the mountain together, Jesus explicitly commanded them not to share what they'd seen until after his resurrection (Mark 9:9).

As is often the case after a great spiritual experience, they encounter an experience that threatens to derail their joy.  In this case, it is petty squabbling between the nine disciples who had stayed at the foot of the mountain and a group of teachers of the law.  Can you imagine how difficult an emotional adjustment it must have been for Jesus and his three disciples to have to face this the moment they returned from such a powerful and dramatic spiritual encounter?  Yet the evil one knew something great was going on at the top of that mountain.  Any time the Lord is moving, the evil one will be slinking around somewhere nearby (1 Peter 5:8).

Yet Jesus' approach to this situation is to begin by asking questions.  He could have easily started talking about what was on his mind, or rebuked the group for their arguing with one another.  Yet He enters into their situation and expresses interest in what is on their mind.  He apparently addresses his disciples (not the teachers they are arguing with) and says, "What are you arguing with them about?"  They aren't able to answer him before the man who brought his son to be healed explains his condition.  After expressing his frustration over the lack of faith among the people of that generation, Jesus asks the boy be brought to him and then asks the father how long his son has been this way.  Jesus may or may not have known the answer to the question.  But by asking it, Jesus again enters into the world of those around Him.  This is His consistent pattern when engaging others.  He asks questions and engages in dialogue that communicates other people are important to Him.

Do we ask questions of others and enter into their worlds?  Or do we consistently launch into discussion of our own ideas and concerns without considering others?  Jesus leads us both by His commands and His example.  May those of us who bear His name be as interested in people as He was . . . and is!