Day 7- Teaching at the Temple

Today's lesson asks us to consider a great question.  "If you could sit with Jesus face-to-face and ask him anything, what would you ask?"  On the way to the cross, the religious leaders asked him questions to try and get him to entrap himself with his words.  They failed in their efforts.  By the end of Matthew 22, no one dared to ask him anymore questions.  (Matt. 22:46)

One question I would ask Jesus is how we are to understand the other religions of the world.  Jesus, as Son of God, makes some exclusive claims on us and our understanding of God.  Are those that believe and practice other religions wrong in their understandings, and, therefore, excluded from heaven? 

I think I would ask him about the suffering we see in the world.  I find the randomness of suffering particularly troubling, at times.  For example, just yesterday another school shooting took the lives of two, innocent high school students.  Why, and why them?  The natural disasters, such as a tsunami that kills thousands, are very disturbing.  Why do those happen, taking innocent lives?

I think I also might ask him what it felt like to empty himself of his divinity, to become a human being.  And not simply one of us, but one who had to face the cross and take the world's sin upon him. What was he feeling?  What was he thinking? 

These are just a sampling of the questions I would have for Jesus.  Would hearing his answer make trusting him easier?  Well, I would like to think sitting down with God's own son and having him answer all my questions would give me all the confidence I would need for the future.  So, I would think it would have to help.  But, then again, I'm human.  I'd probably come up with more questions and possible reasons to still have doubts.  Thanks be to God that because of Jesus I am accepted for who I am, not for who I should be.  That's grace.  Amazing Grace.  I rest in that grace until that day comes when all my questions will fade away and I am in God's glorious presence.