Questions God Never Answers

On some evenings I hear owls outside our window. Several years ago, the lot next to us was empty. It was covered with trees. Back then, we heard the owls all the time. Now, with the trees long since removed and a house standing where the owls used to roost, I don't hear them as often. It is a mournful sound, an owl's call, but I always love to hear it in the velvety darkness.

The owls that live near us are barred owls. They have a distinctive call that even unknowledgable owlers like me recognize: "Who cooks for youuuuu? Who cooks for youuuu?" Occasionally another owl will answer, but he always answers with a question himself: "Who cooks for youuu? Who cooks for youuu?" In the owl world, one never seems to find out who does the cooking.

Jesus is the same way. In the Bible, He never answers straightforward questions with straightforward answers. I wonder why that is. It seems a lot of confusion would be cleared up if He would just answer plainly.

For example:

Disciples of John: “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?”
Jesus: “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them?" (Matthew 9:14, 15 ESV)

Disciples: “Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?”
Jesus: “How many loaves do you have?” (Matthew 15: 32-34)

Disciples:(when a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on Jesus' head) “Why this waste?”
Jesus: “Why are you bothering this woman?” Matthew 26: 6-10

Pharisees: “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
Jesus: “Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? (Mark 2:1-11)

Disciples: “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
Jesus: “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:38,40)

Pilate: “Are you the king of the Jews?”
Jesus: “Is that your own idea, or did others talk to you about me?” (John 18: 33-34)

etc.

You get the idea. There are a gazillion more. It is a fascinating study to go over every case where Jesus answers a question with a question. In every case, He is stretching His listeners understanding of who He is and why He is there. Like all good teachers, He understands that the answer that remains with you forever is the one you struggled to derive on your own.

"Who cooks for youuuuu? Who cooks for youuuuu?"

All creation mirrors God.

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Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me?
(John 13: 37-38)



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