Questions Jesus Asked by Magrey deVega
Asking questions takes courage. Not only do they reveal what Jesus really cares about, they open a window into our hearts. We all have questions for God, but growth happens when we turn things around and ask what Jesus wants to know about us.
Jesus was fond of asking questions, many of which cut right to the heart of what it means to be human. Why are you terrified? What do you live for? Who do you say that I am? In Questions Jesus Asked, author Magrey deVega explores six of the most provocative questions Jesus posed to others and encourages us to explore our responses.
Here is the synopsis from the final TFC evening Winter Bible Study session.
What Are You Looking For? from Questions Jesus Asked by Magrey DeVega
Content is a synopsis of DeVega’s material.
Take a moment and read the scripture focus.
John 1:36-38
This is Jesus’ first question mentioned in the gospel of John.
In the broadest sense, this question, “What are you looking for?” is one of the most important in the human experience. It can cover desire and longing as well as ultimate meaning and purpose.
It is something we consider from the time we are children wondering what we might do someday to the question we ask near life’s end when looking in the rearview mirror.
Jesus asked this question of Andrew in vs. 40. And of another unnamed person, many thinking it may be John the author of the book.
These two were followers of John the Baptist and with Jesus’ arrival, their lives were about to make a big change. Like the circles mentioned in week one… one being your theological understanding and one being life experiences. Sometimes they fit into each other well. But at times, one stretches, requiring some soul work – like asking “What are you looking for?”
Magrey says, “when Jesus asked them, “What are you looking for?” He was really asking them, “Which of your former assumptions need to be challenged, to make room for the new thing God wants to reveal to you?” At times God nudges us in a new direction, allowing us to explore new thoughts, deeper considerations, and perhaps mature into a new understanding.
Magrey describes his own experiences of moving from a fairly conservative upbringing into college years, where he discovered his circle of life experiences expanded greatly and his theology wasn’t big enough to help him answer questions in light of all he was seeing and learning. But he sought out God’s help and direction as well as trusted voices who might offer care. The story of Joseph came to him in a teaching and he found life in that story of Joseph thriving in a foreign land in slavery. He continued to search for the spaces where he could encounter God. His pastor shared with him, at one point, that God’s work of resurrection was not just a singular even in history. But resurrections part of God’s ongoing work in this world today, in the lives of every follower. And it is still happening all the time… whenever resurrecting peace with justice happens in the face of violence, dehumanization, and oppression.
What Magrey needed… was God interacting with him in his life, stretching him into new ways of seeing and following. When he looks for the presence and possibilities of God and see resolution to life’s difficulties and questions, he sees evidence of resurrection, of God’s new life rising up.
Three purpose statement are offered, that he gained from Richard Bolles book, How to Find Your Mission in Life.
1 – first mission- shared by the whole human race, but still yours, is to seek to stand always in the presence of God, the one from your your mission is derived. Know God and enjoy Him forever, seeing God’s handiwork everywhere.
2 – second – shared by the whole human race, but still yours, do what you can, in every moment and circumstance, to make this world a better place, following the leading of God’s Spirit within and around you.
3 – third mission – uniquely yours… exercise that talent which you particularly came to earth to use… in those places and settings where you are most drawn, for the purposes which God needs done in the world.
He moves to the answer the disciples give… Jesus asks them what they are looking for. They answer with a question. Where are you staying? The word for “staying” is word used many other places translated “abide.”. They are asking where they might abide with him. Where do you abide? Maybe it is more of an answer than we initially think it is.
What are you looking for? How are you growing in your understanding of Christ? How is this going to work it’s way out in how you life? Will you be abiding with Christ as you do this?