Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad; for he had desired for a long time to see Him, because he had heard many things about Him…And he questioned Him with many words…(Luke 23:8-9).
Someone once asked Larry King, the legendary television interviewer: if he could sit across the table and interview one person in all of history, who would it be? “Jesus Christ,” said this man who is Jewish.
“And what would you ask him?”
“I would like to ask Him if He was indeed virgin-born. The answer to that question would define history for me.”
To be sure. That answer could change everything. As it has for many a person. So with the resurrection. Answer that in the affirmative and everything else falls into place.
Throughout the Gospels, we find many people asking Jesus one question.
And then, they go on their way. We have to wonder if through the years, as they reflected on their single moment with Destiny, this one touch with the Divine, they didn’t regret the shallowness or superficiality of their request.
Here are some:
Why fast?
The disciples of John asked why they had to fast, but Jesus’ disciples were not required to (Matthew 9:14).
Heal on the Sabbath?
The tricksters asked Him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” that they might accuse Him (Matthew 12:10). It’s not a bad question, although they didn’t care for the Lord’s answer.
Why offend?
His disciples said, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard (Jesus’ teachings about hypocrisy)?” (Matthew 15:12). We smile at the naivete of the disciples. Little did they know the Lord had every intention of offending these hypocrites.
Lawful to divorce?
The Pharisees came, testing Him, and saying, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?” (Matthew 19:3).
How do I earn eternal life?
A young man came to Him and said, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” (Matthew 19:16). Great question and a good discussion to follow. However, once again, the questioner did not care for the Lord’s answer.
What will I get?
Peter said to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore, what shall we have?” (Matthew 19:27). It was self-centered, but the Lord honored it with a serious answer.
So, I put the question to Facebook friends: “If you could ask Jesus one question…”
The answers were all over the map, as we might expect.
Some thought we were talking about the Last Day when we will all stand before Him. Their answers ranged from “We will know as we are known at that time” and “We won’t be asking Him anything; we’ll drop to our knees in worship.”
Several would ask variations of the same question:
Why did you love such a person as me?
How could you love mankind?
Why would you die for sinners like us?
Someone wanted to ask: Can I have a hug?
Others posed their favorite scriptural question:
When did You appear to James, your half-brother?
Why did you tell the Syro-Phoenician woman that she was so unworthy and do it so sharply?
Why didn’t You destroy Lucifer before he messed up Adam and Eve?
What would You have done had the Pharisees and Jewish leaders repented as You asked them to?
What’s the real story on predestination?
Why did you accept half of Zaccheus’ possessions but required the rich young ruler to give his all?
How did You create something out of nothing?
How did You part the Red Sea, get water from a rock, form a baby in the womb, and raise the dead?
Some questions are personal, doubtless with a history behind them:
Why was my brother killed in a tragic car accident at the age of 16? My parents were never the same, even though their faith never wavered.
Why do some suffer more heartaches than others?
Lord, would you please sit down on this log by the stream, put your arm around my shoulders like my earthly dad did, and talk with me, please?
I’d probably want to say, ‘What would you have me ask?’ But I’d probably ask if I could kiss His feet that walked up that terrible path to the cross.
If mankind had never sinned and You had never had to be born on earth, would we be better off or worse?
I’d ask Him to save me a spot in Gloryland, next to my dear dad.
The wonderful Joni Aereckson Tata, who was injured in a diving accident at the age of 17 and has been a quadriplegic ever since, says, “The first thing I’m going to do in Heaven is ask Jesus to dance.” Who can argue with that?
Here’s how I feel personally:
I’ve reflected on this for the four days I’ve worked on this article, and decided.
I have no questions for Jesus.
I have many for the Apostle Paul, several for Moses, and one or two for King David. But none for the Lord Jesus.
I’d be like Mary who sat at the feet of the Lord and drank in His every word (Luke 10). No talking, no questions, just all ears. Worship as pure as it was intended to be.
I can’t wait.
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