Jesus doesn’t answer all our questions!

Reflecting on Mark 11:27-33

"Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things." (Mark 11:33)

Yesterday we saw how Jesus answered their question with a question.
Now Jesus refuses to answer their question at all.
Does Jesus still do this, not answer our questions?
Yesterday we also saw why Jesus first answered with a question.
It was because of their selfish motives; they would not believe His answer.
Is this also a reason why Jesus does not answer all our questions?

It is probably one of many reasons we do not get answers to all our questions.
Some answers we would not want to believe.
But some answers we could not even conceive, they would be so beyond us.
God’s ways are not our ways, and we cannot comprehend God’s divine wisdom.
There are also answers that would not be healthy for us to know.
Like when we will die, or what will happen to us in the future.
And then there are answers we are not yet ready to hear.
We are scarred and first need healing before we can hear the answers.
God graciously protects us from things to great for us to handle.
This is just a short list of reasons; I am sure there are more.

Personally I believe that all of them are gracious reasons.
God and Jesus do not play hard to get; they want the best for us.
But they also know how we are made, how we are weak and limited.
Jesus is not condemning the religious leaders, He is helping them.
No doubt in the moment they were frustrated and perturbed.
But the Spirit of God uses times like these to rattle hardened hearts.
As with Nicodemus, the hard questions slowly prompt him to rethink.
Eventually he responds favourably to Jesus, taking part in His burial (John 19:39).
So does Joseph of Arimathea, also a member of the Sanhedrin (Luke 23:50, John 19:38).
There are also Pharisee Christians in the early church (Acts 15:5).

When I spend time journaling with Jesus, I ask a lot of questions.
My questions are not intended to test or accuse, but to genuinely understand.
Sometimes while reflecting, I do find some answers, or new insights.
Often my questions lead to more questions, which I write down.
Through these Jesus is pushing me to think deeper, or differently.
Many questions – often ‘why’ questions – remain unanswered.
There is much I still do not understand, still a lot of mystery.
This questioning does not lead me to doubt God, but doubt myself.
This might be something I cannot grasp or comprehend.
Or something I am not ready to understand, yet.
Or something I need to look at from a different perspective.
Or something that is based on misunderstanding or incorrect thinking.
Unanswered questions and doubts do not lead me to lose my faith.
Trusting in the goodness of Jesus, I rest in His timing and wisdom.

The religious leaders did not want to believe – Jesus did not answer them.
I want to believe – Jesus sometimes does, and sometimes doesn’t answer me.
I cling to Jesus because the answers I do get are superior to my own.
The clearest and best answer is seen in how much He loves us.
His humble, gracious life of service and suffering is compelling to me.
This is why I trust Jesus, even when I do not understand everything else.

This is also why I hesitate to trust those who act as if they know the answers.
People who talk as if they understand usually do not impress me with their love.
Their knowledge puffs them up, belittling others with what they know..
This is why christians confident in their own rightness turn me off.
“Knowledge puffs up while love builds up.” (1 Corinthians 8:1)
This is why, personally, I could not listen to Charlie Kirk.
He may have had good things to say, but his pushy confidence was harmful.
Humble seekers and questioners inspire me more than confident christians.
Which were the Pharisees who came to Jesus more like?

For a variety of reasons, I do not have answers to all my questions.
I live by faith in Jesus, despite not knowing or understanding it all.
His love builds me up in my not knowing, as I continue to grow.
Like Paul, I have a long way to go and to grow.

“I want to know Christ — yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” (Philippians 3:10-12)

I keep pressing on to Jesus, even when He does not answer my questions.
Because one day I will discover what I need to know.
And I will realize even then how little I understood.
On the last day, when Jesus appears, I will say with Job,

“Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.” (Job 42:3)

PRAYER
Lord Jesus, humble my 'know-it-all' nature that assumes I understand. May I keep bringing my questions to You, as a reminder of how little I know. And continue to withhold answers from me when Your grace and wisdom discern it best. May Your love compel me, even when questions, doubts and unanswered questions make me struggle.

Help me to trust that You are revealing to me everything I need to know to love and follow You.