“…. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, He asked him, ‘Do you want to get well?’” John 5:1-6 NIV
While teaching his disciples, the crowds and individuals, Jesus asked over 300 questions that are recorded for us in the gospels. If you look at these questions Jesus asked, few are yes or no questions, in fact most are open ended. Many begin with “why” or “how”. These types of questions require both the asker and the listener to spend some time with each other. Jesus did this again and again. He had dinner with tax collectors (Luke 19:1-10, Matthew 9:9-13), he had a complete conversation with the woman at the well (John 4:4-26), He spent time with Mary, Martha and Lazarus (Luke 10:38-42). Asking open-ended questions is an effective teaching tool, but it only works if the asker is willing to invest the time in waiting and listening to the answer.
Why do you think Jesus taught using questions so much of the time? I was intrigued by this question myself – I was curious. Perhaps this is one of the reasons Jesus taught this way – to peak curiosity in his listeners. I believe Jesus wanted his listeners to think, to not simply parrot “the right answer”, but instead, to think about the question and what it meant for each of them in his or her own life.
Let’s look at a few of the questions Jesus asked. In John 5:1-15, Jesus approached a disabled man at a pool in Jerusalem. After learning this man had been there a long time, Jesus asked, “Do you want to get well?” John 5:6 NIV. On the surface this seems to be a silly question to ask someone who cannot walk on their own. Can you think of a reason why this man might not want to be healed? Jesus didn’t heal everyone he encountered. He usually required something of the one being healed, a reason, an action, an acknowledgement of their sin or need, or a willingness to be healed.
Let’s look at another one. Jesus interacted with an expert in the law who asked about how he could inherit eternal life. Jesus asked “What is written in the law?” He replied, “How do you read it?” Luke 10:26 NIV. After the expert quoted the “right” answer, Jesus answered his further question of “who is my neighbor?” with the parable of the Good Samaritan. Jesus wanted this expert and his other listeners to be challenged in their thinking about neighbors and how God wants us to treat one another. Questions were integral in this teaching moment in Jesus’ ministry.
I went online and found a couple blogs that spoke to the number and kinds of questions Jesus asked. I think I may have found my own personal study for this summer. If you too are curious, I encourage you to do the same.
by Grace Hunter
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