Just Answer His Question

You would think by this point I’d remember that the Word of God is living and effective, and that it has the power and ability to continue to speak to us in different ways in different times and seasons. And yet, I’m always in shock when something new strikes me from a well-worn passage. Literally, mouth open, mumbling something along the lines of, “how long has that been written there? I’ve never noticed that before!”

This happened to me the other day. Rereading through the Gospel of John, I was reminded of two of my favorite passages, and sparked to look at them together. 

They are only four chapters apart, and they are two different questions asked by Jesus. 

“What do you seek?” (John 1:38)

“Do you want to be healed?” (John 5:6)

Both of these questions are very poignant. They cut to the heart. They are real and personal and vulnerable and intimate. 

In fact, both of these questions are almost uncomfortable. They are challenging. They speak to a place of depth. It’s hard to go there. They illicit avoidance. 

And what is so funny to me is that both questions are actually left unanswered. Or rather, are answered very indirectly. 

The disciples in John 1, rather than being honest about their desires, skirt around their response by answering Jesus’s question with another question. “Rabbi, where are You staying?” And the lame man at the pool of Bethesda in John 5 doesn’t answer Jesus’s question with the obvious, “Yes, duh, I have been at this pool for thirty-eight years in an attempt to be healed, obviously I want that!” But rather he lists excuses as to why the healing hasn’t occurred. 

But I would suspect that both the disciples and the lame man had answers to those questions. I would imagine that they knew their true response. 

But sometimes, it’s hard to just answer the question. It is hard to be vulnerable enough to admit the truth. It is hard to look the situation straight in the face and direct articulate your heart. “I am seeking truth, happiness, and purpose, and I don’t know where to find it.” “I want to be healed and I’m afraid I never will be.” 

And I know for sure I have been in their shoes. There are questions the Lord has asked of me that I have struggled to answer in this way. There are questions I avoid. Questions which I quickly re-direct from, nervously laugh at and then ignore, or respond with my own list of excuses. Questions like, “What do you want? Why are you choosing this? Do you trust me? Am I enough for you?” And the list goes on. 

Because honestly answering an honest question is exposing. Sometimes, I am afraid of my response. Sometimes, I’m ashamed of it. Sometimes, I don’t know what will happen if I begin to walk down that road. Sometimes, I’m terrified of surrendering control and letting Him take the reins. 

And thankfully, Jesus is immensely patient with a dodged question and an indirect answer. Both times, He knew what the disciples actually sought and if the man actually wanted to be healed. He knows our innermost thoughts and desires even if we never speak them aloud. 

But that doesn’t mean He doesn’t want to hear them from us. And that doesn’t mean He doesn’t ask the hard questions in order to bring areas of our heart to Him in greater intimacy. 

So what question is the Lord presenting to you? Where do you sense an avoidance in your heart? I challenge you to face it head on, rather than dance around it. He loves us, and only wants to grow in even greater relationship with us. 

Just answer the question, and then go from there. You never know what miracles it may take you to.