The Questions of Jesus Challenging Ourselves to Discover Life's Great Answers

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ISBN: 9780385510073 | 0385510071
Cover: Paperback
Copyright: 11/16/2004

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This illuminating examination of the Gospels reveals how the questions Jesus asks of his followers lead the way to a deeper understanding of the meaning of life and the mystery of God. The Gospels are filled with stories, parables, miracles, commandments, and dramatic incidents that trace Jesus' life and recount his teachings. A close reading of the Gospels reveals, however, that they are also filled with questions. As John Dear points out in this remarkable book, Jesus, like any great teacher and rabbi, "has a question for everyone he meets, for every occasion, for every experience, for every potential disciple." Dear uses these questions as a starting point, an invitation to readers to discover the lessons they contain by searching their own hearts and minds for answers. ThroughoutThe Questions of Jesus, Dear interweaves insights from ethical and religious teachers ranging from Buddha to Gandhi to Martin Luther King, Jr. Using recent events as powerful and poignant examples, he shows why a renewed commitment to Jesus' message of nonviolence, compassion, justice, and peace is essential to healing a world torn by violence and war.

Foreword by Richard Rohr

xxi

Acknowledgments

xxv

Introduction

(110)

1. Invitation

(6)

What are you looking for?

(2)

Why are you looking for me?

(1)

What do you want me to do for you?

(3)

2. Identity

(30)

Who do people say that I am?

(2)

But who do you say that I am?

(2)

Why do you ask me about what is good?

(2)

Why do you call me good?

(2)

Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?

(3)

Woman, how does your concern affect me?

(1)

Who is my mother? Who are my brothers and sisters?

(2)

What is your opinion about the Messiah? Whose son is he?

(2)

Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them?

(2)

Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them?

(1)

Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?

(3)

O faithless generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I endure you?

(2)

Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison and visit you? ... Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison and not minister to your needs?

(4)

Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me?

(2)

3. Purity of Heart

(8)

What are you thinking in your hearts?

(2)

Why do you harbor evil thoughts?

(3)

Did not the Maker of the outside also make the inside?

(3)

4. Conversion

(4)

Why do you notice the splinter in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, "Let me remove that splinter from your eye," while the wooden beam is in your eye?

(2)

Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were greater sinners than all other Galileans? Or those eighteen people who were killed when the tower at Siloam fell on them, do you think they were more guilty than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem?

(2)

5. Love

(11)

If you love only those who love you, what credit is that to you? Do not the tax collectors do the same?

(3)

And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same?

(1)

And if you do good only to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you?

(3)

Which of them will love more?

(2)

6. Healing

(13)

Do you want to be well?

(2)

Who touched me?

(3)

What is your name?

(3)

How long has this been happening to him?

(2)

Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, "Your sins are forgiven," or to say, "Rise, pick up your mat and walk"?

(3)

7. Vision

(11)

Do you see anything?

(2)

You see all these things, do you not?

(3)

Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit?

(2)

Do you see this woman?

(2)

What if you were to see the Son of Humanity ascending to where he was before?

(2)

8. Compassion

(7)

Which one of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers' victim?

(2)

Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?

(2)

Why do you make trouble for her?

(3)

9. The Meaning of Life

(16)

What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?

(3)

What could one give in exchange for his life?

(3)

Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life span? If even the smallest things are beyond your control, why are you anxious about the rest?

101

(1)

Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?

102

(2)

Are you not more important than the birds of the sky?

104

(1)

Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?

105

(3)

Who is greater, the one seated at table or the one who serves? Is it not the one seated at table?

108

(3)

10. The Reign of God

111

(10)

What is the reign of God like? To what can I compare it?

111

(3)

To what shall we compare the reign of God, or what parable can we use for it?

114

(2)

Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth?

116

(5)

11. God's Generosity 121

Why are you anxious about clothes?

121

(2)

Which one of you would hand his son a stone when he asks for a loaf of bread, or a snake when he asks for a fish?

123

(2)

What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish? Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?

125

(3)

How many loaves do you have?

128

(2)

If God so clothes the grass in the field that grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will God not much more provide for you, O you of little faith?

130

(2)

Will not God secure the rights of God's chosen ones who call out to God day and night? Will God be slow to answer them?

132

(3)

Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?

135

(3)

12. Faith

138

(32)

Where is your faith?

138

(3)

Do you believe in the Son of Humanity?

141

(3)

Do you believe that I can do this?

144

(1)

O you of little faith, why did you doubt?

145

(2)

Do you not yet have faith?

147

(3)

Why are you terrified?

150

(1)

When the Son of Humanity comes, will he find faith on earth?

151

(2)

But if you do not believe the writings of Moses, how will you believe my words?

153

(2)

Why this commotion and weeping?

155

(2)

Why does this generation seek a sign?

157

(3)

Then to what shall I compare the people of this generation? What are they like?

160

(2)

How can you believe, when you accept praise from one another and do not seek the praise that comes from the only God?

162

(2)

Did I not tell you that if you believe you will see the glory of God?

164

(2)

Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?

166

(2)

Do you believe now?

168

(2)

13. Truth

170

(11)

If I am telling the truth, why do you not believe me?

170

(2)

Is it lawful to cure on the Sabbath or not?

172

(3)

Tell me, was John's baptism of heavenly or of human origins?

175

(2)

Show me a denarius; whose image and name does it bear?

177

(4)

14. Understanding

181

(20)

Why do you not understand what I am saying?

181

(2)

Do you not yet understand or comprehend? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes and not see, ears and not hear? Do you still not understand?

183

(2)

You are the teacher of Israel and you do not understand this?

185

(2)

If I tell you about earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?

187

(1)

Are even you likewise without understanding?

188

(2)

Do you understand all these things?

190

(2)

Why do you not know how to interpret the present time?

192

(2)

Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right?

194

(2)

Are you not misled because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God?

196

(2)

Does this shock you?

198

(3)

15. Obedience

201

(13)

Why do you call me "Lord, Lord," but not do what I command?

201

(2)

Why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?

203

(3)

What were you arguing about on the way?

206

(1)

Who then is the faithful and prudent steward whom the master will put in charge of his servants to distribute the food allowance at the proper time?

207

(2)

Why are you testing me?

209

(2)

Is it not written: My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples?

211

(3)

16. Discipleship

214

(24)

Will you lay down your life for me?

214

(4)

Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?

218

(2)

Do you also want to leave?

220

(2)

Did I not choose you twelve?

222

(2)

When I sent you forth without a money bag or a sack or sandals, were you in need of anything?

224

(2)

Do you realize what I have done for you?

226

(2)

If there were not [many dwelling places in my Father's house], would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?

228

(2)

Could you not keep watch with me for one hour?

230

(2)

Are you still sleeping and taking your rest?

232

(2)

Why are you sleeping?

234

(4)

17. Arrest and Trial

238

(18)

Whom are you looking for?

238

(2)

Shall I not drink the cup that God gave me?

240

(3)

Judas, are you betraying the Son of Humanity with a kiss?

243

(1)

Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and dubs, to seize me?

244

(3)

Do you think that I cannot call upon my God and he will not provide me at this moment with more than twelve legions of angels? But then how would the Scriptures be fulfilled which say that it must come to pass this way?

247

(2)

Why ask me?

249

(2)

If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong; but if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?

251

(2)

Do you say this on your own or have others told you about me?

253

(3)

18. The Cross

256

(12)

For which of these good works are you trying to stone me?

256

(2)

Why are you trying to kill me?

258

(2)

What should I say, "Father, save me from this hour"?

260

(2)

At that time people will say to the mountains, "Fall upon us!" and to the hills, "Cover us!" for if these things are done when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?

262

(3)

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

265

(3)

19. The Resurrection

268

(22)

Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?

268

(2)

Concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God, "I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob"?

270

(2)

I am the Resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die; do you believe this?

272

(2)

What are you discussing as you walk along? What things?

274

(2)

Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and enter into his glory?

276

(3)

Why are you troubled? Why do questions arise in your hearts?

279

(2)

Have you anything here to eat?

281

(2)

Have you come to believe because you have seen me?

283

(2)

Children, have you caught anything to eat?

285

(2)

Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these? Do you love me? Do you love me?

287

(3)

Conclusion

290

(3)

Appendix

293

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The Questions of Jesus Challenging Ourselves to Discover Life's Great Answers

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

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