The Word of God is living and effective (Hebrews 4:12)! That means God is speaking to you through Scripture right now. The questions Jesus asked back then are relevant to you today. He’s not just asking Peter or Paul or the Pharisees these questions; in some way, He is also asking you.
When beginning this project, I thought it would make a nice list of twenty-some reflective questions for us to explore. For some reason, I forgot just how many rhetorical, direct, and interesting questions Jesus asked…
There are much more than twenty-some! They are a great opportunity to take Jesus’ questions to prayer. The questions remind us that He wants a relationship with us, to converse with us through prayer every day.
The Questions Jesus Asks Us | Gospel Of John
For your reflection, here are the questions Jesus asks us in John, using the New American Bible Revised Edition:
“What are you looking for?” (John 1:38)
Two of John the Baptist’s disciples follow Jesus once John points Him out and calls Jesus the Lamb of God. They call Him teacher, Rabbi.
How would you respond to Jesus if He asked you this right now?
“Do you believe because I said I saw you under the fig tree?” (John 1:50)
Jesus asks Nathanael if He believes Jesus is the Son of Man because Jesus explained where He had seen Nathanael. Jesus explains, “You will see greater things than this.”
What little or big things affect your beliefs in Jesus as the Son of God?
“Woman, how does your concern affect me?” (John 2:4)
Jesus replies to Mary’s statement that the wedding feast at Cana had no more wine.
What kind of relationship do you have with Jesus? How do you speak to Him and how do you respond to each other?
“You are the teacher of Israel and you do not understand this?” (John 3:10)
Jesus teaches Nicodemus, who is a Pharisee, about being born again.
What things do you not understand, even as a child of God?
“If I tell you about earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?” (John 3:12)
Jesus continues to speak to Nicodemus.
In what ways do you test God or deny Him through unbelief or sin?
“Do you not say, ‘In four months the harvest will be here’?” (John 4:35)
Jesus explains that He is on earth to do the work of God Who sent Him, and also explains more about an eternal harvest.
Do you have expectations about how you want God to work in your life? How do you need to adjust those expectations to better understand how God is working in your life?
“Do you want to be well?” (John 5:6)
Jesus cures a man who had been sick for 38 years. He’d been lying by the pool of Bethesda until Jesus interacted with him, telling him to roll up his mat and walk away. (He does!)
Do you want to be healed from your traumas, disappointments, illnesses? Or are you comfortable with them? Do you want to be well?
“How can you believe, when you accept praise from one another and do not seek praise that comes from the only God?” (John 5:44)
Jesus speaks about the unbelief of His hearers.
Do you act for the glory of God or approval of the world?
“But if you do not believe his [Moses’] writings, how will you believe My words?” (John 5:47)
Jesus teaches about believing and not believing testimonies and about how people find reasons to reject testimonies.
What teachings do you “skip over” just to focus on something easier for you or more pleasant?
“Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?” (John 6:5)
After crossing the Sea of Galilee and sitting on a mountainside, Jesus asks Philip this before He miraculously feeds the five thousand. Jesus already knows what He will do.
When have your blessings been multiplied miraculously? Did you notice it was a miracle or praise God for it?
“Does this shock you? What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where He was before?” (John 6:61-62)
This is the “Bread of Life discourse” when Jesus is told it is difficult to believe that we need to eat His Flesh and drink His Blood. He did not offer further explanation as He did with parables because this was not a parable. Many left Him for this teaching. This is the Eucharist.
Does this shock you?
“Do you also want to leave?” (John 6:67)
Jesus asks this to the twelve apostles after many disciples left him for His teaching on His Body and Blood. That is the True Presence of the Body and Blood of Christ in Holy Communion, the Eucharist. It is not a symbol or metaphor.
Do you also want to leave?
“Did I not choose you twelve? Yet is not one of you a devil?” (John 6:70)
Jesus says this after many leave Him for His Bread of Life discourse. Here, He refers to Judas Iscariot, whom He knows will betray Him.
How do you exercise your free will—as an excuse to do whatever you want and apologize later or as a loving way to serve God?
“Did not Moses give you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why are you trying to kill me?” (John 7:19)
Jesus in the temple taught Jews there, who were amazed. He calls them out for not keeping the law they were given.
Were you not given the commandments? Why do you not follow them? Why are you trying to kill Christ in you?
“If a man can receive circumcision on a Sabbath so that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because I made a whole person well on a Sabbath?” (John 7:23)
Jesus calls out the crowd at the temple.
Are you mad at Christ for what He has done for others because it is not how you wanted it done, expected it, or through your efforts?
“Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” (John 8:10)
Scribes and Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery to Jesus, asking Him what to do with her because the Law of Moses says to stone her. This is when He says the one without sin can throw the first stone.
Jesus is without sin but does not throw stones at you, a sinner. Who do you condemn?
“Why do you not understand what I am saying?” (John 8:43)
Jesus explains we don’t like what He says because we carry out the devil’s designs and therefore belong to evil, the father of lies.
Either you are with Christ or not. Who do you serve?
“Can any of you charge Me with sin? If I am telling the truth, why do you not believe Me?” (John 8:46)
Jesus tells the people that they do not hear the words of God because they don’t belong to Him.
When do you not listen to God’s voice?
“Do you believe in the Son of Man?” (John 9:35)
Jesus asks this to the blind man, whom Jesus healed. The Pharisees threw the blind man out of the temple for his testimony.
Do you believe everything someone tells you (personal testimony, doctrines, news stories, miracles…) or nothing if it doesn’t align with what you want to be true?
“For which of these [good works] are you trying to stone me?” (John 10:32)
This Jesus says in response to people picking up stones to stone Him after He says He is One with the Father, which is considered blasphemy.
What things do you not like to hear? What would make you throw stones at another?
“Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, “You are gods”’? If it calls them gods to whom the word of God came, and Scripture cannot be set aside, can you say that the One Whom the Father has consecrated and sent into the world blasphemes because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?” (John 10:34-36)
People admit they want to stone Jesus for calling Himself God, but Jesus points out how they will not believe Him whether He does God’s work or not.
When have you committed the sins of scandal, pettiness, or scrupulosity when applying the Word of God to serve your own sinful purposes?
“Are there not twelve hours in a day?” (John 11:9)
Jesus says this when questioned about returning to Bethany, a place where Jews tried to stone Him, to awaken Lazarus from death.
When have you questioned Jesus’ motives in your life?
“Do you believe this?” (John 11:26)
After Martha told Jesus that Lazarus wouldn’t have died if He had been there, Jesus asks Martha if she believes He is the Resurrection and the Life and whether she believs in Him Who will never die.
Do you believe not only in the Resurrection, but that Christ is the Resurrection and with Him you will never die?
“Where have you laid Him?” (John 11:34)
Jesus asks where Lazarus’ body was laid, and He weeps out of love for Lazarus when He is at the tomb.
Does Jesus need to raise up pieces of your soul, losses of hope in you, that life has caused you to bury deep?
“Did I not tell you that if you believe you will see the glory of God?” (John 11:40)
Jesus to Martha before He raises Lazarus from the dead.
Are you listening and believe so you may see the glory of God as well? When are you shutting God out?
“Yet what should I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’?” (John 12:27)
Jesus tells us that He is made for this sacrifice, to glorify God with it.
In my life, what should you also say to God about your sufferings, hopes, and joys?
“Do you realize what I have done for you?” (John 13:12)
Jesus after washing the disciples’ feet, He asks if they understand His meaning.
Do you realize what Jesus has done for you?
“Will you lay down your life for Me?” (John 13:38)
Jesus to Peter while predicting Peter’s denial. We know later that Peter repents, leads the church, and is martyred for Christ.
Will you also lay down your life for Christ, every day serving God and in martyrdom if so called?
“If there were not [many places in My Father’s house], would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?” (John 14:2)
Jesus promises to prepare a place for His disciples and tells them they know the way to where He is going.
Are you headed on the Way—that straight and narrow path—to the place prepared for you, or do you need to redirect yourself to Christ?
“Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? … How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?” (John 14:9-10)
Jesus explains His relationship with God the Father as God the Son and how it relates to the disciples. We should know Him, the whole Blessed Trinity.
How long have you been walking with Christ, and have you taken the time to truly know Him?
“Are you discussing with one another what I said, ‘A little while and you will not see Me, and again a little while and you will see Me’?” (John 16:19)
Jesus allowed His disciples to talk amongst themselves about what He meant before explaining that their grief would turn into joy.
What joys await you in tomorrow and eternity? What griefs will or has Jesus taken away?
“Do you believe now?” (John 16:31)
Jesus talks with His disciples about their belief in Him after He speaks plainly to them about His death.
Have you ever been prevented from believing because of how the message was being delivered?
“Whom are you looking for?” (John 18:4 & 7)
Jesus asks the soldiers who are about to arrest Him in the garden.
Are you looking for a replacement for Jesus in your search or frustrated when you don’t find Him where you were looking?
“Shall I not drink the cup that the Father gave Me?” (John 18:11)
Jesus allows Himself to be arrested peacefully and asks Peter to put down his sword.
What can stop God’s plans? When is it time to put the sword down or pick it up?
“Why ask Me?” (John 18:21)
After His arrest, Jesus responds to the high priest and remarks how He spoke publicly, hiding nothing.
How about you? Why do you ask God for anything?
“If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong; but if I have spoken rightly, who do you strike Me?” (John 18:23)
Jesus asked poignant questions after being struck by a guard.
When have you felt attacked before justly questioned, or questioned someone too hastily?
“Do you say this on your own or have others told you about Me?” (John 18:34)
Jesus asks Pilate, who has asked if He is the King of the Jews, why He asks Him this.
When did you make the faith your own, rather than just something you learned from others?
“Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” (John 20:15)
Resurrected Jesus asks Mary Magdalene this after she wept outside His empty tomb.
Why are you sorrowful? Who are you seeking?
“Have you come to believe because you have seen Me?” (John 20:29)
Resurrected Jesus remarks to Doubting Thomas after showing His wounds.
What belief are you holding back from because you doubt God’s goodness and power?
“Children, have you caught anything to eat?” (John 21:5)
Jesus speaks to Simon and the disciples with him on the boat fishing. Jesus promised when He called them to follow Him that He would make them fishers of men.
Are you evangelizing anyone? Are you reaching anyone with your Christian lifestyle?
“Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these? …Simon, son of John, do you love Me? …Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” (John 21:15-17)
Jesus asks Simon Peter three times if he loves Him and Simon answers that he does, receiving the duty to feed Christ’s sheep.
Do you live in a way that affirms your love of Christ, or denies it?
“What if I want him to remain until I come? What concern is it of yours?” (John 21:22 )
Jesus rebukes Peter for questioning what John is called to do.
What gifts or callings of others distract you—by jealousy or reckless curiosity—from what the Lord is asking of you?
Image: Photo by Tim Wildsmith on Unsplash
