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Mark 10:35-45

Asking Questions About God

October 20, 2024

Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost

Lectionary Year B

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ASK (a.k.a The On-Ramp)

Good morning!
So let's pretend you are in school and your teacher says something in class that you don't understand.
What do you think is a good thing for you to do at that point? (Raise your hand and ask a question)
I agree! Asking for help to better understand what's being taught is a really smart thing to do.
Now, would the teacher be very helpful to you if s/he always said, "No, you cannot ask me questions and I’m not answering them if you do"? (No!)

Right! A teacher who won't let you ask questions at any point about what’s being taught isn’t doing everything they can do to help you learn.

TELL (a.k.a. The Freeway)

So in today's scripture story we see two of Jesus' students, James and John, ask their teacher, Jesus, a question.
They asked him if they could be his favorite disciples.
And what is important to note is how Jesus responds to their question.
First, he doesn't get mad at his students for asking him this question.
And second, he answers their question, even if their question probably wasn't what Jesus wanted them to be thinking about.
He tells them that they are asking for a difficult thing and that ultimately it is not Jesus who decides who his best students are, but for God to decide.
Sounds like a good answer, right? But it turns out the other disciples get upset with James and John for trying to be the favorite disciples, just by asking.
Jesus, though, tells the other disciples it’s not good to try and stop people from asking questions.
He tells them this by saying “whoever wishes to become [a] great [teacher] among you must be your servant.”

SHARE the Good News (a.k.a. The Destination)

You may not know this, yet, but answering lots of questions or even a few difficult questions can be a hard thing to deal with – so much so that it is like a service; to answer questions well and with patience is one way we can serve others.
Which is one of the ways see Jesus serve his disciples as their teacher.
We also see him tell his disciples to be like him and serve others – even to those who ask lots of questions.
One of the reasons Jesus answered so many questions and wanted his disciples to do the same, I think, is because he wanted to make sure his disciples knew it was always ok to ask him questions about God.
And, I want to share that same invitation with you, right now: It is always ok to ask questions about God.
So, if you have a question about God, ask your mom and dad, ask your grandparents, ask your Sunday school teacher, ask me, ask the pastor - and if we don't know the answer, then we will go ask others until we have something to share with you.
It is good to ask each other questions about God and it is good to share our thoughts about the asked questions because that’s a really good way for us to learn about God.
And that's the good news for today. Let’s pray.

CLOSING Prayer

This is a repeat-after-me prayer.

Dear God,

Thank you for Jesus...

…who taught his disciples and us…

…that it's good to ask each other…

…questions about you.

Please help us to do so.

Thank you and Amen

Originally posted October 4, 2015

Updated on September 18, 2024

Written and edited by Nathanael Vissia

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