Jesus Taught by questioning and Arguing (Contd):
Faith and Prayer: The disciples of Jesus failed in casting out a devil from a boy who was brought to them by his father. When the matter was reported to him, Jesus answered : "What an unbelieving and perverse generation! How long shall I be with you? How long must I endure you? Bring him to me" (Mark, 9: 19). Jesus asked for details about the condition of the boy from his father who gave a concise report to him and added that, if it was possible for him, he should take pity on them and help them. Lack of faith was the underlying reason the disciples could not drive out the devil from the boy coupled with the lack of faith of the father of the boy. Jesus had to remind the father of the boy that everything was possible to one who had faith and his conditional request to him was unacceptable. Immediately after that we have a beautiful prayer from the lips of the boy's father." 'I have faith', cried the boy's father, 'help me where faith falls short' " (Mark, 9: 24). His faith was increased as a result of this prayer and Jesus commanded the evil spirit to come out and leave the boy alone forever. To the question of the disciples why they were not able to do it Jesus answered that prayer was the only means to cast out this sort. Genuine prayer inspired by true faith gives us power to do all sorts of things for the benefit of the people. Jesus came to give such power to his disciples as he would not be with them always and was a little annoyed that they were not taking the lessons taught by him. It is a perverse generation that cannot believe as it is preoccupied with its own priorities, thinking like the humans and not like God (See Matthew, 16: 23).
The Question of Being the First: When Jesus wanted to teach one of the most fundamental laws of the Kingdom, he chose an appropriate opportunity to do so. "So they came to Capernaum; and when he was indoors, he asked them, 'What were you arguing about on the way?' " (Mark, 9: 33). It is obvious that Jesus had overheard what they were discussing on the way and he did not stop them then and there. He wanted to make a point very impressively and so waited till they reached the house. The disciples kept silent about the subject-matter of their discussion as they had been discussing who was the greatest. They did not dare to reveal their inner self to Jesus as it was repellent to his presence. In order to teach them authoritatively, Jesus sat down and called the twelve Apostles to him and reminded that the only way to be first was to be last of all and servant of all.. He took a child and set him in front of them as a model and as his own ambassador (See Mark, 9: 33-37).(We have discussed more about the qualities of a child in our previous Post on 'Living in the Freedom of the Children of God').
Sanctity of Marriage: Following his usual practice of teaching whenever a crowd gathered around him, Jesus was speaking to the people in the region of Judea and Transjordan when a question was put to him to test him. The question was about the lawfulness of divorcing one's wife. Jesus knew that those who questioned him, probably Pharisees, were banking on the Law of Moses that allowed divorce of one's wife by a note of dismissal. "He asked in return, 'What did Moses command you'?" (Mark,10: 3). This question was meant to preempt the strategy of the Pharisees to fall back on the law of Moses at a later stage of discussion in order to defend their position. As he was going to uphold the original law at the time of creation of man and woman, Jesus had to bring to the fore the later Law of Moses on divorce that he was going to abrogate. He did it through eliciting an answer from his opponents by means of his question (See Mark, 10: 1-12). (We have elaborated this point on the Law of Moses and Divorce in a previous Post).
Meaning of Goodness: Once a man approached Jesus and addressing him "Good Master", asked him what he should do to win eternal life. "Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone' " (Mark, 10: 18). Does it mean that it was out of place to address Jesus as good? It only means that the man was using the word 'good' without knowing its full import that is appropriate only when it is used to refer to God. Since all goodness has its source in God, no one can claim goodness apart from his or her dependence on God. The man could not be expected to know as much and therefore Jesus cautions his use of words, although goodness was an attribute most suitable for Jesus as he was himself God in the form of man.
Educating the Disciples: We have two instances when Jesus asks what he was required to do as if to find out the intentions of the interested parties. But, in fact, it was for teaching them the right attitudes or for evoking the faith required for performing a miracle. The first instance was when James and John, the sons of Zebedee, wanted to sit one on his right and the other on his left when Jesus comes in glory. This was the answer they gave when Jesus asked them "What is it you want me to do?" (Mark, 10: 36) on their request for a favor. They were on the way to Jerusalem and Jesus had called the twelve Apostles to him away from the crowds that followed and had foretold about his passion and glorification. These two Apostles were so enamored of the glory that they forgot all about the suffering and passion that preceded it. Hence Jesus asks them a further question to make them understand the implications of their seemingly innocuous request. "Jesus said to them, 'You do not understand what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?' " (Mark, 10: 38). On hearing from them their readiness to follow him even on his passion, Jesus endorsed their determination and told them clearly that it was not up to him to distribute places of honor as they were for those to whom they have already been assigned (See Mark, 10: 35-40).
Germinating Faith: The second instance when Jesus asked the question "What do you want me to do for you?" (Mark, 10: 51), he was just leaving Jericho with his disciples and a large crowd. Bartimaeus, son of Timaeus, a blind beggar shouted calling out "Son of David, Jesus, have pity on me!" He did not keep quiet although many people wanted him not to shout, when he shouted all the more! When Jesus called him he threw off his cloak and sprang up coming to Jesus when he was asked the above-quoted question. We can see that the import of the question of Jesus was not in seeking some information that was evident from the context. He wanted to put the blind man in the right frame of mind so that faith will be germinated in him resulting in his cure by the word of Jesus. Bartimaeus requested Jesus for restoration of his sight, probably lost due to some illness or accident in his journey of life, unlike the man born blind in John, chapter 9. "Jesus said to him, 'Go, your faith has cured you.' And at once he recovered his sight and followed him on the road" (Mark, 10: 52). (To be Contd).
Faith and Prayer: The disciples of Jesus failed in casting out a devil from a boy who was brought to them by his father. When the matter was reported to him, Jesus answered : "What an unbelieving and perverse generation! How long shall I be with you? How long must I endure you? Bring him to me" (Mark, 9: 19). Jesus asked for details about the condition of the boy from his father who gave a concise report to him and added that, if it was possible for him, he should take pity on them and help them. Lack of faith was the underlying reason the disciples could not drive out the devil from the boy coupled with the lack of faith of the father of the boy. Jesus had to remind the father of the boy that everything was possible to one who had faith and his conditional request to him was unacceptable. Immediately after that we have a beautiful prayer from the lips of the boy's father." 'I have faith', cried the boy's father, 'help me where faith falls short' " (Mark, 9: 24). His faith was increased as a result of this prayer and Jesus commanded the evil spirit to come out and leave the boy alone forever. To the question of the disciples why they were not able to do it Jesus answered that prayer was the only means to cast out this sort. Genuine prayer inspired by true faith gives us power to do all sorts of things for the benefit of the people. Jesus came to give such power to his disciples as he would not be with them always and was a little annoyed that they were not taking the lessons taught by him. It is a perverse generation that cannot believe as it is preoccupied with its own priorities, thinking like the humans and not like God (See Matthew, 16: 23).
The Question of Being the First: When Jesus wanted to teach one of the most fundamental laws of the Kingdom, he chose an appropriate opportunity to do so. "So they came to Capernaum; and when he was indoors, he asked them, 'What were you arguing about on the way?' " (Mark, 9: 33). It is obvious that Jesus had overheard what they were discussing on the way and he did not stop them then and there. He wanted to make a point very impressively and so waited till they reached the house. The disciples kept silent about the subject-matter of their discussion as they had been discussing who was the greatest. They did not dare to reveal their inner self to Jesus as it was repellent to his presence. In order to teach them authoritatively, Jesus sat down and called the twelve Apostles to him and reminded that the only way to be first was to be last of all and servant of all.. He took a child and set him in front of them as a model and as his own ambassador (See Mark, 9: 33-37).(We have discussed more about the qualities of a child in our previous Post on 'Living in the Freedom of the Children of God').
Sanctity of Marriage: Following his usual practice of teaching whenever a crowd gathered around him, Jesus was speaking to the people in the region of Judea and Transjordan when a question was put to him to test him. The question was about the lawfulness of divorcing one's wife. Jesus knew that those who questioned him, probably Pharisees, were banking on the Law of Moses that allowed divorce of one's wife by a note of dismissal. "He asked in return, 'What did Moses command you'?" (Mark,10: 3). This question was meant to preempt the strategy of the Pharisees to fall back on the law of Moses at a later stage of discussion in order to defend their position. As he was going to uphold the original law at the time of creation of man and woman, Jesus had to bring to the fore the later Law of Moses on divorce that he was going to abrogate. He did it through eliciting an answer from his opponents by means of his question (See Mark, 10: 1-12). (We have elaborated this point on the Law of Moses and Divorce in a previous Post).
Meaning of Goodness: Once a man approached Jesus and addressing him "Good Master", asked him what he should do to win eternal life. "Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone' " (Mark, 10: 18). Does it mean that it was out of place to address Jesus as good? It only means that the man was using the word 'good' without knowing its full import that is appropriate only when it is used to refer to God. Since all goodness has its source in God, no one can claim goodness apart from his or her dependence on God. The man could not be expected to know as much and therefore Jesus cautions his use of words, although goodness was an attribute most suitable for Jesus as he was himself God in the form of man.
Educating the Disciples: We have two instances when Jesus asks what he was required to do as if to find out the intentions of the interested parties. But, in fact, it was for teaching them the right attitudes or for evoking the faith required for performing a miracle. The first instance was when James and John, the sons of Zebedee, wanted to sit one on his right and the other on his left when Jesus comes in glory. This was the answer they gave when Jesus asked them "What is it you want me to do?" (Mark, 10: 36) on their request for a favor. They were on the way to Jerusalem and Jesus had called the twelve Apostles to him away from the crowds that followed and had foretold about his passion and glorification. These two Apostles were so enamored of the glory that they forgot all about the suffering and passion that preceded it. Hence Jesus asks them a further question to make them understand the implications of their seemingly innocuous request. "Jesus said to them, 'You do not understand what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?' " (Mark, 10: 38). On hearing from them their readiness to follow him even on his passion, Jesus endorsed their determination and told them clearly that it was not up to him to distribute places of honor as they were for those to whom they have already been assigned (See Mark, 10: 35-40).
Germinating Faith: The second instance when Jesus asked the question "What do you want me to do for you?" (Mark, 10: 51), he was just leaving Jericho with his disciples and a large crowd. Bartimaeus, son of Timaeus, a blind beggar shouted calling out "Son of David, Jesus, have pity on me!" He did not keep quiet although many people wanted him not to shout, when he shouted all the more! When Jesus called him he threw off his cloak and sprang up coming to Jesus when he was asked the above-quoted question. We can see that the import of the question of Jesus was not in seeking some information that was evident from the context. He wanted to put the blind man in the right frame of mind so that faith will be germinated in him resulting in his cure by the word of Jesus. Bartimaeus requested Jesus for restoration of his sight, probably lost due to some illness or accident in his journey of life, unlike the man born blind in John, chapter 9. "Jesus said to him, 'Go, your faith has cured you.' And at once he recovered his sight and followed him on the road" (Mark, 10: 52). (To be Contd).
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