TEXT:
‘Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions’ – Luke 2:46
THOUGHT:
In this second part of “Questions Jesus asked”, we will look at another question. I often say when evangelising or witnessing, “Can I ask you a question?” When they reply, “Yes” it gives me permission to ask and they are more ready to answer because they have allowed me to ask.
Often news reporters ask irritating and irrelevant questions which annoy both responder and viewer alike, so care must be taken. Questions should be pertinent and not creating the suggestion that the one asking is merely collecting information.
- Saul, why are you persecuting Me? – Acts 9:4
Have you ever found yourself fighting the wrong battle? The religious authorities in Jerusalem had been warned by a wise counsellor called Gamaliel, to be careful they did not end up fighting God, as they sought to stop the apostles from preaching about the name of Jesus. They ignored his advice and sent a firebrand named Saul of Tarsus off to Damascus to stamp out Christianity there.
As Saul neared Damascus, a sudden bright light startled him and he fell to the ground. He heard the words, “Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” but saw no one. “Who are you, Lord?” he asked. “I am Jesus” the voice replied. That was the beginning of Saul’s conversion to Christianity, the arch-enemy of the church who became the defender of the faith he once tried to destroy. No, you cannot fight against God and win!
Why would anyone in their right mind want to persecute Jesus? He went around doing good and healing those oppressed by the devil. Jesus challenged the Jews, ‘My Father has enabled Me to do many good deeds. [I have shown many acts of mercy in your presence.] For which of these do you mean to stone Me?’ – John 10:32 AMPC. The Jews replied, ‘Not for any good work, but for blasphemy; you, a mere man, have declared yourself to be God’ – John 10:33 TLB. Jesus said, ‘Why do you call it blasphemy when I say, ‘I am the Son of God’? After all, the Father set me apart and sent me into the world’ – John 10:36 NLT.
There we have it! The real reason for persecuting Jesus is because He is the Son of God and therefore has the right to tell us what to do. People do not like that. They would rather do away with Jesus than submit to His Lordship. Be warned, the time is coming when every knee will have to bow before Him and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus is Lord!
In the first church I pastored, a lady became a Christian but her husband, a warrant officer in the RAF, wanted nothing to do with it. Her witness as a Christian irritated him and they frequently argued. She asked the church to pray. One day, while painting their bedroom, he heard a voice say, “Pick up your wife’s bible!” Startled, he looked around to see who was speaking but there was no one. He heard the voice speak again, this time with a greater emphasis, “Pick up your wife’s bible!” He obeyed and opened it at random and read two verses that seemed to sum up his wrong attitude towards Christianity. It really troubled him that God would speak to him in such a way. Soon afterwards he phoned requesting to come and see me. It was my joy to help him put his trust in Jesus. Kneeling down on the lounge floor, I still remember the words of his prayer, “Lord, thank you for what you have started, please continue!” God did, and they both became committed members of the church.
Perhaps you have been fighting God but do not realise it. You may have been trying to stop a loved one or friend from going to church, praying or reading their bible. You have ridiculed their faith to both them and others and have sought to turn them away from following Jesus. But now you hear God calling your name and asking, “Why are you persecuting Me?”
It is time to surrender and say, “Sorry” for the mistakes you have made in your life, especially the one of hindering God’s people. Surprise the one you have been opposing and hindering by asking if you can come to church with them. You will not be able to “magic” away all the hurt you have caused in the past, but your repentance and conversion will cause great joy and you will have a wonderful future.
When Pilate asked the Jewish religious leaders and the people what they wanted to do with Jesus, they all replied, “Away with Him. Crucify Him!” Little did they think that the One they tried to do away with would soon rise from the dead! It was the grace of God that the ones who said such things, even had an opportunity to be saved when Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost, “Repent!” The same is true for you. Your conscience and other people may say God cannot forgive you, nor is He interested in your life. The opposite is true. God loves the world so much and you are included!
Finally, perhaps you have been persecuted, whether verbally, mentally or even physically. Draw strength from how Jesus reacted on the cross. ‘Father forgive these people for they do not know what they are doing’ – Luke 23:34 TLB. He also taught, ‘Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven’ – Matthew 5:44-45.
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