“Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesdaand which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?” “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.” (John 5:2-9 NIV)
Questions often, result in unplanned behavior; doing something you had convinced yourself that was unnecessary. The released words, asked in one question, and/or sometimes reinforced by a follow-up question, they change our initial answer of “No” to “Yes” or at least ”Maybe I should.”
For instance, as a child or teen, you had your snow suit on. Underneath the snowsuit you wore two warm layers of clothing, for it was a blustery day. You were all set to go outside and play in the snow. As your hand reached for the door, your parent asked, “Do you have to go to the bathroom?” Good timing, right? Turning from the door to be respectful, your hands moved away from the door, and you quickly, almost instantaneously replied, “No,” Again, you start reaching for the door and the parent’s voice, seemingly spoken as if it was a purposeful, planned delayed inquiry, just waiting for you to grasp the door handle, and a second question is posed, “Are you sure?” The short series of questions caused this surging feeling that suggested a restroom stop was indeed in order. You took off the snowsuit, removed the layers, and ran to the restroom for relief. Call it the power of words or the power of suggestion, but your unplanned, thought to be unnecessary need to go to the restroom, unveiled itself as an urgent necessity. Summing it up, you were glad you went!
Oh, there are other examples. We were not hungry until someone asked, “Do you need to eat something?” We weren’t thirsty until someone asked, “Do you want a bottle of water?” You had no intention of taking a nap, but somebody asked, “Do you think you should lay down for a little bit?” On many occasions we internalized the need to eat, drink, or take a nap. It seems like there are power in questions. Wouldn’t you agree?
Well, arriving at that conclusion, agreeing that the premise is valid, I am prompted to ask you a few questions this Christmas Eve. Have you prayed today? Did you sincerely pray for somebody other than yourself today? Did you really read your Bible today, not counting the verses on this meditation page, but the word of God found in your black leather or bonded leather book that starts with Genesis and ends with Revelation? Did you reinforce that church is still on the agenda for tomorrow morning, especially since Christmas is a type of mass for Christ where we celebrate His birth? Did you plan opening gifts first thing in the morning, or have you postponed that activity until you read a passage about “the Gift?”
I hope the power of my questions and the words they contain influence you to do something that you were not planning to do today and tomorrow, especially being in the place where the saints assemble together. One more question: If in your interaction with family and friends, you realize that they are not saved, will you ask any type of question in private that will lead them into a peaceful discussion, not a debate that divides, but a peaceful discussion about the perpetual grace of God that was manifested so greatly in the sending of His only begotten Son?
For more, check out the context of the verses above and below. I’m positive that you will find something valuable and meaningful to you personally and useful as you help others, by using the power of questions. I’m done. Be blessed!
“And so they reached Jericho. Later, as they left town, a great crowd was following. Now it happened that a blind beggar named Bartimaeus (the son of Timaeus) was sitting beside the road as Jesus was going by. When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus from Nazareth was near, he began to shout out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” “Shut up!” some of the people yelled at him. But he only shouted the louder, again and again, “O Son of David, have mercy on me!” When Jesus heard him, he stopped there in the road and said, “Tell him to come here.” So they called the blind man. “You lucky fellow,” they said, “come on, he’s calling you!” Bartimaeus yanked off his old coat and flung it aside, jumped up and came to Jesus. “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked. “O Teacher,” the blind man said, “I want to see!” And Jesus said to him, “All right, it’s done. Your faith has healed you.” And instantly the blind man could see and followed Jesus down the road!” (Mark 5:46-62 The Living Bible)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King