In the New Testament there are many questions asked by Jesus, and directed at Jesus. The New Testament is a set of stories about Jesus, letters by early church leaders and a bizarre book about the future, or about the present reality of living in the Roman Empire. The New Testament was compiled over the course of almost 400 years, and accepted by the church as an authority of faith and life ( around the year of 387 AD , or CE ). So, it is an old and complex set of writings, for the church to determine what they mean for us ( for those in the church )today.
Jesus is asked by a lawyer one day, “ What must I do to inherit eternal life ?” What would you say to this fundamental question ? Actually the translators look at the term “lawyer” differently. Some say ruler, some say teacher, and some say Jewish leader, and one says “ an important man “ So, it was an important leader of the local faith, who asked Jesus a question about life and faith. And the answer Jesus gave was that he should give away everything, and then he can come and follow him. And the man, ruler, expert in the law, teacher said, “ then who can be saved ?” I will let you and me decide how to answer that question.
Another question that was asked of Jesus, “ should we have to pay taxes to Caesar or not ? Jesus then says to the leaders, “give me a coin” ? On the coin was the imprint of Caesar of the that era, and Jesus says , give to Caesar ( or the government ) what is Caesar’s, and give God what is God’s. What a great answer, but I am still trying to understand it for my own life . Next time that you order a “Caesar “ salad at The Sip and Bite , think about this question.
After Jesus is arrested in Jerusalem, he is brought before the political leaders and asked some questions. Mostly , and especially in the story from “Mark” , Jesus is silent. In John, the fourth biography of Jesus in the New Testament, Pilate, the leading politician, asks a question of Jesus. “ And who are you ?” The crowd is screaming for Jesus to be killed, and the religious leaders are telling Pilate that Jesus has broken the law by threatening the Empire. So, Pilate returns to talk to Jesus, but he does not know what is going on. He knows Jesus is important by the reaction in the city, but he does not know for sure, and in the end, he washes his hands.
So why is Canada in Mali ? This is a contemporary question. We have sent peacekeepers. I think it is great that we are doing peacekeeping again. But why Mali ? Four U.S. soldiers were killed in Niger, next door to Mali. They were fighting Muslim extremists. Are we, Canada and U.S., Christian extremists fighting in small countries in Africa ? Did I/we know that Canada has invested over a billion dollars in Mali with foreign and military aid ? it is just a question . And Canadian companies have invested even more money in the minerals in Mali, including gold. Oh no, going to war or peacekeeping, to help Canadian companies do business ? In truth, we have done this before. But why Mali, and why now ? Questions do not always have to have answers, but they are always good to ask them.
What questions do you have about obtaining eternal life ? Fred Redekop
Ponder Anew 