Why Can’t I Get a Straight Answer?

Some call it the Socratic method, however, I doubt that Jesus had anything to learn from Socrates. I heard elsewhere that it was commonplace for the Jewish people to answer the question by asking another, and that is why this frequently happens in the Scriptures, especially in the four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. For example, this morning while reading John 11:8,9 I came upon the discourse between Jesus and His disciples. In verse 8, the disciples asked our Lord why He would return to Bethany when the Jewish leaders sought to kill Him. Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in a day?”

Okay, what’s with that? If you asked me whether His response was fairly cryptic, I’d answer, ‘You think so?’ Oh boy…. Anyway, I did a little research into this nature of banter and learned that to answer a question with a question is to deliberately engage the enquirer’s own reasoning. As a teacher, Jesus certainly wanted his disciples to think in much broader terms; so He answered by asking, “Are there not twelve hours in a day?” And then He continued, “If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of the world. But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.’

I know; I know. If what Jesus initially answered wasn’t over the top, what followed about the day and night time walks certainly took us up, over and down again. It did me; that is until I did a little more research. First, our Lord’s reference to our twelve hour day is a simple mention of the work day. During the work day, we accomplish what is our duty. Our Lord’s duty was to do the will of the Father and Jesus was presented at first with the report that Lazarus was sick. However, it wasn’t until Lazarus died that this conversation came up and Jesus knew it was the day or His time to do His duty. When you do God’s will, you shall not stumble. However, when you attempt to step out on your own, you will stumble. Why? Because the light is not in us. We attempt to do what is not in accordance with God’s will; whether in the duty itself or in His timing. What Jesus teaches here is that He went to Bethany in the fulness of time (He knew Lazarus had died) and that that timing was necessary for them to believe. As for the Jews who sought to stone Him? Jesus was doing His duty, and He had full assurance and confidence in His heavenly Father.

In view of what our Lord said here, consider now the cry of Job: “Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden, And whom God has hedged in?” (Job 3:23) In this instance, we have light given but our duty is not revealed. God has hedged us. As frustrating as that is, it is a wonderful mercy because if we were to walk, then it would have been at night. Sometimes, we must learn to stand in the light and wait upon the Lord. In doing so, it will prove God’s grace in our instruction and our humility as His sons and daughters.

Inasmuch as Jesus is our teacher today, and this through His Word and Spirit, there’s a lot we can learn from our Lord’s answering a question with a question. In His way, it is a heavenly language and method of discourse as it was written: ““Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD,“ (Isaiah 1:18) And for us to reason today? Who are you listening to? Yourself?