"Whys And Why Not Of Things"

Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?" Matthew 24:3

Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast him out?"  Matthew 17:19, Mark 9:28

Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" Matthew 18:21

Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught. Mark 6:30

At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven ?" Matthew 18:1

Nathanael said to Him, "How do You know me?" John 1:48

Then His disciples came and said to Him, "Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?" Matthew 15:12

And in the house His disciples asked Him again about the same matter. Mark 10:10

There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?" John 6:9

Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, "Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask."  ... They said to Him, "Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory." Mark 10:35-37

But when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable. Mark 4:10

And the apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith." Luke 17:5

The disciples said to Him, "Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone You, are You going there again?" John 11:8

Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us." John 14:8

What is this that He says to us, "A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me; and because I go to the Father" John 16:17

And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" John 9:2

So, after all these verses we come to the really simple point of today's message. I'm sure you noticed that each of the above verses involves Jesus, His disciples, and a question. To be honest the thing that stood out to me today as I was reading was the number of times that Jesus took His disciples aside privately to answer and explain things to them alone. The other thing was just how often it was their idea. They weren't afraid to ask Him anything from the easy questions about travel plans to the hard ones involving sin, faith, and the whys and why not of things.

Today I focused on just some of the questions His disciples asked Him because I felt like He was asking me  to remind You that it is not only okay to ask Him anything and everything but it is very definitely something He desires. He wants to spend time privately with you sharing not only your heart but His for you as well! He wants you to draw aside with Him and ask Him all your questions even if they are as simple as, "How?" ..."Why?" ... "Where do I go?" "What did You mean by that?" ... or it might be something as personal as, "How do You know me?"

Whatever Your question is on any given day; take the time with Him to ask it!

The other thing to note is This Fact! For every question asked, Jesus always responded with an answer as to all the whys and the why not of things!"