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THE QUESTIONS OF JESUS BLOG
Questions that could change your life
Weekly Devotional BLOG
By Tom Eggleston

Click here for printable PDF for the past week BLOG or read below:
QofJ-Did_you_lack_anything,_Week_12.pdf

PAST BLOGS:
QofJ-Why_have_you_come,_Week_11.pdf
QofJ-Save_me_from_this_hour,_Week_10.pdf
Q0fJ-Lost_sheep,_lost_coin,_Week_9.pdf
QofJ-Came_to_give_peace,_Week_8.pdf
QofJ-Show_us_the_Father,_Week_7.pdf
QofJ-I_am_the_Son_of_God,_Week_6.pdf
QofJ-For_the_paralytic,_Week_5.pdf
QofJ-About_His_Authority,_Week_4.pdf
QofJ-12_hrs._in_a_day,_Week_3.pdf
QofJ-Do_you_believe_in_son_of_God,_Week_2.pdf
QofJ-What_about_the_Christ,_Week_1.pdf

FREE HYMN---SCROLL DOWN BELOW BLOG.

THE QUESTIONS OF JESUS (#23)

5. Jesus’ Fulfillment of Prophecy

WEEK 12

23. When I sent you without money bag, knapsack, and sandals, did you lack anything?
Luke 22:35-37 (NKJV)

Money-Bag, Backpack, and Sword
³⁵ He also said to them, “When I sent you out without money-bag, traveling bag, or sandals, did you lack anything?” “Not a thing,” they said. ³⁶ Then He said to them, “But now, whoever has a money-bag should take it, and also a traveling bag. And whoever doesn’t have a sword should sell his robe and buy one. ³⁷ For I tell you, what is written must be fulfilled in Me: And He was counted among the outlaws. Yes, what is written about Me is coming to its fulfillment.” ³⁸ “Lord,” they said, “look, here are two swords.” “Enough of that!” He told them.
Luke 22:35-38 (HCSB)

“Then Jesus said, “When I sent you out and told you to travel light, to take only the bare necessities, did you get along all right?” “Certainly,” they said, “we got along just fine.” He said, “This is different. Get ready for trouble. Look to what you’ll need: there are difficult times ahead. Pawn your coat and get a sword. What was written in Scripture, ‘He was lumped in with the criminals,’ get its final meaning in me. Everything written about me is now coming to a conclusion.” They said, “Look, Master, two swords!” But he said, “Enough of that; no more sword talk!”
Luke 22:35-38 (The Message)

Reflections:

     My wife and I moved from West Virginia to Nashville, TN after the first year of our marriage. We were excited about the move and eager to explore new things. However, after two difficult years, we decided it was time for a change and moved to Georgia. For six months, we lived with a family in the church that we were serving. After that time, we moved into a rental home which meant we were paying for two house payments because our house in Nashville had not sold. This went on for a year. I was working part-time at the church and had another full-time job. Delores was having some health issues. We were trying to follow God’s direction, but at times we felt like we had been sent into the wilderness with nothing.
     I’m sure the disciples did plenty of grumbling about their merger existence. Yet, they were traveling with Jesus, the Savior of the world…the King of Kings…the son of God. Did they really have any legitimate complaints? They’re provisions were being met and they weren’t going hungry. They even admitted it to Jesus.
     I don’t know about you, but I tend to get the most anxious when things are shaky financially. I mentioned that we were struggling financially during those years, but God always seems to provide. During one of the tightest months, we really didn’t know where the money was going to come from for the rent. A few days later, we got a check ($500) in the mail from a lady from West Virginia that was a member of our former church. She said in the letter, that God had impressed upon her heart to send the money. Now, how's that for “provision.” So how about a little less “sword talk” and a little more “faith walk.”

Questions to Ponder:
a. Why, in times of crisis, do we get anxious about God’s

provision?
b. Can you think of times in your life when God truly met your

needs?
c. If money, food, and shoes are not required of Jesus, then

what are the “bare” essentials?

Prayer

Lord, help us to lay aside our preoccupation with “things” and “stuff” and lay our lives at Your feet. Amen

FREE HYMN

CHORUS I
Out of silence came music,
Out of darkness came pure light,
Out of sorrow came a promise,
For Hope was born that night.
CHORUS II
Out of sadness came true joy,
Out of old faith came new faith,
Out of labor came a baby
To save the world through grace.
CHORUS I
Out of silence came music,
Out of darkness came pure light,
Out of sorrow came a promise,
For Hope was born that night,
For Hope was born that night,
For Hope was born that night, that night!

Click below for FREE CHORUS:
Hope_Was_Born_That_Night_(Hymn)-Bb.pdf

I don’t know about you, but I have always asked questions.

As a child, I asked all the typical questions:
Are we there yet?
How much longer?
Do I have to eat all of these green beans?

As a teenager, I asked:
Why do I have to take out the trash?
Why does the grass need mowing? (It’s not that high.)
Do I have to practice the piano anymore?
Can you tell her to quit bothering me?
Will you please stay out of my room?
Mom, did you wash my clothes?
Why is it my turn to wash the dishes?

Then as an adult, the questions got a little deeper:
Why do I have so many bills to pay?
Why have I taken on so much?
How can I make a difference in this job?
Why did this happen to me?

And the theological questions are endless:
Who is God, really?
Why is there so much hunger and poverty in the world?
Why do bad things happen to good people?
What is unconditional love?
How can I really know God’s will for my life?
Why can’t Christians get along and love as Jesus loved?
Why did 9/11 happen?
Why did God allow the Tsunami in South Asia?
Why are terrorists allowed to create chaos in our world?

What were the questions Jesus may have asked as a child?
“Mother, where did you put my tools?”
“Father, can you show me how to build this?”

And as a teenager, it is recorded in Luke 2:49,
“Why were you searching for me?” he asked, “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”

Then as an adult, a most profound question (Matthew 16:13),
“Who do you say I am?”

The questions are endless. Why is it so important to ask questions? More importantly, why did Jesus ask so many questions? What do his questions tell us about his character, his purpose, and his life?

I hope that this devotional BLOG will help us all to reflect on the extraordinary questions that Jesus asked. And in so doing, we might find a few answers, but also, we might ask a few more questions of the why, who, how, when, and where of our spiritual journeys. It is intended to be used as a daily or weekly devotional guide either as an individual or to be used in group discussion groups.

The questions that Jesus posed in scripture are given in three different Biblical versions (NIV, HCSB, and MSG). The questions are numbered and appear by the themes indicated at the beginning of the various sections. Each devotion has a theme, reflections, questions to ponder and a prayer. In many cases you will find several of Jesus’ questions under that particular theme. This will help to keep those questions in context.

Finally, my hope and prayer is that “The Questions of Jesus” might challenge our thinking, penetrate our biblical worldview, and let His questions as well as our own questions, begin a spiritual dialogue with those around us.