We often associate spiritual maturity with having the right answers. But when we look at Jesus, the one who was the answer, we find something surprising: He asked far more questions than He answered.
Over 300 times in the Gospels, Jesus posed questions to others. He was asked 183 questions, of which he answered only a handful. Often, instead of giving a straightforward response, He replied with a question of His own.
“What are you looking for?”
“Do you believe I can do this?”
“Who do you say I am?”
Why would the Son of God, full of truth, wisdom, and authority, lead with questions?
Because questions awaken the heart in ways that answers alone never can. His restraint in answering most questions teaches us to value process over quick solutions and relationship over information.
Let’s look more deeply at how and why Jesus used questions, and what we can learn as His followers:
1. To Draw the Heart to the Surface
Jesus wasn’t content with surface-level conversations. He asked questions that peeled back the layers of pretence and performance and exposed the true state of the heart.
“Do you love me?” (John 21:17)
“Why are you so afraid?” (Mark 4:40)
“What do you want me to do for you?” (Mark 10:51)
These weren’t rhetorical. Jesus asked them to help people look inward, to bring to light what had perhaps been buried in shame, fear, or confusion. Questions like these create space for people to discover things for themselves, not just what they think, but what they deeply believe.
Why this matters for us:
When we ask meaningful, Spirit-led questions, we give others permission to be honest. We open a door for deeper connection with God, with others, and with ourselves. And when we allow God to question us, we are often surprised by what is revealed.
2. To Invite Participation, Not Just Passive Listening
Jesus wasn’t building an audience – He was forming disciples. He didn’t just dispense truth; He invited people into it.
“Who do you say I am?” (Mark 8:29)
With this question, Jesus invited His disciples to own their faith, not simply parrot what others had said. It was a moment of decision, of ownership, of stepping into personal conviction.
Why this matters for us:
When we ask others good questions, whether in small groups, parenting, mentoring, or evangelism, we shift them from passive listeners to active seekers. We give them the gift of wrestling and discovering. And that kind of engagement lasts far longer than simply being told what to think.
3. To Awaken Curiosity and Spiritual Hunger
Jesus knew how to ignite curiosity. His questions often left people pondering long after the conversation ended.
“If you love those who love you, what reward will you get?” (Matt. 5:46)
Rather than lecturing, Jesus would drop a question like a stone in still water and let the ripples move through the soul. Questions awaken a sense of wonder, a desire to understand, a holy discomfort that leads us to seek more of God.
Why this matters for us:
In a culture oversaturated with noise and certainty, curiosity is a breath of fresh air. Questions create space for people to explore, to wonder, and to hunger after truth, not just absorb information. We need more wonder, not less.
4. To Challenge Assumptions and Confront False Thinking
Jesus’ questions had a way of disarming pride and dismantling flawed thinking without condemnation.
“If Satan drives out Satan, how can his kingdom stand?” (Matt. 12:26)
He didn’t need to argue; He simply exposed the faulty logic with a well-placed question. Questions can confront while still inviting dialogue. They bypass defences and plant seeds of clarity.
Why this matters for us:
When we ask questions that challenge the status quo, we help others pause and examine the beliefs they’ve adopted from culture, emotion, or tradition. Questions can be a gentle but powerful way to renew the mind and lead others into truth without shutting them down.
5. To Extend Compassion and Restore Dignity
Not all of Jesus’ questions were theological or logical. Many were deeply personal and compassionate.
“Do you want to be made well?” (John 5:6)
“Where are your accusers?” (John 8:10)
In these moments, Jesus gave people dignity. He invited them to participate in their own healing and redemption. He didn’t force. He didn’t assume. He asked. And in doing so, He communicated love, value, and respect.
Why this matters for us:
When we ask with compassion, especially to those who are hurting, we honour their agency. We say, “Your story matters. Your heart matters.” Good questions don’t just lead to answers – they lead to healing and connection. They communicate, I see you.
6. To Teach Us How to Wrestle and Wonder
Jesus’ use of questions taught us that faith is not about having all the right answers, it’s about being in relationship with the One who is Truth.
Some of His questions weren’t meant to resolve anything immediately. They were meant to stir something eternal.
“When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8)
He wanted His disciples to carry that question with them, to let it shape how they lived and what they longed for.
Why this matters for us:
Faith is not a formula. It’s a journey, often marked by tension, mystery, and discovery. Asking questions, of Scripture, of God, of each other – keeps us humble, keeps us learning, and keeps us close to the Spirit. It protects us from spiritual pride and opens us up to continual transformation.
So Ask More. Listen Longer. Fear Less.
If Jesus, the all-knowing One, chose to lead with questions, shouldn’t we?
Whether we are discipling someone, sharing the gospel, parenting, preaching, or simply trying to love well, asking good questions will always be more powerful than rushing to give answers.
So here’s the challenge:
- Ask more questions in your conversations.
- Invite others to ask you questions, even the uncomfortable ones.
- Let God ask you questions, and sit with them long enough to be changed.
Because questions aren’t a threat to faith.
They often lead to deeper faith.
And Jesus, the Master Questioner, still asks questions today – inviting, probing, healing, and calling us deeper, one sacred question at a time.
Blessings
Nico