There are few constants in this world. Some would claim the only two are “death and taxes.” I would suggest at least one more: questions. People are constantly questioning. Parents especially know how constant questions arise. From toddlers to teenagers and into adulthood, we constantly question everything around us. Questions are often a useful tool to help us learn more about our world and our place in it. Many times questioning leads us to places we were not expecting. We do not, however, often like questions asked of us when they will prompt us to think about ourselves. We do not want our own motives or actions questioned. We are happy to question others, but do not often reciprocate the feeling when the questions are asked of us.
In The Inquisitive Christ, Cara Murphy presents 12 of Jesus’ questions from the Gospels which are designed to point toward the truth that we are not forgotten or abandoned. God is always near and is working out His plan for us and for humanity. Mrs. Murphy holds an MA in religious studies and is an adjunct faculty at Liberty University where she is also an Instructional Mentor.* Much of the book contains stories from her time in Co. Kerry, Ireland so I’ll include some photos from my trip there to help set the scene. They are mainly focused on food and a castle so–sorry, not sorry.
Mrs. Murphy addresses one of Jesus’ questions per chapter. In Part I, Jesus’ questions of faith on a general level engage whether one has faith and if it is fully in Him as He commands. Mrs. Murphy argues that we, especially 21st century Westerners, are taught not to trust those who ask for our allegiance (12).
Yet, while we avoid placing our trust in people, we know that we need to be able to trust. In addition, living in a fallen world has helped this questioning of authority to continue. It is only in Jesus that we find one in whom we can truly trust.
Part II moves into questions asked of us early in our faith journey.
Murphy argues that Jesus asks us to wake up from our spiritual exhaustion, knowing we rest in the Father’s arms and not in our own power. In knowing this, we can find rest in the fact that the all powerful Father also wants to meet the desires of our restored hearts (87). Still, we do not often rest in this truth. Mrs. Murphy argues that it was God’s love that draws us to Him since we so often desire to run away from Him.
In Part III, Mrs. Murphy turns inward for the believer to reflect on God’s presence in our daily lives. We often do not recognize God’s intimate presence.
We live in a unique time where we believe ourselves intimate with others, but many of our relationships solely exist in the sphere of social media sphere where our “intimacy” is not nearly what we think it is (120). In contrast, Mrs. Murphy argues Jesus challenges His disciples to recognize His presence in daily life and to have a true relationship with Him. Jesus is always present with us, yet we avoid truly knowing Him. If we avoid knowing Him, we don’t fully understand who the Father is. We think of God as an imaginary friend rather than the One who created everything and who loves us. Recognizing this and sitting with Jesus’ description of the Father that is contrary to this, helps us draw nearer to Him.
Finally, Part IV engages some very practical questions in the life of the believer. Mrs. Murphy argues that Jesus expects much from us, and encourages us to join Him in the restoration of His world. Jesus calls us to trust in His provision for us. He also expects us to follow Him in His plan for the world. This process is painful (188) and requires us to remember Who we are working with (203). As part of this process, we are to draw others to see Jesus as He has revealed Himself rather than to draw them to our own presentation of who Jesus is (230). If we do this, we’re promoting ourselves rather than Jesus.
In doing this, we would break our covenant with the Son and lose our saltiness. Jesus’ questions drive us to remember to keep Him the center of our lives. We keep Him as the focus of our attention. We can do none of this on our own. That is part of the joyful part of following Jesus. We can rest in the truth that God is the one in control and He is the one working through us for His honor and His glory.
If there is one area of criticism, it is that Mrs. Murphy focuses heavily on the specific Greek terms used in several of the questions. Each chapter after chapter 3 includes at least one reference to the meaning of a particular word in the question that Jesus asks. At times this feels forced as there can be a broad semantic range for several of the terms used. However, I am not the Greek scholar that Mrs. Murphy is as she has co-written a workbook on the subject.
One aspect of the book that I appreciated was Mrs. Murphy’s desire to make the book accessible. The questions that she selected have a clear focus. The logic of her argument flows naturally from question to question. But the goal is not simply to accept her conclusions. Fitting for a book about questions, Mrs. Murphy ends each chapter with a set of Lectio Divina exercises and reflection questions. These exercises and questions encourage you to experience Jesus’ questions on a deeper level than only the intellectual. This helps keep one’s feet on the ground and see how the point being made is applicable.
Cara is an excellent story teller. You will be trapped in her story and then hit by a perfectly timed turn to drive her point home. I would recommend this book to anyone wishing to engage their faith more deeply.
*Disclaimer: Cara Murphy and I work closely together at Liberty University. She is my own Instructional Mentor. I have greatly appreciated her guidance and encouragement throughout the time we’ve known each other.
Unity In Trinity 