The Essential Question is a term used in Common Core teaching methods. The teacher seeks to answer this question along with the students as the lesson is developed.
When it comes to questions, I excel. I feel like a detective as I question others to gain more knowledge and understanding. Other than my students, I used to interrogate my husband, Jim Hagy. He didn’t like it! (LOL) He had a style of communicating that was unlike my style. I felt that I had to ask questions to understand the details and order of the events being communicated.
In the Bible, Jesus asked questions. One day at the pool of Bethesda, he asked a sick person, “Wilt thou be made whole?†At first, it seems unfair for Jesus to ask this of a paralytic who lay on his mat waiting for the waters to be troubled. How many times had he been unable to move or receive help to get into the waters? However, Jesus had more to offer than troubled waters. He is the bridge over troubled waters. He walks on water.
He commands the waters and the waves. He is the Great Physician; the Balm of Gilead. “Sir, I have no man to place me in the water.†Jesus said, “Rise up. Take up thy bed and walk.†What no pool party? just get up? The Essential Question had been asked, now it was up to this man to act. “It was at this pool that Jesus performed a miracle revealing that He is greater than any human malady and that superstition and religious folklore are foolish substitutes for faith in God.†Read John 5 for the happy ending.
Jesus met a woman of Samaria who had come alone to draw water from the well. The same well where He was resting and waiting for the disciples to return from the city. He asks her for a drink. She is shocked that a Jew would ask anything from a Samaritan! Jesus assures her that she is the one truly in need of a drink; “you will never thirst again†drink that only He can offer. Read John 4 for the rest of the story.
The Pharisees wanted to trip Jesus up on His theology. “Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in His talk. And they sent out unto Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men. Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?†But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto him, Caesar’s. Read Mark 12:13-17 to find out the answer Jesus gave to this essential question.
The Rich Young Ruler asked, “What must I do to be save?†Jesus looks on him with love and gives him basic instructions on christian life. He replies that he has kept these commandments since he was a child. Then Jesus asks more of him. Jesus said unto him, “If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.†Read Luke 18:18-27 to find out why the Rich Young Ruler went away sorrowful.
Questions are often used in the scriptures as it was the manner of discourse for Jewish dialogue. In Matthew 7:7-8, we are instructed: “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.â€
Now the Essential Question of Life is, “What will you do with this Jesus?†Pontius Pilate asked this question to the angry mob of people stirred up by the religious sects. The crowd responded, “Crucify Him! Give us Barabbas!†Spiteful speech spewed at the precious Savior. He had come to earth as the Righteous Redeemer, yet, he was treated as a common criminal. Read Matthew 27:22 to discover the outcome of the inquisition.
Today, I will ask you that age-old essential question. What will you do with Jesus? Receive Him and live or Reject Him and perish? “Choose ye this day, whom will you serve? As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.†(Joshua 24:15). Interrogation over! Penny Gilliam Hagy is co-pastor of Evangel Family Worship Center in Kingsport.
