Jesus asked 307 recorded questions in the Bible, but people only asked Him 183 questions. Why? When a servant encounters God, he expects the ten commandments. Servants expect to be told what to do, how to do it, and when. They deal in statements of fact. Obedience is their measuring stick for faithfulness. When servants become leaders, they naturally expect other people to obey them in the same way they obey God. Servanthood and serfdom are very broken concepts.
That’s exactly why Jesus graduated His disciples from servants to friends.
John 15:15-16 – I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. NIV
God wrote His desires in our hearts (Heb 8:10, 10:16, and Jer. 31:33). Open-ended questions put us in touch with the desires God wrote in our hearts. Until we start asking those questions, we can’t shift from the obedience of serfs to the co-laboring of sons. That’s why Jesus asked 307 questions. He was always pulling people into their sonship, never lording it over them. Questions communicate respect, and that’s the way Jesus treats His friends. It’s the language of Heaven. Sons and brothers are not commodities. They not just soldiers who only know how to take orders. Sons know how to take territory.
Heb 2:11-12 – Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. NIV
Shared Purpose – Sons are part of a Kingdom culture that asks questions. God draws us out of religion and into our hearts with questions, and we disciple others the same way. Those questions lead us to the Father’s Purpose, and we know His business. Sons operate out of knowing the Father’s Purpose and feel permission to create multiple ways to accomplish that Purpose. The relational component of their sonship with Father moves them into co-laboring and collaborating around shared Purpose that is both in the Father’s heart and in our hearts. Shared Purpose is the simple dynamic that releases an amazing authority in sons to do exploits. Heaven celebrates creativity and initiative in sons – it’s normal!
Moving targets – The second reality of sonship is that our Father is not stoic, and His strategies are not static. His Purpose can morph with changing circumstances, and how we accomplish that Purpose is always open. That’s why sons are present in the council – to hear every word that proceeds out of His mouth (Mt. 4:4), to see what Father is doing and do it with Him (Jn. 5:19). As a result, we’re always ascending and descending, bringing Heaven to earth.
What’s your answer? – Conversations in the council are rich and flowing, but the topic is our book (what God wrote in our heart). So we have to answer our half of the questions before the conversation can begin to roll. People who are clear on what God wrote in their hearts or book find it easy to converse in the council. Here’s a place to start:
- Who are you? What do you carry?
- What do you want to do? …for who?
- Why? …what is Father doing? What do you see?
- CTA – How can people connect with you? Take the next step?
Going to the council of Heaven has a business flavor. These are entrepreneurial questions with the implication of cash flow. There are four distinct functions or reasons to go to the council; four things that happen, somewhat in this order:
- Availability – I’m present in the council with the Father, seated in Heaven. I’m waiting, listening, seeing. Talking too much in the council is a huge mistake.
Ps 84:6-7 – Passing through the valley of Baca they make it a spring; The early rain also covers it with blessings. 7 They go from strength to strength; every one of them appears before God in Zion. NASU
- I get ministered to as a son – in a way, the council is like a conference just for me. I’m meeting and conversing with Father, Son, Holy Spirit and the 7 Spirits of God (Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Might, Knowledge, and Fear of the Lord). I’m answering their questions and getting clarity on my book.
- Bringing Heaven to earth (Kingly) – I’m bringing Purpose back to earth with the personal authority to speak life to things that are dead and to create things that are not (Rom. 4:17). I’m just not the same anymore! I’m fathering people into the Kingdom because I’ve tasted what it’s like to be Fathered and have Purpose!
- Intercession (Priestly) – I’m also carrying answers for other. I’m prophetically pulling others into their books and showing them power and provisions for their Purpose.
Here’s the full list from Jesus Is the Question: The 307 Questions Jesus Asked and the 3 He Answered by Martin B. Copenhaver
“Invitation What are you looking for? (John 1: 38) Who are you looking for? (John 18: 7 and 20: 15) Why were you looking for me? (Luke 2: 49) What do you want? (Matthew 20: 21) What do you want me to do for you? (Matthew 20: 32; Mark 10: 36 and 10: 51; Luke 18: 41) Identity Who do people say that I am? (Mark 8: 27; Luke 9: 18; Matthew 16: 13) But who do you say that I am? (Mark 8: 29; Luke 9: 20; Matthew 16: 15) Why do you ask me about what is good? (Matthew 19: 17) Why do you call me good? (Mark 10: 18; Luke 18: 19) Woman, what does that have to do with me? (John 2: 4) Who is my mother? Who are my brothers? (Matthew 12: 48; Mark 3: 33) What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he? (Matthew 22: 42) The wedding guests can’t fast while the groom is with them, can they? (Mark 2: 19; Luke 5: 34) The wedding guests can’t mourn while the groom is still with them, can they? (Matthew 9: 15) Man, who appointed me as judge or referee between you and your brother? (Luke 12: 14) You faithless generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I put up with you? (Mark 9: 19; Luke 9: 41; Matthew 17: 17) Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you? . . . Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you? (Matthew 25: 37-39, 44) Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been with you all this time? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, “Show us the Father”? (John 14: 9) Purity of Heart Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? (Luke 5: 22) Why do think evil in your hearts? (Matthew 9: 4) Didn’t the one who made the outside also make the inside? (Luke 11: 40) Conversion Why do you see the splinter that’s in your brother’s or sister’s eye, but don’t notice the log in your own eye? How can you say to your brother or sister, “Let me take the splinter out of your eye,” when there’s a log in your eye? (Matthew 7: 3-4; Luke 6: 41-42) Do you think the suffering of these Galileans proves that they were more sinful than all the other Galileans? What about those twelve people who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them? Do you think that they were more guilty of wrongdoing than everyone else who lives in Jerusalem? (Luke 13: 2, 4) Love If you love only those who love you, what reward do you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? (Matthew 5: 46; Luke 6: 32) And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing? (Matthew 5: 47) If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? . . . If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? (Luke 6: 33-34) Which of them will love him more? (Luke 7: 42) Healing Do you want to get well? (John 5: 6) Who touched me? (Luke 8: 45; Mark 5: 30) What is your name? (Mark 5: 9; Luke 8: 30) How long has this been going on? (Mark 9: 21) Which is easier—to say to a paralyzed person, “Your sins are forgiven,” or to say, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk”? (Mark 2: 9; Matthew 9: 5; Luke 5: 23) What do you want me to do for you? (Matthew 20: 32; Mark 10: 51; Luke 18: 41) Vision Do you see anything? (Mark 8: 23) Do you see all these things? (Matthew 24: 2) A blind person can’t lead another blind person, right? Won’t they both fall into a ditch? (Luke 6: 39) Do you see this woman? (Luke 7: 44) What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? (John 6: 62) Compassion What do you think? Which one of these three was a neighbor to the man who encountered thieves? (Luke 10: 36) Woman, where are they? Is there no one to condemn you? (John 8: 10) Why do you make trouble for her? (Mark 14: 6; Matthew 26: 10) The Meaning of Life Why would people gain the whole world but lose their lives? (Mark 8: 36; Luke 9: 25; Matthew 16: 26) What will people give in exchange for their lives? (Mark 8: 37) Can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry about the rest? (Matthew 6: 27; Luke 12: 26) Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? (Matthew 6: 25) Are you not of more value than [the birds of the air]? (Matthew 6: 26) Is it legal on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it? (Luke 6: 9; Mark 3: 4) So which one is greater, the one who is seated at the table or the one who serves at the table? Isn’t it the one who is seated at the table? (Luke 22: 27) The Reign of God What is God’s kingdom like? To what can I compare it? (Luke 13: 18) What’s a good image for God’s kingdom? What parable can I use to explain it? (Mark 4: 30) Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? (Luke 12: 51) God’s Generosity Why do you worry about clothing? (Matthew 6: 28) Who among you will give your children a stone when they ask for bread? Or give them a snake when they ask for fish? (Matthew 7: 9-10) Which father among you would give a snake to your child if the child asked for a fish? If a child asked for an egg, what father would give the child a scorpion? If you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him? (Luke 11: 11-13) How much bread do you have? (Matthew 15: 34; Mark 6: 38, 8: 5) If God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? (Matthew 6: 30; Luke 12: 28) Won’t God provide justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he be slow to help them? (Luke 18: 7) Weren’t ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? (Luke 17: 17-18) Faith Where is your faith? (Luke 8: 25) Do you believe in the Son of Man? (John 9: 35) Do you believe I can do this? (Matthew 9: 28) You of little faith, why did you doubt? (Matthew 14: 31) Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith? (Mark 4: 40) When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth? (Luke 18: 8) If you don’t believe the writings of Moses, how will you believe my words? (John 5: 47) What’s all this commotion and crying about? (Mark 5: 39) Why does this generation look for a sign? (Mark 8: 12) To what will I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? (Luke 7: 31; Matthew 11: 16) How can you believe when you receive praise from each other but don’t seek the praise that comes from the only God? (John 5: 44) Didn’t I tell you that if you believe, you will see God’s glory? (John 11: 40) Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? (John 14: 10) Do you now believe? (John 16: 31) Truth Who among you can show I’m guilty of sin? Since I speak the truth, why don’t you believe me? (John 8: 46) Does the Law allow healing on the Sabbath or not? (Luke 14: 3) Was John’s baptism of heavenly or of human origin? (Luke 20: 4; Mark 11: 30) Show me a coin. Whose image and inscription does it have on it? (Luke 20: 24; Mark 12: 16; Matthew 22: 20) Understanding Why don’t you understand what I’m saying? (John 8: 43) Why are you talking about the fact that you don’t have any bread? Don’t you grasp what has happened? Don’t you understand? Are your hearts so resistant to what God is doing? Don’t you have eyes? Why can’t you see? Don’t you have ears? Why can’t you hear? Don’t you remember? (Mark 8: 17-18) You are a teacher of Israel and you don’t know these things? (John 3: 10) If I have told you about earthly things and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? (John 3: 12) Don’t you understand either? (Mark 7: 18) Have you understood all these things? (Matthew 13: 51) How is it that you don’t know how to interpret the present time? (Luke 12: 56) And why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? (Luke 12: 57) Isn’t this the reason you are wrong, because you don’t know either the scriptures or God’s power? (Mark 12: 24) Does this offend you? (John 6: 61) Obedience Why do you call me “Lord, Lord,” and don’t do what I say? (Luke 6: 46) Why do you break the command of God by keeping the rules handed down to you? (Matthew 15: 3) What were you arguing about during the journey? (Mark 9: 33) Who are the faithful and wise managers whom the master will put in charge of his household servants, to give them their food at the proper time? (Luke 12: 42) Why are you testing me? (Mark 12: 15; Matthew 22: 18) Hasn’t it been written, “My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations?” (Mark 11: 17) Discipleship Will you give up your life for me? (John 13: 38) Can you drink from the cup that I’m about to drink from? (Matthew 20: 22; Mark 10: 38) Do you also want to leave? (John 6: 67) Didn’t I choose you twelve? (John 6: 70) When I sent you out without a wallet, bag, or sandals, you didn’t lack anything, did you? (Luke 22: 35) Do you know what I’ve done for you? (John 13: 12) My Father’s house has room to spare. If that weren’t the case, would I have told you that I’m going to prepare a place for you? (John 14: 2) Could you not keep awake one hour? (Mark 14: 37; Matthew 26: 40) Will you sleep and rest all night? (Mark 14: 41; Matthew 26: 45) Why are you sleeping? (Luke 22: 46) Arrest and Trial Who are you looking for? (John 18: 4, 7) Am I not to drink the cup the Father has given me? (John 18: 11) Judas, is it with a kiss that you are betraying the Son of Man? (Luke 22: 48) Have you come with swords and clubs to arrest me, as though I were a thief? (Mark 14: 48; Luke 22: 52; Matthew 26: 55) Or do you think that I’m not able to ask my Father and he will send to me more than twelve battle groups of angels right away? But if I did that, how would the scriptures be fulfilled that say this must happen? (Matthew 26: 53-54) Why ask me? (John 18: 21) If I speak wrongly, testify about what was wrong. But if I speak correctly, why do you strike me? (John 18: 23) Do you say this on your own or have others spoken to you about me? (John 18: 34) The Cross Why do you want to kill me? (John 7: 19) For which of those works do you stone me? (John 10: 32) What should I say? “Father, save me from this time”? (John 12: 27) My God, my God, why have you left me? (Mark 15: 34; Matthew 27: 46) The Resurrection Woman, why are you crying? Who are you looking for? (John 20: 15) As for the resurrection of the dead, haven’t you read what God told you, “I’m the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?” He isn’t the God of the dead but of the living. (Matthew 22: 31-32) Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this? (John 11: 26) What are you talking about as you walk along? What things? (Luke 24: 17, 19) Wasn’t it necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and then enter into his glory? (Luke 24: 26) Why are you startled? Why are doubts arising in your hearts? (Luke 24: 38) Do you have anything to eat? (Luke 24: 41) Do you believe because you see me? (John 20: 29) Children, have you caught anything to eat? (John 21: 5) Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these? . . . Do you love me? . . . Do you love me? (John 21: 15-17) 13”
— Jesus Is the Question: The 307 Questions Jesus Asked and the 3 He Answered by Martin B. Copenhaver
