“Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. 43 And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, 44 but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, 45 and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” 49 And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” 50 And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. 51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.”

My wife is the de facto writer of this post. (Okay, I wrote it, but I’m just channeling her. If there are any spelling or grammar errors, those are mine.)

We were preparing for a small-group Bible study we are attending virtually, and were looking at Luke 2:41-52.  It is the story about Jesus staying behind in the temple in Jerusalem after his parents had headed home. I don’t think that I had ever noticed before the precise wording of verses of verses 46 and 47, and what strange friends they are. Verse 46 says that Jesus was asking questions of the teachers in the temple, but verse 47 says that everyone who heard this twelve-year-old boy were amazed at his answers.

What?! How could the people have been amazed with Jesus’ answers, when he was asking questions?!?

My wife came up with a very interesting idea. Perhaps the teachers couldn’t answer the questions, so Jesus answered them himself!

I don’t know if my sweetheart is right—though she may well be—but one thing is for sure in my own life: Jesus can ask me questions to which I flat out do not know the answers. Sometimes, it is because I don’t want to know. At other times, I simply don’t know.

At this point, when I have finally decided to quit pretending to know more than I do, I can to Jesus, “Well, what do you think?” And then, if I shut up and listen, I am amazed that Jesus actually has some pretty good answers.

I believe that Jesus came to reveal who God is and what God is like. Jesus did this in many ways. One of those ways is to reveal what prayer is supposed to be. Prayer is not just talking with God. It is not primarily asking God for stuff, even for good stuff. Prayer is a conversation with God. Like any good conversation (and some not-so-good conversations), questions are part of the mix. We can and should ask lots of questions. Hopefully, they are good questions. But God’s responses may be the really amazing thing. God’s response may well not be the one we had hoped for, but it will be the one we need.

Today, oh God, may I be amazed at the answers you give to the questions you are asking me.