Why does Jesus ask questions if He is omniscient? Definition of the Question Why would the omniscient Son of God ask, “What do you want Me to do for you?” (Mark 10:36)? The question seems paradoxical: if Jesus knows all things (John 16:30), why request information? Resolving this involves Christology, pedagogy, covenantal relationship, and textual reliability. Immediate Context of Mark 10:35-45 James and John approach Jesus to secure places of honor in His glory (v. 37). Before addressing their ambition, He poses the question of verse 36. Minutes later He repeats the same question to Bartimaeus (Mark 10:51). The literary device links the selfish request of the disciples with the faith-filled plea of the blind man, contrasting motives. Purpose of Divine Questions in Scripture 1. Diagnostic Exposure of the Heart Yahweh’s first recorded question, “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9), locates Adam spiritually rather than geographically. Likewise, Jesus’ questions expose intentions (cf. Luke 9:18; John 6:67). He invites confession, a prerequisite to grace (1 John 1:9). 2. Invitation to Relationship A question signals personal address rather than impersonal decree. The Lord who “calls His own sheep by name” (John 10:3) models covenant dialogue (Isaiah 1:18, “Come now, let us reason together”). 3. Pedagogical Engagement First-century rabbis used the ma‘aseh and she’elah method—questions prompting student discovery. Jesus surpasses the rabbinic style yet employs its form (cf. Luke 10:26, “What is written in the Law?”). Modern educational psychology confirms that reflective questioning deepens internalization of truth. 4. Moral Accountability By making a person articulate desire, Jesus secures responsibility for the ensuing answer (cf. Matthew 20:32, “What do you want Me to do for you?” parallel). The verbalized request ultimately serves the divine purpose (James 4:3). Christological Considerations: Omniscience and Incarnation Philippians 2:6-8 teaches that the Son “emptied Himself” (kenōsis), not of deity, but of independent exercise of divine prerogatives. Omniscience remained His by nature (Colossians 2:3), yet He chose when to display or withhold that knowledge in submission to the Father (John 5:19). Asking a question is therefore an incarnational accommodation, not ignorance. Old Testament Precedents for an Omniscient God Questioning Humans • Genesis 4:9, “Where is your brother Abel?” • 1 Kings 19:9, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” These divine interrogatives are recognized by commentators (e.g., Keil & Delitzsch, Commentary on the Old Testament, vol. 1) as revelatory rather than inquisitive. Rhetorical and Literary Function Mark’s Gospel emphasizes discipleship failures. Jesus’ question exposes the disciples’ misaligned expectations regarding power, preparing the ground for His declaration in verse 45: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” . The device heightens narrative tension and theological climax. Comparative Analysis with Contemporary Teaching Methods Socratic dialogue seeks truth via questions yet presumes ignorance. Jesus’ method differs: He knows the answer and uses questions to guide recipients to truth (John 18:37). Rabbinic scholar Pinchas Lapide noted Jesus’ “absolute certainty” behind His queries (New York Times, April 3, 1983), acknowledging the unique authority implicit in His interrogations. Practical and Pastoral Application • Prayer: Articulate specific petitions; Christ still asks, “What do you want Me to do for you?” • Discipleship: Leaders emulate Jesus by asking questions that surface motives. • Evangelism: Questions uncover worldview foundations, paving the way for gospel presentation (cf. Acts 17:24-31). Harmony with a Young-Earth Timeline A straightforward reading of Genesis genealogies (Ussher’s chronology) places creation ~4004 BC. Jesus references “the beginning of creation” in Mark 10:6. His omniscient questioner status validates the historicity of that timeline; if He errs here, His authority elsewhere collapses. No paleontological or geological data decisively refutes a recent creation when interpreted through catastrophic flood dynamics (Snelling, Earth’s Catastrophic Past, 2009). Conclusion Jesus’ questions arise not from ignorance but from incarnational pedagogy, relational invitation, and moral revelation. Mark 10:36 exemplifies how the omniscient Redeemer exposes hearts, contrasts faith and ambition, and redirects desire toward servanthood. The manuscript evidence, theological coherence, behavioral insights, and apologetic data collectively affirm that the One who questions is the all-knowing Lord, risen and reigning, still engaging His people with the searching, grace-filled inquiry: “What do you want Me to do for you?” |
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