Ask your questions

John 14:5 Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?"

Thomas…I really like him, and know so very little about him. Tradition has it that he as an amazing church planter and such a faithful apostle. Maybe I like him because he exhibits a frail yet willing desire to know the truth. Skeptical, willing to challenge, asking the obvious questions that nobody else wants to, yet everyone wants to know the answers.

Jesus is describing the work He is about to complete, building that dwelling place for believers in glory. It sounds good, reassuring, good teaching and preaching, basically. And I can picture the disciples sitting and nodding, we might say “Amen” if we were sitting in on that session. Yet Thomas interjects with a sort of “Wait a minute, I have no idea where you are going, and if I don’t know where you are going, how in the world will I ever know how to get there?”

This is not a question of disbelief. No. Rather, he wants to follow Jesus wherever He goes! How can he do that if he has no idea “where” that is? I like that Thomas was bold enough to ask the question. We can sit back and say that he should have known the answer already, has he not been paying attention. But we know the end of the story, and I mean way beyond the gospel of John. And sure, we’ll see Thomas and his “doubting” reputation in a few chapters from now.

But meanwhile, think on this. Do you know Jesus, personally? Do you know where He is now? Do you know what He plans on doing next? Closer to home, assuming you know Him, do you know what God wants you to do for Him? Is He asking you to do something about which you are just not clear on the “how” or “why”? Do you need some help and are not sure where to turn? Would you like it to be clearer to see?

Try being Thomas. Ask the questions that need to be asked. Ask the question that so many others want to but are afraid to. If your motives are centered on Him, He’ll answer you, and I pray He does so in a clear manner. James tells us that if we lack wisdom, ask God for it, and He’ll provide it generously.

Thomas asked the simple question, and He gets one of the biggest answers in all of Scripture. “I AM THE WAY…” No rebuke, just the truth. Maybe not in the format that Thomas expected, but Thomas will take this and add it to the rest of the teaching he has heard, and will allow it to shape his life and eventual ministry.

Go ahead. Ask. He wants to hear from you.