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First Questions

What is your first question going to be? I was preparing my cross-examination for one of
the first criminal trials in which I was involved when I practised as a barrister. A senior and
experienced barrister was helping me prepare. He explained to me the significance of first
questions.

Psalm 2:1-12

1. The first question in the psalms is about Jesus

It is all about Jesus. The safest place to be in life is close to Jesus.

Paul, preaching the gospel in Antioch, quotes this psalm. He says, We tell you the good
news: What God promised our ancestors he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up
Jesus. As it is written in the second psalm: You are my Son; today I have become your
Father. (Acts 13:3233, quoting Psalm 2:7).

It is Jesus who is his anointed (Psalm 2:2). The Hebrew word here is mashiah (messiah).
He is the Christ, the Son of God, whom we are to love: Kiss his Son (v.12).

Acts 13 is just one of the many occasions where Psalm 2 is quoted in the New Testament.
The psalms original context probably concerned a particular situation involving a human
King of Israel. Yet, as we read it with a larger horizon in mind, we see that the very first
question asked in the psalms points forward in anticipation to Jesus. Why do people
conspire and plot against him (vv.12)?

This is exactly what we see happening in the New Testament in relation to Jesus. We see it
even in todays New Testament passage. Right from the start of Jesus life, we see rulers
gathering together and conspiring and plotting in vain (Matthew 2:34).

Yet the psalm ends, Blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) are all those who seek
refuge and put their trust in him! (v.12b, AMP). With all the storms of life, and supremely the
storm of Jesus coming in final judgment, the only safe place to be is in him.

Lord, thank you that as I look to the year ahead and all the potential challenges,
opportunities and possibilities, the safest place to be is in you.

Matthew 2:1-18

2. The first question in the New Testament is about Jesus

Appropriately, the first question in the New Testament is also about Jesus. The whole of the
Old Testament is fulfilled in Jesus.

The Magi (often referred to as the wise men) sensed the significance of Jesus birth. They
asked, Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? (v.2) They sought and found
him. When they saw the child they bowed down and worshiped him (v.11). They
recognised that Jesus was the fulfilment of all the hopes and dreams of the people up to his
birth.


Jesus is the one who fulfils all Gods promises. In yesterdays reading we looked at one
example of such a fulfilment. Today we see three more examples:

Place of his birth


Matthew saw that even the place of Jesus birth was prophesied in Micah 5:2. It was out of
Bethlehem that the ruler and shepherd would arise, for this is what the prophet has
written (Matthew 2:56).
Exile in Egypt
When Herod tried to kill Jesus, the family escaped to Egypt (v.13). Matthew writes, So was
fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: Out of Egypt I called my son. (v.15,
see also Hosea 11:1).
Slaughter of the children
When Herod ordered the murder of all boys under the age of two (Matthew 2:16), this fulfilled
the prophecy of Jeremiah 31:15 (Matthew 2:1718) (see Pippa Adds).
Lord Jesus, today we want to bow down and worship you. I want to offer you everything I
have my life, my all.

Genesis 2:18-4:16

3. The first question in the Bible is about Gods goodness

Do you ever find yourself doubting whether Gods way really is the best? Do you find
yourself wondering whether, even though God says it is wrong, something is worth trying
anyway?

God gave to humankind everything they could possibly want. The whole created world was
made for us to enjoy. Every possible need was catered for. The pinnacle of Gods creation
was human beings. The need for community was solved by the creation of other human
beings: It is not good for the man to be alone (2:18).

It started with the beautiful gift of marriage the lifelong union of a man and a woman in
which sex, another of Gods beautiful gifts, is to be enjoyed with intimacy and freedom,
without guilt or shame (vv.2425).

Yet despite this abundant provision of everything good, human beings looked for something
more. Adam and Eve were not satisfied with all the wonderful things God had given them,
and they succumbed to the temptation to take forbidden fruit.

The temptation started with doubts about God. Here is the first question in the Bible: Did
God really say, You must not eat from any tree in the garden? (3:1).

Eves first mistake was to engage with the serpent in conversation. We are created to
converse with God, not the devil.

The devil, in the form of the serpent, fools Eve into thinking that there will be no
consequences to her sin You will not certainly die (v.4). He imputes bad motives to God,

For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God,
knowing good and evil (v.5). It is often the case that you swallow a lie about God, before you
swallow forbidden fruit.

The fruit looked good and pleasing to the eye and desirable for gaining wisdom (v.6).
This is often how temptation appears. Adam and Eve sinned and, as so often happens,
cover-up followed the sin: So they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for
themselves (v.7).

Lord, thank you for your amazing love for us. Thank you that you have created this
wonderful universe for us to enjoy. Forgive me for the times that I have fallen for the devil's
lie that I cannot trust you and that I need to experience things that you have forbidden.

4. The first question God asks in the Bible is about you

Whenever you fall away from your relationship with him, God is always searching for you.

Adam and Eves friendship with God was broken. When they heard God coming, they hid
(v.8). But God immediately came looking for them, and we find his first question in the Bible:
Where are you? (v.9) God did not give up on them. He came looking for them, wanting the
relationship to be restored.

He says to the serpent that one of Eves descendants will crush your head, and you will
strike his heel (v.15b). Jesus is the one who will crush the head of the serpent. But there will
be a cost you will strike his heel. We see here the first hint of what it will cost to restore
the relationship. On the cross Jesus crushed Satan, but it cost him his life. His blood was
shed so that we could be forgiven and our relationship with God restored.

Lord, thank you that you are always searching for us. Thank you that through Jesus I
receive forgiveness and my relationship with you is restored.

5. The first question human beings ask is about responsibility

Am I my brothers keeper? (v.8). This is the crucial question for today. Do we have
responsibility for others?

The result of the fall is a broken relationship with God. Adam and Eve blamed each other
(vv.1112), and in chapter four we read that their children also fell out with each other.
Arguments, quarrelling and falling out with one another began here. It has blighted the
human race ever since. Try to avoid arguments. You will rarely win one and they are so
destructive.

Cain was angry with his brother Abel. Gods questioning continued: Why are you angry?
Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do
not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must
master it (4:67).

You will either master sin (now through the power of the cross and resurrection and with the
help of the Spirit), or else sin will master you. In Cains case it did. He killed his brother (v.8).
God asked him yet another question: Where is your brother Abel? (v.9a).


In response, Cain asked the first question by a human being in the Bible: Am I my brothers
keeper? (v.9b). Cain wanted to avoid responsibility. He was saying, Do I really have
responsibility for anyone other than myself?

The biblical answer is that we do have responsibility for others. We cannot exempt
ourselves from responsibility for what is happening around us in our city, nation and the
world. For example, we cannot accept that thousands of children die every day as a result of
extreme poverty and simply say it is not our responsibility.

Not only do we have responsibility towards our fellow human beings, but it is our privilege
and joy to bring blessing to our friends, family and all those around us, and to make a
difference in the lives of as many people as possible.

Lord, help me this year to fulfil the potential I have to make a difference in other peoples
lives.

Pippa Adds

Matthew 2:16

When Herod realised that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave
orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were 2 years old and under, in
accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.

I always feel traumatised when I read this passage. What a terrible thing Herod did to the
vulnerable, just because he felt insecure about his own position. Are you ever in danger of
putting others down to try and secure your own position?

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