Life's Questions

We as Western Europeans want teachings and philospophies that answer the questions: "Does God exist, is there a heaven, what happens when I die, is there a meaning to life?" Notice that Jesus teachings, are structured in such a way as to raise more questions than provide answers. This fits right in with the ways Rabbis taught and talked in the first century, argument was made through questions and questioning.

^{Matthew 5:43-48} “You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. For He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing out of the ordinary? Don’t even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

This passage brings up way more questions, How do I love my neighbor ? Why do I pray for people who persecute me? Why does God cause the sun to rise on the evil and the good ? Really, what will happen to me if I only love the people who love me? How in the world can I be perfect as God is perfect?
I think part of the reason Jesus taught/ talked like this is so that we could never fulfill His teachings apart from a reliance on Him. None of those questions can be answered apart from a relationship with Him and a reliance on His spirit. The new covenant is not like the old one, Jesus did more than heighten the interpretation of some laws and declare foods clean--He presently provides us with the power to live out His teachings.