What’s Your Question for Jesus?

This isn’t written only for churchgoers or for skeptics. It’s a blog post written for all of us. Each of us, no matter where we stand, carries something in our heart about Jesus. The question is: what is it?

Our heart is the seat of our beliefs, our desires, and our loyalties. Proverbs 4:23 exhorts us to “watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.” If our heart is guarded by skepticism or dulled by routine, we may treat Christianity as a cultural label or a moral code. But when our heart is softened—when it begins to hunger for grace, truth, and restoration—we begin to see Jesus not as an idea, but as a Savior from this fallen and broken world. That shift is not subtle. It’s the difference between knowing about Jesus and knowing Him.

What does my heart say about Jesus? Do I really know Him or have I only come to know Him through words on a page? We can know what is in our heart because out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.

What is in our Heart?

To put our heart to the test, let’s imagine a scenario. Let’s imagine that we are walking along and we come to meet and see Jesus face to face. How might we respond? What might we say? What are the words that come to mind? What might we ask Him?

As we consider how we might respond to Jesus in that moment, our words often reveal the posture of our heart. Some might speak casually, not out of disrespect, but from a place of familiarity or comfort.

Before reading further, think upon this. Perhaps take a few minutes, a few hours, or even a day to postulate a response.

Scripture tells us that “man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7, NASB). When we encounter Jesus, He sees our heart. And what we say upon meeting Him face to face often reflects what we truly think about Jesus. It may reveal whether we see in Jesus a religion or a relationship. We might see Jesus as a means to an end or see Him as the end itself.

How we approach Jesus and what we say may reveal what we’re truly seeking.

Casual Curiosity

Some may approach Jesus casually: “Can I get a selfie with you?” “Want to grab a coffee?” Saying these types of things may reflect a heart that sees Jesus as a novelty or a celebrity. Jesus seeks us to trust Him. He seeks faith. “This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far away from Me” (Matthew 15:8).

Others may come with questions—not flippant, but curious. Their hearts are stirred by wonder, seeking insight into the mysteries of heaven and the humanity of Christ. They may wonder, “What was it like to walk on water?” Some may ask, “Do you actually laugh, cry, get tired like us?” These questions reflect a heart that’s intrigued but not yet surrendered. Jesus welcomes curiosity. He made our inquisitive minds. He answered Nicodemus in the quiet of night (John 3). Jesus always leads toward truth. He is the Way, Truth, and the Life.

Doubt and Desperation

But curiosity can sometimes give way to doubt. For some, the questions run deeper—into skepticism, uncertainty, and the longing for proof. Some may approach Jesus with doubt, asking, “Are you really who you say you are?” or “Show me a miracle.” These questions echo the heart of Thomas, who said, “Unless I see... I will not believe” (John 20:25). Jesus met him in that doubt, but He also said, “Blessed are those who did not see, and yet believed” (John 20:29). Doubt can be a step toward deeper faith when we bring it to Jesus.

Still others may approach Jesus with questions shaped by the world around them. They may think of issues of justice, politics, and the state of the church. The questions they may ask are, “What do you think of wars, immigration, corruption?” or “Which side are you on?” Even, “What would you say about the church today?” These are important, but Jesus often redirected such questions to the heart. What’s our motive? Do we want Jesus to tell us we are right about issues? Do we use Jesus to win arguments? He calls us not to win arguments, but to be transformed.

Yet beneath many of these questions lies a deeper ache and a personal need. Some come to Jesus with desperation. They cry out, “Can you heal me?” or “Please fix my marriage, my child, my addiction.” Others ask through tears, “Why am I suffering so much?” These are honest cries, and Jesus never turns away the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18). But He also invites us to look deeper—beyond the fix—to the Healer Himself.

Regret and Worship

And for some, the need is shaped by regret. They come not just broken, but burdened by guilt, missed opportunities, and a longing for forgiveness. They whisper to Jesus, “I’ve messed up my life—can you forgive me?” or “I’ve not obeyed as I should.” One might even say, “I wish I could have done more for You.” We cannot earn His love through obedience. We confess because we’ve been forgiven, not to prove our worth. Though sincere, these cries can miss the deeper truth. Jesus came not because we are worthy, but because we are not.

As Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 3:18, “we all, with unveiled faces, looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image.” That transformation doesn’t happen because we try harder. Biblical transformation only happens when we’ve met the One who changes hearts. Once you’ve truly met Him, everything changes. Not all at once, and certainly not without struggle. As Christian’s sometimes say, “We are not who we want to be, but we are also not who we used to be.” This transformation happens as we meet Jesus, not because we try harder, but because His grace reshapes our hearts. We’re all works in progress, growing through God’s love, even if we’re not yet perfect.

But when we truly grasp the grace of Jesus and we stop trying to earn His love and simply receive it, our response shifts. We move from regret to worship. Our heart needs to reflect an understanding of His person and His mission. We express our need for mercy, grace, and truth and we do so with a heart of worship, falling to our knees and saying, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28). “Thank you for dying for me.” This is the heart that has truly met Jesus—not just heard of Him, not just needed something from Him—but recognized Him as Savior and Lord. Jesus paid it all. We rest in His righteousness and holiness.

The Response of a Bride

And still, there’s one more lens through which to view our response to Jesus. It is a response that Scripture returns to again and again. We are not just followers or servants. We are His bride.

Scripture doesn’t frame our relationship with Him as distant or transactional; it calls us His bride. We are to keep oil in our lamps, watching for His return (Matthew 25:4). The bride is adorned in purity and splendor, prepared for the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7). Jesus paid the ultimate price to make us holy, radiant, and worthy (Ephesians 5:27).

The question isn’t just how we may react to Jesus, but how He desires us to respond. What would a Husband (the Bible uses the word Bridegroom) long to hear from His bride when they meet face to face? The Husband would love to hear how wonderful it is that she may be with Him. He would welcome her affections and expressions of love.

When we think in these terms, we begin to understand how our hearts are meant to respond today, and when He returns.

Begin today, in prayer, knowing you’ll one day speak to Him face to face. Say a prayer or a write down a question you’d ask Jesus and why it matters to you. Let’s prepare our hearts for His embrace.