It Doesn’t Make SenseSample

When the Bible doesn’t make sense

Have you read the Bible and said, “Yeah, I don’t get it”? That can happen. Often it’s because our sinful hearts don’t accept the clear commands of God. That’s not the Bible contradicting itself; it’s the Bible contradicting our sinful nature.

Other times the Bible seems to contradict itself. When Jesus was at a wedding in Cana, they ran out of wine. Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine” (John 2:3). His response sounded sinfully disrespectful: “Woman, why do you involve me?” (verse 4). If your mom asked you to pass the potatoes and you answered, “Woman, why do you involve me?” how would that go over?

The Bible clearly declares Jesus to be completely, always, only perfect (1 Peter 2:22). It’s confusing how his response to his mother wasn’t sinful.

When you’re confused by a passage, read the context. Read the chapter and then that particular Bible book for the answer. Or search the Bible using the internet. When Jesus was on the cross, he lovingly made certain Mary was cared for by his disciple John. He called her “Woman” there, too (John 19:26). No one sees that as disrespectful. It wasn’t. Jesus wasn’t disrespectful at Cana either.

When you have a question, search the Bible. You’ll see one truth repeated when you do: Jesus perfectly loves you! “These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31).