There are a lot of topics that Jesus either didn’t address of wasn’t able to speak to because the situations were not present in the first century of Palestine. We can’t expect Jesus to talk about the proliferation of nuclear weapons when the capability of destroying the whole earth with a push of a button wouldn’t exist for 1900 years. Global warming wasn’t one of Jesus’ talking points. So I get it that there may be room for interpretation, when it comes to things that Jesus didn’t directly address.  We can assume and imagine, but we can’t know exactly what Jesus would have said about such eventualities. But there are plenty of others things to which Jesus spoke directly and clearly. For instance,

I don’t know all the intricacies of the crisis along the southern border of the United States, but I know Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (Matthew 19:14).

I don’t know all of the heartache that goes along with being incarcerated or having a family member incarcerated, but I know Jesus said, “I was in prison and you came to visit me” (Matthew 25:36).

I don’t know how to answer folks who ask about the Flint Water Crisis but I know that Jesus said, “I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink” (Matthew 25:35).

I don’t always know how to proceed with conversations within the LBGTQ community, but I know that Jesus said, “If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?  And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?” (Matthew 5:46-47).

I don’t always know the best approach regarding the benefits afforded to me by living in a terribly blessed country, but I know Jesus said, “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” (Mark 8:36) and “Life does not consist in an abundance of possessions” (Luke 12:15).

I don’t know all the geo-political aspects of war and rumors of war, but I know Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9) and he also said, “love your enemies” (Matthew 5:44).

I don’t know why denominations are pitted against each other (as if they were the Enemy), but I know that Jesus said, “I pray also for those who will believe… that all of them may be one” (John 17:20-21).

I could go on and on, but you get the idea. Maybe instead of guessing or pontificating about what Jesus might have said in some hypothetical world, we should start to listen, obey and do what Jesus DID SAY regarding many of our real-life dilemmas. It seems that if we just do what Jesus directly said to do we (and our world) would be much better off.