Then the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching.  Jesus answered, "I have spoken openly to the world; I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret.  Why do you ask me? Ask those who heard what I said to them; they know what I said."

"Why do you ask me?  Ask my Church, which I have founded.  It is through my Church now that my teaching comes to you.  How else can my word be transmitted?  I never wrote.  You ask me for answers in your prayers, you ask me the reasons for things, for my desire, my holy will to be made known.  Why do you ask me?  You have the entire sum of my teaching in my Word, which comes down to you through the ages in the tradition of my Church."

Jesus is nearing the end of his life and he does not want to leave us orphans.  For those of us standing in trembling, fear and awe of the events about to take place, the Shepherd now comforts us and tells us where to turn to find his teaching.  "Why do you ask me?" is a rhetorical question directed toward those who do not believe in Jesus Christ.  For those of us who believe it is part of the final act of the Shepherd of our souls, directing us now on where to turn.

As Jesus was dying an agonizing death on a cross he gave us into the care of his mother Mary (John 19.26-27).  Here before the pointless questioning of Annas he gives us into the care of his Church.

"I have said nothing in secret."  Therefore we have no excuse.  We have no excuse for not pursuing so great a salvation. (Hebrews 2.3)  We have no excuse for not changing our lives and no longer living in sin.  "If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin." (John 15.22)

"Ask those who heard what I said to them; they know what I said."  And so we must always be prepared to spread and to share the gospel of Life.  "Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and reverence." (1 Peter 3.15-16)  And so as Christ prepares to leave the earth in body, seek him out constantly in Spirit in his word through the tradition.  Pass on his gospel with your life so that others may find him and come to life also.  Do not feign ignorance like Annas ("What is your teaching?") or Pilate ("Truth - what is that?"), as though some pretend inner turmoil or insincere dilemma shall excuse us when we know what is Christ's teaching, we know what Truth is and certainly have the capacity to seek it out if our laziness, inertia or dissipation do not get the better of us.