One of the first questions Jesus is recorded as asking in Scripture is, “What do you seek?”
Andrew and another disciple of John the Baptist heard John say, “Look, the Lamb of God” as he pointed out Jesus walking along the road.
The day before, John had told his disciples that he saw the Spirit of God descend on Jesus when he baptized Him and that God told him this was the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.
Andrew and the other disciple started following Jesus. Then, our Lord turned around and asked, “What do you seek?” Or, “What do you want?”
They said, “Rabbi (which means ‘Teacher’), where are you staying?” (John 1:38).
“Come,” He replied, “and you will see” (John 1:39).
In this simple exchange, so much is told to us. John the Baptist was set apart for God’s work since he was conceived. His mother Elizabeth had been barren, but God granted the blessing of motherhood in her older years. The angel Gabriel told John’s father, Zechariah, his name would be John and that he would prepare the way for the Lord.
John never drank alcohol. He ate locusts and wild honey. He lived his entire life in humility and preached that people should repent, or to turn away from their sin.
He ushered in Jesus’s ministry with his own. And some of his disciples took action when John called Jesus the ‘lamb of God.’ They started following after Jesus.
Jesus’ question is simple and direct.
“What do you want?”
What are you seeking?
Andrew’s answer is just as direct. “We want to see where you are staying.” In other words, they wanted to hear His teaching.
They were curious.
So many in Israel were waiting for the promised Messiah, the one they believed would rise up and overthrow Rome, thus setting their nation free.
These two disciples were curious if Jesus truly could be that long-awaited Messiah. They wanted to hear His words firsthand.
But Jesus’ questions are rarely ever one-dimensional. We often overlook that simple fact. In our narrow view of things, it’s easy to read that exchange and miss the treasure hidden within.
Jesus is asking them, you, me if we know what we’re seeking.
“What do you want?”
What do you want from following Christ? What do you want by turning to Jesus? What do you want from this commitment?
Did you ever think of that question for yourself? Have you ever contemplated it?
“I want to go to Heaven.”
“I want to have a good life.”
“I want to be free of my addictions.”
“I want to feel better.”
“I don’t want to go to hell.”
Do any of those ring true? They do for thousands. Maybe millions.
Yet, not one of them is an answer worthy of Christ.
Paul wrote, “I want to know Christ -yes, to know the power of His resurrection and participation in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead” (Philippians 3:10-11).
Jesus said, “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” (John 17:3).
Is that something you want? It’s what I want now.
It wasn’t always this way, but He has never given up on me, praise be to the Lord. I spent many of the first years of my professing Christian life with little interest in the Word, little interest in studying and getting to know His Word.
In truth, I didn’t want Him. I wanted the feeling it gave me to believe I was forgiven, even if I wasn’t.
It took a few years for me to wake up to the Truth. Most who profess Jesus as Lord, Lord will not enter the Kingdom of God. Most are only in it because of something they get from it.
Yet, Jesus calls us to know Him and make Him known to the world. Through our words, through our actions, and especially through our love.
So… what do you want?