The Life-Renewing Words of Jesus by Adam RamseyНамуна

“What are you seeking?”

Have you ever considered the significance of the fact that the first words of Jesus recorded in John’s account of his life is a question?

Two disciples decide to trail Jesus as he leaves the Jordan River: the first is Andrew (the brother of Peter), while the second is generally speculated to be John (the author of this narrative). On the surface, it seems relatively straightforward. Andrew and John hear John the Baptist proclaim, “Behold the Lamb of God!” and begin following Jesus as he makes his way back into town. Jesus, likely hearing footsteps trailing him, turns and asks what they want.

Pause for a moment and think about that. Before we hear Jesus giving a single directive or instruction, he asks a question that gets right to the heart. Their hearts. What are you seeking? When God asks a question, he is not seeking information unknown to himself. He is helping us to see ourselves in light of who he is.

Jesus did not ask for his own sake but for Andrew and John’s. And for ours. Jesus desires our desires. He wants the meaning-seeking, beauty-desiring, satisfaction-questing centre of who we are: our hearts. And so he asks, “What are you seeking?” We, humans, are seeking creatures, hunting for fulfilment. We can’t help it. Our desires, our identity, and our direction are all woven together. Jesus’ question penetrates the core of who we are.

The scene closes with Andrew going to tell his brother Peter, “We have found the Messiah.” For these first disciples, the question that probed at a what was answered with a who. Because that’s what real Christianity is: a constant reorienting of everything in our lives around the person and work of Jesus.

Quote for Reflection:

“He puts the same question to you this morning—‘What seek you?’ Are you seeking pardon? You shall find it in Me. Are you seeking peace? I will give you rest. Are you seeking purity? I will take away your sin, a new heart will I give you and a right spirit will I put within you … O my dear friend, if you would but come and see Christ, if by humble earnest prayer you would give your heart up to Him, and then trust in Him implicitly to be your guide, you would never lament the decision.”

Charles Spurgeon, “The First Five Disciples,” Sermon 570