What Are You Looking For?
Jesus' first words.
The first words attributed to Jesus in John are in the form of a question:
What are you looking for?
What a start! Not a demand, no story, no theological treatise or otherwise corrective word or imperative command. A question. And if you’ve read the gospels enough, you know that while a question is never necessarily just a question with Jesus, it still yet is an honest question. You can imagine Jesus is truly seeking an answer from Andrew and the other disciple, as if he sincerely wants to know what they are looking for.
Jesus’ second statement in John?
Come and see.
Again, this is no demand or corrective. It’s an invitation.
Jesus will get quite specific, theological, and exact as we continue in John’s gospel. But he doesn’t begin there. He starts with a curious inquiry of those seeking him, followed by an invitation to experience.
The Church might take note of this approach.
(Happy Sunday and last day of Christmas to you.)
John 1:38-42
When Jesus turned and saw them following, he asked, “What are you looking for?”
They said, “Rabbi (which is translated Teacher), where are you staying?”
He replied, “Come and see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon.
One of the two disciples who heard what John said and followed Jesus was Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Christ ). He led him to Jesus.
Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon, son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).
Psalm 139:23-24
Examine me, God! Look at my heart! Put me to the test! Know my anxious thoughts!
Look to see if there is any idolatrous way in me, then lead me on the eternal path!
Prayer
God,
So you want to know what I’m looking for? Hmm…I feel like I could respond to that with a lot of answers. But I also am not sure I always know what I’m looking for. I’ve always liked that U2 song, I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For. Maybe this is why, God.
I know I want justice for the world. Peace for those who don’t have it. Can I be honest? I want safety for those I love. I do. I want them to be safe and experience no harm. I know this is asking more than is possible. I’m just being honest.
I want community, Lord. But I also don’t really want to be told what to do. I know these two things cannot coexist. So help me, God.
I want to be affirmed, but I’m not sure how much corrective I want. This makes me sound weak. Help me to be accepting of difference.
Give me the gumption each and every day to respond positively to Jesus’ invitation to Come and see. I know it takes effort to do so. As such, help me, God.
By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.
“I want community, Lord. But I also don’t really want to be told what to do.” In one manner or another, regardless of community or lack thereof, we all get told what to do. We all serve someone (or, to a lesser degree, some thing.) If the world and those in it aren’t telling me what to do (but, they usually are), the Holy Spirit is telling me, convicting me, guiding me. It’s not a coercion of any sort, but more of a loving command. Sometimes when I need/crave direction, I long to get told what to do even more than I usually am!
These daily devotionals are so timely. I had a woman call the church yesterday and only by God's grace and perfect timing was I there and picked up the phone. I am almost never there on a Saturday morning at that time. She was desperate and I told her to come and meet with me. She did. She was feeling hopeless and having thoughts of suicide. I spent a lot of time listening to her. She struggles with believing in God/Jesus, but says she wants to. She is currently very fragile and in active alcohol use. I invited her to a recovery meeting that meets in our church Sat night. She came. I invited her to church today. She came. She stayed for the fellowship meal afterwards and sat at a table with someone very knowledgeable of Scriptures and I heard this woman just giving her deep Theological concepts and I softly said "don't overwhelmed her," to which the new woman laughed. To be honest, I was a little annoyed because she knows nothing of this woman and could have easily scared her away or turned her off. I thank God that that didn't happen. In our church group chat I asked the church to pray for her and asked that they go easy on the Bible because she's not there yet. We need to meet people where they are and come alongside them and move at their pace. It doesn't mean we don't challenge them, but it's in building trust and relationship that we ask them to go deeper and to take what might feel like more risks to them. She thanked me for saving her life. God's grace and mercy saved her life. I told her I will stick with her as long as it takes, but I need her to keep showing up. What is she looking for? Someone who won't judge her and sees her as beautiful, precious and valued. What's the invitation I offered? For her to allow me to continue to walk alongside her no matter how long it takes. Some Christians will sometimes give up on people far too quickly and say, "they need Jesus." That is so true, but we are called to be the hands and feet of Christ in this world.