John 1:35-42

John 1:35-42

Jesus asked a question of two who followed Him “What do you seek?” The word “seek” means more than meets the eye. “What do you want?” is not enough.  “What are you looking for?” gets a little closer. One ancient reading asked “Whom do you seek?” This is a question about the core issue of life. We might ask the question this way, “What is the deepest desire of your heart? At the foundation of your being what are you hoping to find?” We can never be true to Jesus until we know what we want. Jesus deeply desires that we know what we really want. Vague generalities are never enough when it comes to our relationship with Christ.

Part of our problem is that we have so many benefits and blessings in Christ then we can easily begin to want Christ for the benefits He provides. We can slip into thinking of and treating Him as a means to an end. This is a dangerous path to tread. There are blessings, benefits, mercies, and gifts a plenty for those who follow Jesus. But there are also hardships, sufferings, dying to self and crosses. If we are following for the blessings at the moment when being a disciple calls us to sacrifice we will opt to walk away. Jesus has no interest in being a means to our ends.

So it comes back to, “What is it that you are really after? What is the deepest desire of our very being?” It cannot be found in a cost-benefit analysis of “blessing” versus “the cost of discipleship”. That will end in either a denial of Christ before some cross or a self-righteous legalism by which we think we earn the blessings. The answer to the question “What do you seek?” is found in the answer “Rabbi where are you staying?” Rabbi or teacher is more than an educational opportunity it is a personal commitment to the great one or the master. The query “Where are you staying?” carries with it the idea of being or staying with you. More than an interesting conversation is about a life commitment to a master. “What is the deepest desire of the heart?” 

Lord, help me so that my greatest desire is that Jesus will be my master and I will always be with You whatever that may bring. AMEN