Monday, April 7, 2014

What Do You Seek?


John 1:35-42

Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, "Behold the Lamb of God!"
The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, "What do you seek?"
They said to Him, "Rabbi" (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), "where are You staying?"
He said to them, "Come and see." They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour).

One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus.
Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, "You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas" (which is translated, A Stone).

Again, there were many who knew of a coming Messiah. They anticipated His arrival, hoping for relief from Roman rule. While Jesus' whole baptism was not mentioned in the Book of John, it had occurred when John mentioned seeing the Spirit descending like a dove and remaining.

John again proclaims the words, "Behold the Lamb of God." Andrew and Simon Peter stood with John as he spoke the words. I can only imagine the awe they felt yet doubt if they fully understood the impact the next few moments would have.

Why the Lamb of God? Hebrew sacrifices meant offering up a blood sacrifice of some sort to atone for the people's sins. They may not have known it yet, but the Lamb of God were prophetic words for what Jesus was to become before the very eyes of many.

While these disciples said they found the Messiah, had they really found Him or had He walked into their lives, as He knew He would? Didn't He already know all things as they would happen? After all, He was God. He commanded a presence of some sort I'm sure and caused Andrew and Simon Peter to follow without hesitation.

We never find God. He reveals Himself to us and if we choose, we follow. When a person comes into relationship with Christ, something changes them, and others might notice and claim "they found God." But it's because "they" allowed God to touch their heart and allowed a transformation to take place.

Jesus chose Andrew and Simon Peter. This is mentioned in the other Gospel accounts. They were just willing individuals to let go of the lives they knew to follow One in whom they believed. We can do the same. If we are willing we see things differently, think differently, act differently and sometimes talk differently. Our interests change. Sometimes others like it, sometimes not. Sometimes we are rejected. We have a new family and new friends.  It's part of the process.

Jesus sees who we can be in Him. He saw it in Simon Peter. He already knew this impetuous man would lead His sheep some day. He knew that Peter would be the stone, or rock, having a firm foundation himself in Christ.

Jesus asked, What do you seek? They sought a political Messiah but would get much more than anticipated. I didn't seek God. I rejected Him until one day He touched my life and when I responded the seeking began. Now I wanted Him. But He sought me first and let me know it was He that I needed. In time I realized it wasn't about what was so familiar in my day to day life that I needed. It was He and what He offered that was necessary. What do you seek? He knows what you need.

For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times, and the strength of salvation; the fear of the Lord is His treasure. (Matthew 6:32-33, Isaiah 33:6)

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