What Do You Seek?
John 1:35-38

This story is actually a simple story if we only read it in passing. This is what I do, before I get a turning point within this story. It begins with a proclamation from John the Baptist about Jesus' identity. He said to his two disciples that Jesus was the Lamb of God. After they had heard it, they followed Jesus. When we read this part, we can say that it's only about theological knowledge. We can dig deeper about the meaning of the Lamb of God. We can also search in many commentaries about John's disciples' perception of Jesus' identity as the Lamb of God. But is it an important issue? I must say, “It is!”

It is important to have a good knowledge about Jesus' identity because it can help us to have a steady faith in Jesus. When those disciples were following Jesus, they had a good knowledge about the Old Testament. If they hadn’t learned the Old Testament, they wouldn’t have followed Jesus, and neither became Jesus' disciples. So in this case, it is important for us to study the Scriptures carefully so that we are no longer like children, tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming, like Paul said in Eph 4:14.

But when I read this story, verse 38 attracted me to meditate on Jesus' question, “What do you seek?” It's not a simple question to answer. If Jesus asked you, what would your answer be? I think about it so much. Then, I started to open my book of life and tried to find the first page of my Christian life. I read those pages one by one, trying to find a good answer. While I was reading it, I found a lot of stories in my journey as a Christian. And in it, I also found that my motivation has changed, I no longer seek Jesus in my service at the church, in my prayer, in my life, even in my sermons. I realized that I had given more attention to popularity, or praise from many people.

Through the answer of those disciples, I was reminded again about the ultimate purpose of our lives and our services. It's not about our glory but Jesus' glory! When Jesus asked John the Baptist's disciples who were following him, “What do you seek?”, They answered, “Rabbi (which translated means Teacher), where are You staying?” They didn’t seek for popularity, riches, nor glory, but they sought Jesus. He was the only purpose they had in their minds and their lives.

What about you? What do you seek when you become a Christian?

I hope that you have the same answer like those of the disciples. God bless you.