What Do You Want?
Scripture – John 1:35-39: The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 6When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?” They said, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him. It was about the tenth hour.
Observation – John taught his disciples well. When he identified Jesus to them – “Look, the Lamb of God!” – they followed Him. Then Jesus asked a great question of them, “What do you want?” He continues to be that open-ended today. The same question comes to us day after day. I find the more I respond to it, the deeper I’m taken into my own being. What do I want? After I drop through all the surface stuff, what do I want from Jesus Christ? Some days I can answer more clearly than others. Sometimes I don’t really have the words. Some days I’m aware my answer is very self-centered. Some days I want what He wants. Always, though, His response seems consistent – “Come, and you will see.”
Application – I will take this question to heart and come up with two things I really want from Jesus. Then I will tell Him.
Prayer – Lord, give me the courage to answer your question authentically. Sometimes I’m afraid to answer honestly because I know you’ll give me what I want. Teach me seek good answers. Forgive me for avoiding your will.
Observation – John taught his disciples well. When he identified Jesus to them – “Look, the Lamb of God!” – they followed Him. Then Jesus asked a great question of them, “What do you want?” He continues to be that open-ended today. The same question comes to us day after day. I find the more I respond to it, the deeper I’m taken into my own being. What do I want? After I drop through all the surface stuff, what do I want from Jesus Christ? Some days I can answer more clearly than others. Sometimes I don’t really have the words. Some days I’m aware my answer is very self-centered. Some days I want what He wants. Always, though, His response seems consistent – “Come, and you will see.”
Application – I will take this question to heart and come up with two things I really want from Jesus. Then I will tell Him.
Prayer – Lord, give me the courage to answer your question authentically. Sometimes I’m afraid to answer honestly because I know you’ll give me what I want. Teach me seek good answers. Forgive me for avoiding your will.
1 Comments:
Good Evening Pastor:
Enjoyed reading your comments.
As Bill & I studied this passage this morning we,too, commented on "What do you want?" and "Come and See".
My thoughts were also turned to John the Baptist. Earlier in this chapter, John had told the inquiring Jews he was NOT the Christ nor was he Elijah but one preparing the way for THE LORD, and that he was baptizing with water but one was one standing among them far greater than him.
Soon after he proclaimed Jesus to be the Lamb of God, adding that the very reason he came baptizing with water was that Christ could be revealed to Israel...leading him to testify "This is the Son of God!"
The day after he was with two of his dear disciples and when Jesus was passing by pointed him out to his disciples claiming "Look, the Lamb of God!" and when they heard these words they left John and followed Jesus.
How did he feel? He had been working hard in the desert, eating little and faithfully calling for repentance, baptizing, teaching his disciples etc. Yet here they were leaving him and following Jesus. I wonder went through his mind...Did he know his calling was completed and his work was done? Did he know that he would be called to his heavenly home soon? Did he feel satisfaction or a little forsaken?
I don't know, but I do know that he was brought into this world miracously to do a specific job and he had done it. He had prepared his disciples well.They were making the right choice and these specific disciples would become members of the chosen 12 to be taught by Jesus Himself.
I hope he knew these things and that he smiled when he saw them walking toward Jesus.
I found myself thinking of my childhood..the Sunday School teachers that so faithfully taught the Bible stories to me. They were my scripturual 'authority' figures back then. Then I remembered the dear pastors who so faithfully ministered to the Ford Baptist congregation ..Pappy Weedon, Rev. Orthner and Sahlen and dear old Rev. Blair who ministered when one pastor left saying we were not worthy of a pastor..we were too great of sinners...All teaching faithfully.
Somewhere along the line I made the step away from other 'scriptural authority'figures, turning to Scripture itself and finally to Jesus Christ the Lamb of God. Each of them had pointed the way to Him. How great for me to have had them in my life.
My prayer is that I faithfully carry out the call to which I have been called and that is to follow Christ closely, listen to Him and His word with the ultimate purpose of helping others to become acquainted with Jesus and begin to follow Him.
May it be so.
Lovingly, Barb
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