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The Question That Jesus Asked

Do you know the first thing that Jesus said in the gospel of John?

If you were like me a week ago then you would probably say, “no”. It is not a hobby of mine to collect random facts about the Bible and I don’t think many of us really have the time for it. This factoid is different. I actually came across it on accident and was blown away by it. “What are you looking for?” is Jesus’ first sentence. Not really profound, you think? Read it again.

The Context

The context puts it into an entire new level. John the Baptist was doing his thing over near the Jordan river with a few of us his students when Jesus strolled across the scene. John, in conversation, told his students that God’s chosen one had just walked past. Two of the students of John, one being Andrew (soon becomes Jesus’ first disciple), leave him to speak with Jesus. They shout to him, “Teacher, Teacher” to get his attention. Jesus replied, “What are you looking for?”

It is important to remember that Andrew was a student of John the Baptist. He wasn’t just a casual listener, but one who was earnestly searching for some larger truth to life. He knew that the mainstream religious sects had missed the point, but John the baptist was close. Then John the Baptist tells him that Jesus is the answer to his question. When Andrew confronts Jesus, the teacher doesn’t give an answer. He gives a question: “What are you looking for?”

Application

I think we are all like Andrew in this regard. I shared this story as a devotion in a marriage and family class that I lead and reflected it on family. In marriage, we know there has to be some larger guide for us to make the entire thing work. If I relied on myself, I can see the family sinking. Even in everyday life of work, relationships, and purpose, we are looking for something higher to shape us. People may have answered the question differently, but we could all be asked the question.

 What are you looking For?

Washing Dishes In God’s Presence

I enjoy going to historical and cultural landmarks and meeting the people whom call the area home. There is something exciting about the experience. Its an adventure. You can feel that something bigger than us is working in the world. I get this pull sometimes when I listen to a gifted speaker or band at church. Special conversations with close friends are an excellent way to arouse these existential emotions. I’ve never felt them while doing thecart on aisle two dishes.

After all, they are just a feeling. They are the same as every other  feeling. Sometimes it is beneficial and other times it can be a distraction. Hunger is an excellent reminder that we need to get something in our bellies, but it is not present every time we need to eat. In order to stay healthy, it is suggested that we actually eat before the feeling of hunger arrives.  This way we don’t depend on the feeling and overeat.

God doesn’t say that he is only with you at church, he is with us at all moments of our lives. We can be with God in whatever we do. In writing a report, you are not alone. God is there for conversation and you’re need to vent. God is in the passenger seat when you are driving home, listening to the radio and cooling off from work. We don’t have to be in some mystical prayer stance or wait for some emotion to enter into God’s presence. We just have to call out.

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