What seek ye? John 1:35-51 There comes a time in people's lives when they become aware of themselves. That occurs in early youth. Then, awareness of family is followed by awareness of many other things as our lives grow over the years. As understanding deepens, there is also a response to the call of one's own spirit to the "God-consciousness" within us all. The first words Jesus recorded when He began His public ministry were, "What seek ye?"
Every person with a sound mind can understand that question because it is one we ask ourselves often, in these words or similar ones: "What do I want?" Later on, "What do I really want out of life?" As an answer to this, we live by and proclaim the Gospel. We who have found the answer to that question have something to offer others; we owe it to others to go and tell them what we have found.
It seems that Andrew was not a man of many words but rather one of those strong, silent types who can say a lot with a few words. Instead of talking on the side of the road, he wanted a place where he could get serious answers to his questions. The man's awakened conscience and awareness, through John the Baptist's preaching, prepared him for John's powerful declaration of Jesus when he said, "Behold the Lamb of God." The first time John the Baptist identified the Lord, He was the One who "bears away the sin of the world." The next day, John identified Jesus as who He is Himself, "The Lamb of God." Andrew must have noticed the difference in the statements.
Three-word conversations rarely happen. "What seek ye?" goes straight to the point. "Where dwellest Thou?" doesn't open a whole dialogue. "Come and see" was a challenge of faith and reality, which Andrew and John acted on. Probably after hearing the Lord Jesus speak to them in that private conversation, and after Andrew was convinced that Jesus was the Messiah, there wasn't much time wasted in passing on his greatest discovery to his brother Simon. John likely did the same and brought James to the Lord Jesus Christ, too. What a wonder it must have been to spend the night with Jesus!
Where does One who is omnipresent dwell? Every corner and hidden place; the universe to Him is only like closet space for the One who is not limited—who dwells above time and space. There is no place where He cannot find you. In the depths of the oceans, miles from human sight, in the caverns—the earth's bowels where there is no light—He dwells on the highest peaks, far above where normal men live. The earth itself is just a footstool for Him, in the open fields where, as an infant, He lay in a manger at His birth, submitting to His mother and Joseph in Nazareth, a village of little significance, where He dwelt as a man among men in relative obscurity—Jesus created the worlds. He was a man, yet the incarnate Deity!
The variety of personalities among those who followed the Lord Jesus at the start of His public ministry gives us some insight into God's mind. He did not create everyone identical, nor did He intend for us all to be the same. Each person has a uniqueness that reflects what God is like in His eternal and infinite being. When we consider all human personalities together, we gain a bit of understanding of being made in the image of God. Simon, a typical boisterous man with a strong personality but weak foundations, became a steadfast man of character after "being with Jesus." Andrew never said much but could be relied on to do the right thing. John seemed to be a quiet, contemplative thinker, but he had another side to his personality, which he shared with his brother James, one of the "sons of thunder."
Although Philip came from the same town as Andrew and Simon, they didn't call or bring him to Jesus. He might be an unremarkable person whom others would have overlooked. Those who seem shy often have deep insight. Philip asked, "Show us the Father, and that will be enough for us." Because of that question, Jesus, who had personally called Philip, greatly clarified the relationship between the Father and the Son. The Lord Himself described Nathanael when Philip brought him to Jesus. Andrew recognized Jesus as the Messiah; Nathanael identified Him as the Son of God.
Most moral and honest people want to understand the purpose of their existence and what they are meant to accomplish in life. "What seek ye?" "Come and see." "Follow Me"—these short phrases get straight to the heart of the matter. We can learn from the Master how to effectively speak for Him to those who are seeking Him. It is our duty to be prepared to connect with people in the most impactful way possible. A brief comment or question, a meaningful dialogue, or an illustration—all are ways to share the Gospel and introduce others to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Variety is essential to humanity. Different people require different approaches. What reaches one person may not resonate at all with another. Providing instructions as a template for how to win a soul to Christ is a futile effort. People are uniquely different. The need for soul winners is to be prepared vessels who know how to establish personal connections with others, maintain a consistent devotional life, and believe the truth that every person will receive eternal life as a gift from God and will be in heaven when they die; or, if they reject God's gift and refuse Christ, they will be lost in hell and ultimately the lake of fire in eternal despair.
The Lord Jesus established a humble dwelling, a place to live so He could tell those who had waited and longed for the Messiah to come that they could follow Him if they chose. He didn’t reveal Himself to everyone, only to those who wanted to come to Him and believed in Him. What impacts me most is that today, He chooses to be with His people, to dwell among us, whom He has graciously called His own. He who fills heaven’s throne chooses to dwell with us – He who is the eternal God.
In a quiet room where one of His saints kneels in prayer or out on the busy streets among witnesses—He is there. He dwells with His people—those who are the house of God. He dwells everywhere—with all who know Him as Lord. Not hidden, yet unseen by those who are un sanctified. To spiritual eyes, He is fully visible because the whole earth is full of His glory. Whether it is “Come and see” for me in this day and place, I must not hesitate but hasten my steps in faith and listen again for His words I have heard before, “Follow Me.” I must rush to the doorpost to look once more, needing to see those blood-stained holes pressed into His ear to testify and upon mine to confirm that I am not my own; I am not hidden from His all-seeing eyes. I belong to Him—body, soul, and spirit—wife and children—“I have found Him.”
Only those who looked and waited for genuine evidence were able to see Him. He was announced and proclaimed by angels, and those whose eyes were anointed with heavenly eye salve recognized Him. Those who observed Him as He walked with purposeful steps realized that the Son of Man alone could give them direction for life, and He personally said to them, “Come and see.” Little did they know that life would change dramatically for them. Leaving the Jordan valley and the river for the calling place, a few who followed with wonder-filled steps, having searched for the Messiah, found Him.
He has called to Himself, just as He did in the past, those who seek what they are looking for today. A principle and practice joined through action, a slowly growing community, and the “sound of going,” created by the Holy Spirit; a waiting, wondering, reading, thinking person hears – “Follow Me.” Sitting quietly and without guile, one waits for whatever will happen. Like Nathanael, devoted in his own way, understanding only what he saw until a faithful friend passionately says, “We have found Him; He is the One we’ve waited for.” With hesitant steps and uncertain thoughts, Nathanael faces Him, who knows all things, has all power, is in every place at once, His space is everywhere, and He hears fearful words and believes – “I saw thee.”