John 1:35-51 WHAT SEEK YE? There is a time in the lives of people when they become conscious of themselves. That happens in early youth. Then the consciousness of family is followed by consciousness of many others as our life is expanded by years. As understanding increases there is also a response to the call of one's own spirit to the "God - consciousness" within us all. The first words that are recorded that Jesus spoke when He began His public ministry are, "What seek ye?" Every person of sound mind can understand that question because it is one, we ask ourselves often, in these words or ones that are similar. "What do I want?" Later on, "What do I really want out of life?" It is as an answer to this that we live by and proclaim the Gospel. We who have found the answer to that question have something to offer others; actually, we owe it to others to go and tell them what we have found.
I would seem that Andrew was not a wordy man but one of those strong silent types that can say a lot in a few words. Rather than have a talk on the side of the road, he wanted a place where he could get some serious answers to his questions. The awakened conscience and consciousness of the man through the preaching of John the Baptist prepared him for John's great 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 "beareth away the sin of the world." The next day John identified Jesus as to who He is Himself, "The Lamb of God." Andrew must have detected the difference in the statements.
Three-word conversations do not often happen. "What seek ye?" went straight to the point. "Where dwellest Thou?" didn't open a whole dialogue of thought. "Come and see" was a challenge of faith and reality which both Andrew and John acted on. Probably after hearing the Lord Jesus speak to them in that private conversation, and after Andrew was convinced Jesus was the Messiah, there was not much time wasted in passing on his greatest discovery to his brother Simon. John very 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!!
The variety of personalities of those who followed the Lord Jesus right at the beginning of His public ministry, gives us some insight into the mind of God. He did not make everyone identical. he does not intend us to all be the same. Each person has a uniqueness that reflects what God is like in His eternal and infinite being. Put all human personalities together and we get a little understand of being made in the image of God. Simon, a typical blusterous man who had a strong personality but weak underpinnings, became a rock- solid man of character after "being with Jesus." Andrew never did say much but could be counted on to do the right thing. John seemed to be a quiet contemplative thinker, but had another side to his personality he shared with his brother James as one of the "sons of thunder." Even though Philip came from the same place as Andrew and Simon, they didn't call him and bring him to Jesus. It may be that he was and unimpressive person who would have been overshadowed by others. Those who seem so shy often have great insight. It was Philip who said, "Show us the Father and that will be enough for us." Because of that question, the Lord Jesus who had called Philip personally, gave great clarification to the relationship of the Father and the Son. The Lord Himself gave the description of Nathanael when Philip brought him to Jesus.
Most moral and honest people want to know the reason for their existence, and what they are supposed to accomplish in life. "What seek ye?" "Come and see." "Follow Me" - these short sentences get right to the crux of a matter. We can learn from the Master how to best speak for Him to those who seek Him. It is our responsibility to be prepared to connect with people in the most effective way possible. A short comment or question; a meaningful dialogue; an illustration - all of these are ways to communicate the Gospel and introduce people to the Lord Jesus Christ. Variety goes with humanity. Different people call for different methods. What reaches one may not resonate in any way with another person. To give instructions as to how to win a soul to Christ is really wasted effort. People are uniquely different. The need for soul winners, is to be a prepared vessel who knows how to establish a personal connection with others; who has a consistent devotional life and who believes in the truth that every person will get eternal life here on earth as a gift from God and will be in heaven when they die; or if they refuse to accept the gift of God and refuse Christ they will be lost in hell and ultimately the lake of fire in eternal despair.