Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” John 1:38
People seek Jesus for all different reasons. Some want Him as a personal butler who will do their bidding at the snap of their fingers; a doting daddy or a Santa Claus figure who will give them what they want, or else they won’t believe in or love him anymore. Some want a miracle worker who will heal their sicknesses and get them out of trouble whenever they need it. Neither of these scenarios are what following Jesus means. They are simply people seeking to get something from God for their own pleasure and purposes.
When Andrew and John began to follow Jesus, that was the first question He asked them. What is it that you are really seeking? Security and comfort? Fame and fortune? Were they seeking a military leader who would raise up an army to defeat the Roman occupation of their land, so that they could prosper and lead a peaceful life?
It is a question we all need to ask ourselves. Why would we want to follow Jesus and is He worth following? He promises no security or comfort, fame or fortune. In fact, He tells us to expect the opposite! He tells us that those who follow Him will be ridiculed and rejected. Even family and friends may turn against them. They will face hard times. They will know periods of hunger and want. Jesus did not paint a rosy picture about the physical, natural life of a Christian. But He does paint a picture of what real life, Spiritual born-again living is like.
It is living in a real relationship with the God of all creation. Jesus came preaching the truth of the Good News of the Kingdom of God. The Good News that sin can be forgiven and that we can live in an eternal paradise with Him. It is living with heaven in view, while still existing in a sin cursed world.
We are living in the in-between-time, between God initiating His Kingdom, and coming again to consummate it. Now, in this life, we have the chance to follow Jesus, hear His teaching and decide if He is worth following. Are His Words true? His disciples thought they were, and even though they didn’t fully understand all that He said or did, they knew He was worth following.
When many rejected Jesus, He asked His 12 disciples if they would leave Him too. Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life.” John 6:68.
The people who stopped following Him were only interested in having their natural needs met. When Jesus required commitment and self-denial, they stopped following Him. They sought Him only for what He could give them. Their purpose was self-centred.
Jesus taught His disciples that to follow Him they had to give up their own ambitions and live in accordance with God’s will and purpose. For those who choose to follow through the rough and turbulent times here on earth, He has promised an eternal life of perfect rest and peace in Heaven with Him. A place with no sorrow, pain or suffering of any kind. Sin will ever be able to raise its ugly head again, because everyone there will have walked this earth and will have seen and experienced the consequences that it brought.
We have this short time on earth to choose whom we will follow. Wise men decide to follow Jesus.