Trey H. Little

Sermon Text:  John 1: 35-42

March 13, 2011 (Lent 1)

Albany, Texas

“Life’s Big Questions:  “What do you want?”

Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14: 6). 

That is one of my favorite texts in all of the Gospels—in part because it serves as a reminder that He is and I am not.  It reminds me of my need for a Savior and Lord in my life.  It reminds me that Jesus should be followed and trusted.  But have you ever really thought about Jesus’ claim that He is “the life”?  I mean, if you really believe His claim then think about how that changes the statement, “I am just livin’ the life!”

Well, as many of you know, this Sunday is the first Sunday of the Lenten season.  The season in the life of the church where we are challenged to do some spiritual assessment; to exhibit discipline in our lives; a time to repent of our wicked ways but also a time to be renewed and radically respond to God’s grace in our lives—all of which will be culminated on Easter Sunday morning which is April 24.

During the Lenten season this year we will be looking at “Life’s Big Questions”—those probing and piercing questions that Jesus asked—questions that I believe will force us to consider some of the most significant issues of life—especially the Christian life.

So let’s begin by hearing the word found in John 1: 38-42.

            Most counselors would tell you that if you really want to get to the depths of where someone is you have to ask questions.  However, they would also tell you that the kind of questions you ask make all the difference in the world.  The unwritten rule is this:  “Avoid ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ questions.  Instead, ask questions that make people think.  Ask questions that have no right or wrong answer but instead push an individual to search for a way to articulate their response by using more than one word.  Undoubtedly, each of us here this morning have had many questions to answer in our lifetime—but certainly we still have many more to contemplate.

            Questions like, “How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?  Or, “If life is so short, why do we do so many things we don’t like and like so many things we don’t do?”  Or, “When it is all said and done, will you have said more than you have done?”  Or, “If happiness was the national currency, what kind of work would make you rich?”  Or, “If not now, then when?” Or, “If you get to where you are going, will you be where you want to be?”  Finally, how about the classic question we have all been asked, and most of us are still trying to answer it, “What do you want to be when you grow up!”   

            These are life questions—they compel us to examine the direction of our life, our priorities, what we think will make us happy; what it is we are really doing with life.

            In verse 38 of our sermon text for this morning Jesus asks a Big Question—He asked, “What do you want?”  Other translations have Jesus asking, “What are you looking for?”

            The Life asked the most fundamental question in life!

            Do you know what you want?  Do you know what you are looking for?  Are they one in the same?

Now, I should probably tell you that Jesus’ question comes on the heels of the disciples being with John the Baptist.  It was the time when John had seen Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!  This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me’ (John 1: 29-20).  Then, as you may recall, John gave a testimony—he said, “I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.”  And so then—the very next day—John was there again with two of his disciples.  When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” (35-36).

            John tells us that when the disciples heard John say this, “they followed Jesus.”  Just imagine that scene—Jesus is walking along—seemingly minding His own business—and yet, He senses people following Him.  He hears their foot steps; He hears them breathing; He moves His wallet to His front pocket—unsure of what these guys are up to!  And yet, not once do we hear these men saying anything—they did not say, “Hey, you—the One they call the Lamb of God!”  They didn’t even use their manners with a statement such as, “Excuse me sir, do you have a minute?”  Instead, we read of Jesus turning to them—He takes the first step—He takes the initiative to reach out to these men—and He does so by asking a BIG QUESTION:  “What do you want?”

             What a great question—in fact it is one that we are faced with every day of our lives, isn’t it?  Later today you will go to lunch and someone will ask you, “What do you want?”  Perhaps later this evening you will be searching around for the remote control and your wife will ask, “What are you looking for?”  But it seems to me that when Jesus turned around and asked the question—He had more in mind than a sandwich or a channel changer—He wanted their answer to come from the depths of their souls—because He knew there was potential for change. Because if you think about it—one’s life could be significantly shaped by what they “want” or “what they are looking for.” 

            So I wonder, how would you answer “Life’s” BIG question?  What do you want?”

            I suppose that is a bit of a loaded question—I mean it almost seems unfair for Jesus to ask such a question, doesn’t it?  It depends, doesn’t it?  We would like to have some sort of follow up question, like, “What do I want—when?  Like right now?  Or do you mean “What do I want, in general?”  Or are you asking, “What do I want from the church?”  Or, are you asking, “What do I want for lunch today?”  “What do you want?” is such a BIG question, isn’t it?

But don’t you think Jesus knew this when He asked it?

To be sure, the two disciples do choose to follow Jesus, but they do not seem to be fully certain of what they are doing.  The pair counter Jesus’ question with an inquiry about His housing situation—they asked, “Rabbi, where are you staying?”

Most Biblical scholars know that this is a question not merely about lodging, but about the nature of Jesus himself.  "Where are you staying?" means, in essence, "Who are you? Where is the 'home,' the center of your life?"  It would not be stretching things to translate the disciples' response as, "At this point we don't know whom we are following or where this path is leading. Can you tell us?" (Thomas Long).

The disciples’ faith was seeking understanding.  I wonder, is yours? 

I just love Jesus’ response—He says, "come and see.”  Jesus knew that in the journey—they would begin to see—and in the seeing they would begin to fathom the true meaning and depth of what was happening to them.  They would begin to truly discern what they deeply wanted—they would begin to see with clarity what they had been looking for—it was Jesus—The Lamb of God.  And he would give them security, purpose, peace, and hope—things we too want.

A little time with Jesus changed everything.  In fact, they couldn’t keep it a secret—telling others about Jesus was no longer a second thought—it was now “the first thing they did!”

Friends, perhaps you will “come and see” Jesus during this Lenten season.  Perhaps you will begin to truly discern what your soul deeply longs for.  Perhaps you will embrace the One who has been looking for you. 

I will close with this:  A group of young students were asked by their school teacher to make a list of what they thought were the present-day Seven Wonders of the World. Although there were some disagreements, the following seven things received the most votes:  1. The Great Pyramids of Egypt.  2. The Taj Mahal.  3. The Grand Canyon.  4. The Panama Canal.  5. The Empire State Building.  6. St. Peter’s Basilica.  7. China’s Great Wall.

While gathering the votes, the teacher noticed that one quiet student had not turned in her paper yet. So she asked the girl if she was having trouble with her list. The girl replied, “Yes, a little. I couldn’t quite make up my mind because there were so many.”  The teacher said, “Well, tell us what you have – read your list and maybe we can help.”  Hesitantly, shyly, the girl stood up and then read her paper out loud to the class. She said, “I think the Seven Wonders of the World are:  1. to be able to see.  2. to be able to hear.  3. to be able to touch.  4. to be able to feel.  5. to be able to taste.  6. to be able to laugh.  7. to be able to love.”

You know, I can’t help but think about the opening verse of Psalm 23 that says, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want”

Could it be that Jesus’ question, “What do you want?” is a faith question?  Could it be that our response should be a wondrous collection of the many blessings that have already found us?  Is it any wonder that Jesus would long to hear us faithfully say, “I shall not be in want” because all I need I have found in You!!

Life’s Big Question:  What do you want?  Life’s big challenge—answering it.  Life’s big mistake—never taking the time to try!

AMEN.