When I was a kid, evangelical T-shirts were all the rage. While I didn't try any on myself, I knew others who did. “WWJD?” When I was a kid, evangelical T-shirts were all the rage. While I didn't try any on myself, I knew others who did. "WWJD?" "Settleined.” "Designed for adoration." To "settle down and know" "Jesus is the solution" was a common phrase on T-shirts I saw. Young people would often display the phrase in large, eye-catching fonts in an effort to initiate dialogue with their non-Christian friends. I appreciated the sincerity of their religion. Yet I always wanted to know, "What's the question?" whenever I came across the phrase "Jesus is the answer." Jesus is the solution to what problem?
Is it the problem of sin? Of emptiness? Of purposelessness? I wanted to understand the specific issue that these T-shirts were addressing. As I delved deeper into my own spiritual journey, I began to realize that the answer to this question was multifaceted and unique to each individual. For some, Jesus was the solution to addiction, while for others, he was the answer to a broken heart. It was a personal and intimate relationship that required self-reflection and introspection.
Being a bit of a religious geek, I would consult the Bible to find the answer. I was tasked with coming up with a catchy one-liner that also explained the tagline. Something snappy and clickable that we may now share on Facebook. Unfortunately, I was unable to locate it. The Jesus of the Gospels doesn't provide much fodder for 140-character musings, and not because I didn't try. He appears lot more eager to probe for the truth. Asking, "Who do you say I am?" "What gives you such a fright?" Is "Get Well" a Desired Outcome? Are you sure you don't want to stay here as well? Do you adore me? unusual for a guy who is supposedly the solution.
Recently, I've been attempting to reflect on each of Jesus's questions in isolation. Recently, I've been pondering Jesus's opening inquiry in John's Gospel. Just now, his cousin John baptized him and declared him to be the Lamb of God. Two of John's own followers leave to follow Jesus, and Jesus turns to them and says, "What are you seeking for?" If I were there, I would have been stunned into silence. (John 1:38). Jesus doesn't waste time with idle chatter; he goes right for the throat. While you lie awake, what do you desire? What desires and needs do you suppress, even from yourself? Why are you happy? Why are you so sad? Where are you hoping to find it?
I'm curious whether any of the two people who hear the question can provide a satisfactory response. That might be the case. Maybe no one has ever asked them a question that made them feel so open and exposed to them before. Maybe they have never given thought to the fact that their own sincere desires matter to God and significantly impact their spiritual development.
It's easy to get caught up in the daily routine and forget about our own needs and desires. We may suppress them to please others or because we think they are not important. But in reality, our desires and needs are an integral part of who we are and should not be ignored. Regarding happiness and sadness, there are numerous factors that can affect these complex emotions. It's important to reflect on what brings us joy and what causes us pain, and to address those feelings in a healthy way. As for where we hope to find what we are looking for, that's a question that
Maybe this is why Jesus poses the question. Because he is certain that their life will alter if they only consider the subject. What they discover depends on what they desire. Transformation will occur as a result of their hunger. As a result, I ask myself the question. Where should I start looking? Can I ask? The society in which I was raised makes a valiant effort to provide me with the solution. I can't recall not being conditioned to desire certain things desperately. Achievement, autonomy, esteem, and safety. So I've worked and worked and worked, and frequently felt like a failure for not wanting what I was meant to desire.
Yet Jesus' inquiry still blazes brightly and fiercely under the surface. Where should I start looking? Why do I feel the need to rush through life, piling one set of goals on top of another, with no amount of success ever seeming to satisfy my restless spirit? Why do I attend Sunday services, and what do I hope to find there? When should I pray? If I decide to pursue ministry, Finding God is my primary purpose in life. I want God's presence in my life above anything else. Nevertheless, I am also aware of how easily things like routine, uncertainty, disappointment, fatigue, and boredom can stifle passion. I am aware of how quickly I may retreat and choose a less risky option. I have learned to shut off my emotions, put on a happy front, and go through the motions when I am too exhausted or jaded to have any desire for anything more.
When Jesus asks his two prospective followers what they want, they deflect his inquiry by asking him, "Where are you staying?" In other words, describe your house for me. Where do you call home? Perhaps most significantly, in what direction will our lives go if we choose to spend time with you?
Jesus’ response is both simple and profound: “Come and see” (John 1:39).
The only way to know where Jesus abides is to follow him all the way home. We can’t know him in the abstract—he won’t fit on a T-shirt. He’s not the type who remains in stasis—he moves. That means we have to move too.
Hence, Jesus encourages us to visit, to take a stroll down the road (as pilgrims rather than visitors). If the way ahead seems unclear now, it will become more distinct as we go. Patiently sitting with the question may help us uncover the answer, even if we have no idea what it is. What we find depends on what we're looking for. Asking oneself "what one wants" is, as I am learning, fundamental to the discipleship process. It's not about rushing to a conclusion but rather setting out on a journey with a sense of reverent inquiry and expectancy. During the course of my whole life, I came to "come and see," developing a growing thirst for God.
It's an open invitation, and a generous question to boot. Where are you hoping to find it? See for yourself. Find out what it is you really want by coming here. Come and grow that longing in the presence of a God who invites your inquiries, who embraces your yearnings, and who promises to make you new.
Maybe Jesus is the solution, because He is also the question. Christ is the first and last, and it's OK with God if we can't quite get our heads around it. We don't have to know it right now. To find out, we just need to inquire and pay a visit.
The user is encouraging others to come and explore their desires and find answers in the presence of God. They suggest that Jesus may be the solution, but acknowledge that it's okay if we don't fully understand it yet. The user invites others to inquire and visit to find out more.