Just A Conversation

May 23, 2023

Reading through the Gospels every month this year has been both challenging and exhilarating.

Challenging that I don’t get complacent and rush through because it’s something I’m checking off of a list. Exhilarating in that I’m starting to see some themes in Jesus’ daily life.

Have you ever noticed that Jesus loved to invite people into conversation? Depending on the translation you read, there are approximately 322 questions He asks. And yet, according to Paul, Jesus didn’t have a lot of answers:

All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Him”

- Colossians 2:3

Why were the answers hidden? Maybe – I’m speculating, of course – if He just gave the answer, we might turn and walk away. We have what we want. I mean, if we’re being totally honest, often all we really want are answers or solutions to our problems. We treat Jesus like He’s Santa Claus. We just want His gifts!

Jesus very rarely gave answers. Often, He followed with another question. Or invited people to follow Him on the journey.

In John 1:35-41, we see what happens when Jesus doesn’t just give the answer:

The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?”

They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon.

Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ).

- John 1:35-41 (emphasis added)

When Jesus asks what they want and He invites them to come, it is as they spend time with Him that He guides them and gives them the truth they need. It is in the conversation that we see who He really is, our Savior, Healer, Provider, Peacemaker, Lord.

Jesus could – and sometimes does – answer our questions. But what He truly desires is just a conversation. Because in conversation, He leads us and guides us, doing the transforming work in us. All He desires is intimacy and trust.

If we say we are all in for Jesus, we have to ask, “What do I want?” I hope when He tells us to “Come and you will see,” we’ll follow and continue the conversation.

On the TV show Ted Lasso, Ted says, “Be curious.” Maybe we should say, “I’m going to keep being curious about what it looks like to follow Jesus.”