Questions Jesus Asks: 1) What Are You Looking For? John 1:35-42 April 19, 2015 This Easter season as we seek to deepen our awareness of the risen Christ, we consider some of the questions that Jesus poses to his disciples. We tend to think that Jesus is the Answer Man, giving us the straight path to God. Certainly he is the path whereby Christians find intimacy with God, but the path is not necessarily clear cut or one-size-fits-all. We humans tend to want answers, and so we've sent our questions to Dear Abby, Ann Landers, Miss Manners, Emily Post, and with the internet, dozens of additional advice columnists! We seek solutions to our perplexing problems. We want to know which direction to take. We would rather ask the questions than have to wrestle with the answers. But Jesus is the Great Interrogator- the Latin translation of which means "the one who asks questions." John Dear counted 307 questions asked by Jesus in the four Gospels. Jesus is like Socrates, teaching the crowds by asking questions and inviting them to live into the answers. i With a probing question, he calls his disciples deeper into the mystery of God. Like any great rabbi, his technique of questioning is a way to open their stony hearts and their narrow minds to the meaning of life and the ongoing revelation of God. Jesus' questions tend to be open-ended. A close-ended question often implies an answer. It is harder for us to ask open-ended questions. We tend to ask questions in a way that steers someone toward the answer we are seeking. For example, assume that a family member has been suffering from a severe cold. Asking the open-ended question, "How do you feel today?" offers the opportunity for a full explanation. The closed-ended question, "Are you feeling better today?" implies a preferred response, such as, "I sure hope you are feeling better because I'm sick and tired of you being sick and tired!" Jesus' open-ended questions do not try to limit our responses. The answers are not obvious or implied. The questions are designed to expand our thinking. The questions may be asked again and again for the answers may change over time and under different life circumstances. The important thing is, as the poet Rainer Maria Rilke wrote, to "live the questions now." An old story tells of a rabbi living in a Russian city a century ago. Disappointed by his lack of direction and life purpose, he wandered in the chilly evening. With his hands thrust deep in his pockets, he aimlessly walked through the empty streets, questioning his faith in God. The only thing colder than the
Russian winter air was the chill within his soul. He felt so enshrouded by his own despair that he mistakenly wandered into a Russian military compound off limits to civilians. The bark of a Russian soldier shattered the silence of the evening chill. Who are you? And what are you doing here?" Excuse me?" replied the rabbi. I said, 'Who are you and what are you doing here?'" After a brief moment, the rabbi, in a gracious tone so as not to provoke the soldier said, How much do you get paid every day?" What does that have to do with you?" the soldier retorted. With the delight of someone making a new discovery, the rabbi said, I will pay you the equal sum if you will ask me those same two questions every day: 'Who are you?' and 'What are you doing here? The soldier hadn't intended to ask open-ended questions, but the rabbi heard them- or chose to hear them- as open ended. To the rabbi, they were profound questions about his identity as a person and the purpose of his life. Such open-ended questions are not easily answered, and, thus, are worthy of further-even daily-reflection. ii Today we hear the first words Jesus speaks in the Gospel of John. Jesus senses the two unnamed disciples of John the Baptizer following him. He turns to look at them and asks, What are you looking for?" He seems to intuitively sense that their hearts are hungry, that they are longing for something more for their lives, and he urges them to get clarity. What are you after? What is it you want? What are you looking for?" This is the central question asked by any spiritual teacher or spiritual director. It prompts the student, the learner, the seeker to go deep within. Like all wise teachers, Jesus knows that it's not so much about him as it is about them. What are you looking for?" His question challenges these two followers to listen to their own hearts and to clarify what they most desire. It sounds simple, but it is not. It may be the hardest thing for any of us to figure out about our lives. We are constantly surrounded by voices and pop-up ads telling us what we want, what we need, what we never knew we didn't have. And isn't there someone or something out there that might be better and fulfill all your longings? You only have the iphone 6? The iwatch is arriving this very week and will give you the time of your life! The ad says, Using it is a whole new experience. One that's more personal than ever."
Jesus invites us to listen to our hearts, to get beyond what we want to find what we really need. But this crazy, fast-paced world in which we live is piled with layers and layers of superficiality. It often conspires to keep us from going deep, from exploring the depths within. We don't know what we really want. We don't know the longing of our heart. To answer the question we need silence and space. Part of the gift of weekly worship is the gift of time and space to be still, to step out of all the hectic craziness, and simply be, be with one another and with God. It is a time to listen to our hearts and get a little closer to know, to remember, what it is that we really want. As we ponder our longing, it is often mixed with nostalgia and can be mistaken for nostalgia. As I live in an empty nest with my son off to college, I have found myself longing for extended family, for the good old days of summer camping trips, road trips to Nebraska with picnics in Grandma's backyard, and New Year's Day at the Rose Parade with my father's family. Many of my memories seem to converge as I recall aunts, uncles, grandparents, and cousins gathered around the dining table laughing, telling family stories, and making more memories. What we long for is not merely the events of the past, but a gathering of past, present, and future into a harmony. It is a desire not merely to be with those we love, but to be united with them in a way that is not possible even when they are present. It is a longing to bring together all the broken and scattered pieces of our lives in ways that are impossible in this lifetime. I sense that this deep longing-what often feels like homesickness-is really a yearning for God, who completes all things. iii It is the restlessness of which St. Augustine said, You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you." It is the "Godshaped hole" described by French philosopher Blaise Pascal. We have tried to stuff that "God-shaped hole" with many other things- achievement, success, sex, possessions, and pleasure- but ultimately these things are temporary and unsatisfying. "If that empty space implanted in our soul is in the shape of God, then our attempts to fill it with anything else will leave empty corners that will ache." iv Ronald Rolheiser says that in our culture we suffer from the "Friday night syndrome." "Few people can stay home and rest on a Friday night. Why? Is it because we are not tired and ideally could not appreciate a nice quiet time? No! We cannot stay home quietly on a Friday night because inside us moves a restless
demon that assures us that everyone in the whole world is doing something exciting on Friday night." v We decide that our homes, our families and our commitments pale in comparison and are not nearly as exciting as everyone else's life. We are anxious and agitated, fearing that we are missing out on the one true thing that will ease our aching longing. When Jesus asks, "What are you looking for?" he knows that the deepest longing of the human heart is for God. Surprisingly these new followers seem to have a sense of the answer, although they respond with another question, "Rabbi, where are you staying?" It means, where is your heart, what are you fundamentally about? Where are you dwelling? They may be wondering, what are we getting into if we decide to stay with you? Can we count on you, Jesus? Can we depend on you? Can we pin our hope on you? Will you stay with us? And so Jesus extends the invitation, "Come and see." Come and see where I live. You will find that I dwell in the shelter of the Most High, I camp in the shade of the Almighty God. God is my refuge and stronghold, the one whom I trust (Psalm 91:1-2 CEB). All the fragmented pieces of my life are brought together and completed in the presence of God. My longing is fulfilled by loving God. Come and remain with me, make your home with me and you will find what you are looking for. Your restlessness is the beginning of a grand spiritual journey. A brilliant and beautiful young woman from one of the wealthiest families of Italy turned her back on the luxuries and comfortable lifestyle of the rich and famous. One day she knocked on the door of a convent in northern Italy. She had been educated in the best schools of Europe, spoke seven languages, had traveled throughout the world, had her choice of handsome suitors, and could command anything she wanted. So why was she knocking on the door of the convent, wanting to enter? That is what the head of the convent asked her. The young woman replied, "Because I have discovered that seven languages are not enough. I have been missing the most important thing in life, and now I want to want it, and I need your help in wanting it and in finding God." vi Jesus asks, "What are you looking for?" I invite you to pray with this question this week, and in the weeks ahead. Consider Jesus' invitation, "Come and see." We are likely to find your deepest desires and longings met by dwelling in the presence of God, by abiding with Christ in an ever-deepening relationship. And we might be surprised to discover that God is longing and looking for us as well.
Breathe on us, breath of God. Breathe a breath of refreshment, reviving our weary bodies. Breathe a breath of hope, restoring our faith in your life-giving power. Breathe a cleansing breath, removing impurities that block us from full relationship with you and one another. We are grateful that your renewing power and presence continue to abide with us and to satisfy our deepest desire to be in communion with you. Help us tend those practices through which we stay in love with you, O God. We are grateful for the community of faith where we can ask the questions of faith and wrestle together to seek the answers. We pray for our confirmands as they eagerly learn about the practices of faith and the meaning of discipleship. Work within their young hearts, deepening their love for you, O God. We pray for Christians around the world who are persecuted for their faith; offer them your peace in the face of turmoil. We pray for those who commit violent acts, falsely claiming your name. Turn their hearts toward your ways of peace and justice. Comfort all victims of violence, from Stockton and Lodi to Oklahoma City and Boston to Iraq, Israel, and Palestine. In the face of despair, lead us toward the hope of new life. We lift to you our personal concerns for ourselves and our loved ones. We are grateful that you care for us, that you know us by name, and that you know our desires. May your healing presence abide with these whom we name. Walk with those living with cancer and undergoing treatment. Offer hope to those living with mental illness and longing for brighter days. We are grateful for the community in which we live, for the opportunities for education, service, and relationship which are abundant. Guide us as we seek to serve those who are seeking homes and stability. We lift our prayers, trusting in the presence and power of the risen Christ. We unite our voices together as he taught us, praying... i John Dear, The Questions of Jesus: Challenging Ourselves to Discover Life's Great Answers (New York: Image Doubleday, 2004), pp. 1-2. Ii Wayne Cordeiro, Doing Church as a Team (Ventura, CA: Regal Books, 2001), pp. 32-33. Quoted by Martin B. Copenhaver, Jesus is the Question (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2014), pp. 3-4. Iii Copenhaver, pp. 9-10. iv Ibid, p. 11. v Ronald Rolheiser, Forgotten Among the Lilies: Learning to Love Beyond Our Fears (New York: Galilee/Doubleday, 2005), pp. 15-16. vi Rev. Don Shelby, "Wanting All the Help We Need," First United Methodist Church, Santa Monica. Rev. Lori Sawdon First United Methodist Church, Lodi, CA