What does Jesus mean by asking, "What do you want?" in John 1:38? Immediate Narrative Setting John the Baptist has twice identified Jesus as “the Lamb of God” (John 1:29, 36). Two of his disciples, Andrew and the unnamed disciple traditionally understood to be John himself, begin to follow Jesus. “Turning around and seeing them following, Jesus asked, ‘What do you want?’ (John 1:38).” These are the first spoken words of Jesus recorded in the Fourth Gospel, establishing the tone of personal invitation that permeates the book. Old Testament Echoes of Divine Questions Scripture records God’s habit of asking questions that uncover the heart: “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9), “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (1 Kings 19:9). Jesus’ question slots into this redemptive pattern, suggesting that the incarnate Word addresses humanity the same way Yahweh addressed His people of old—calling seekers to self-disclosure and covenant relationship (Jeremiah 29:13; Psalm 27:8). Rabbinic and Cultural Background In first-century Judea, prospective disciples initiated attachment to a rabbi by requesting to “stay” (μένειν) with him, signaling a commitment to learn his yoke of teaching. Their counter-question, “Rabbi, where are You staying?” (John 1:38), reveals an intent not merely to gain information but to abide (menō) with Him—precisely the verb Jesus later uses for ongoing discipleship (John 15:4). Johannine Theology of Seeking The Fourth Gospel contrasts authentic and superficial seeking: • Right seeking: “Sir, we wish to see Jesus” (John 12:21). • Wrong seeking: “You are seeking Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate the loaves” (John 6:26). By asking τί ζητεῖτε?, Jesus tests whether the new followers align with genuine, God-ward seeking that leads to life (John 5:40). Discipleship Diagnostic 1. Clarification of motive—Do they seek political deliverance, personal advancement, or the Messiah Himself (John 1:41)? 2. Invitation to dialogue—A question disarms and engages; it does not coerce. 3. Opportunity for confession—Disciples must articulate their desire before they can receive revelation. Theological Significance Jesus reveals Himself as the omniscient Logos who nevertheless invites human freedom. Salvation history shows God prompting confession before granting covenant gifts (Mark 10:51; Luke 18:41). The question, therefore, initiates a relationship grounded in grace yet requiring intentional human response. Patristic Commentary Augustine comments, “He asks, not that He may learn, but that He may teach the seekers what to seek” (Tract. in Joann. 7.4). Chrysostom notes that Christ’s question “at once stirs their longing and makes them more intentional” (Hom. on John 19). Cross-Canonical Parallels • Isaiah 55:6 —“Seek the LORD while He may be found.” • Matthew 6:33 —“Seek first the kingdom of God.” • Colossians 3:1 —“Seek the things above, where Christ is seated.” These passages frame seeking as a God-initiated, grace-empowered pursuit culminating in fellowship with the risen Christ. Practical Application 1. Examine motives: Ask yourself daily, “What am I truly seeking?” 2. Embrace abiding: Follow the disciples’ example—move from curiosity to communion (“They went and saw where He was staying, and they spent that day with Him,” John 1:39). 3. Evangelistic conversation: Leading with gentle questions after Jesus’ model often opens hearts more effectively than immediate declarations. Summary By asking, “What do you want?” Jesus unearths the heart’s deepest quest, redirects it toward Himself, and inaugurates a pattern of discipleship defined by abiding communion. The question continues to pierce human motives, inviting every generation to articulate its longing and to find its fulfillment in the resurrected Lord. |
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