#399: What Was the Most Important Question Jesus Asked?

Someone searched through the Gospels and counted all the questions Jesus asked. Did you know Jesus asked people a total of 307 questions?

Out of those 307 questions, I believe the first question Jesus asked was among the most important.

Jesus’ First Question

It was the day after John baptized Jesus. John was with two of his disciples when Jesus passed by them. John said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” With that, John’s two disciples turned and started following Jesus as He walked.

Jesus noticed the two men following Him and, turning to them, said, “What do you want?” (John 1:38 NIV). A better translation of Jesus’ question would be, “What do you seek?” (NASB).

So, here are these two men following Jesus, the man John just told them is the Lamb of God, and they respond with, “Where are you staying?”

They don’t ask, “Are you really the Son of God?” They don’t ask any deep, theological questions. No, they ask where Jesus is staying!

In response, Jesus invites them to join him, saying, “Come, and you will see.”

The Question: What Do You Seek?

I think it is interesting that Jesus doesn’t engage in any small talk with these two strangers who are following Him. Jesus doesn’t introduce himself or ask their names. He doesn’t ask what they do for a living. No, Jesus dives right into a probing question, “What do you seek?”

Now, Jesus is God. He already knows the answer to every question He asks. So, when He asks these two men, “What do you seek?” He already knows what they seek. They may not know what they seek, but He does!

Instead of answering them directly, Jesus invites them to join Him as they walk along and spend the day together.

Jesus invited the men not to see where He was staying but to spend time with Him, to enter into a relationship with Him.

Jesus’ first question tells us he knew they were seeking something more than information about where He was staying. Jesus knew they were seeking answers to bigger, more important questions.

Perhaps the men wondered, “What is my purpose in life,” “Is there life after death,” or “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”

To answer all these unspoken questions, Jesus simply invited the men “to come and see.”

The Answer: Come and See

The essential questions of life have not changed through the millennia. Men and women today still ask, “What is my purpose in life?” Is there life after death? What must I do to go to heaven?”

Jesus’ answer for us is “to come and see.” Jesus invites us to join Him, walk alongside Him, and enter into a relationship with Him.

The Result: New Understanding by the End of the Day

The two men spent the afternoon and evening with Jesus. When they first met Him, they called Him Rabbi, which means teacher. By the end of the day, one man, who we learn to be Andrew, referred to Jesus not as Rabbi but as the Messiah, the Christ (John 1:41).

The first thing Andrew did when he realized Jesus was the Messiah was he ran and got his brother, Simon Peter, and brought him to meet Jesus. Andrew couldn’t wait to share the good news that he had met the Christ, the Son of God.

The Call: A Personal Response is Needed

Leaders, every one of us is seeking the answers to life’s most perplexing questions. The answer to all these questions lies in a relationship with our Lord and Savior, who said simply, “Come, and you will see.”

These are challenging times for everyone. You may be struggling with questions yourself right now. I urge you to spend some time with Jesus. Open your Bible. Join a solid Bible study. Attend a Bible-believing church. Seek the comforting counsel of other believers. Whatever you do, do not leave your questions unanswered.

Also, remember that every person you work with is struggling with the same questions. For example, “What is my purpose in life,” “Is there life after death,” and “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”

Once we know and have a relationship with Jesus, we need to be like Andrew. We need to be ready to bring others to Jesus and introduce them to the Lord and Savior, who already knows the answers to questions we haven’t even asked.

Remember Jesus’ first question, “What do you seek?” and His invitation, “Come, and you will see.”

More Articles

I have written dozens of articles on our dependence on God. You can find them by typing “Dependence on God” in the search bar. Meanwhile, here are a few of my recent ones.

• #384: Don’t Listen to Your Critics. Listen to God Instead!
• #327: How to Avoid A Tragic Ending
• #317: What Happens When God Calls You?
• #304: Are Setbacks Merely Stepping Stones to God’s Purpose?
• #234: The Young Leader Who Lived Through Peace, Prosperity, Reformation, and Disaster

Join the Conversation

As always, questions and comments are welcome. What is your response to Jesus’ first question, “What do you seek?” Are there people in your circle seeking answers to questions who you need to introduce to Jesus?

I’d love your help. This blog is read primarily because people like you share it with friends. Would you be kind enough to share it by pressing the share button?

Category: Personal Development | Dependence on God