They followed Jesus. Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, “What do you seek?” They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), “where are You staying?” He said to them, “Come and see.”
JOHN 1:37–39
THERE ARE TIMES when we see. And there are times when we see. Let me show you what I mean:
Everything changes the morning you see the “for sale” sign on your neighbor’s boat. His deluxe bass boat. The bass boat you’ve coveted for three summers. All of a sudden nothing else matters. A gravitational tug pulls your car to the curb. You sigh as you behold your dream glistening in the sun. You run your fingers along the edge, pausing only to wipe the drool from your shirt. As you gaze, you are transported to Lake Tamapwantee, and it’s just you and the glassy waters and your bass boat.
Or perhaps the following paragraph describes you better:
Everything changes the day you see him enter the English lit classroom. Just enough swagger to be cool. Just enough smarts to be classy. Not walking so fast as to be nervous, nor so slow as to be cocky. You’ve seen him before, but only in your dreams. Now he’s really here. And you can’t take your eyes off him. By the time class is over, you’ve memorized every curl and lash. And by the time this day is over, you resolve he’s going to be yours.
There are times when we see. And then there are times when we see. There are times when we observe, and there are times when we memorize. There are times when we notice, and there are times when we study. Most of us know what it means to see a new boat or a new boy . . . but do we know what it’s like to see Jesus?
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
HEBREWS 11:6
1. In Acts 26:12–18, Paul recounts his experience on the road to Damascus when he saw the Lord. At the very moment his eyes were blinded, they were opened. What did Jesus ask of Paul that day, according to verses 17–18?
2. You won’t see Jesus if you’re not looking for him. What does Hebrews 11:6 say that God rewards?
3. God has been beckoning to us since the beginning, calling for people to see his hand, to hear his voice, and to seek his face.
• 1 Chronicles 22:19—What did David command the people to do when building the temple?
• Isaiah 55:6—According to Isaiah, when should we seek the Lord? When should we call out to him?
• Hosea 10:12—According to Hosea, what are we to plant? What will we reap? If we seek the Lord, what will we see him do?
Consider John and Andrew. They were rewarded for seeking out Jesus. For them it wasn’t enough to listen to John the Baptist. Most would have been content to serve in the shadow of the world’s most famous evangelist. Could there be a better teacher? Only one. And when John and Andrew saw him, they left John the Baptist and followed Jesus. Note the request they made.
“Rabbi,” they asked, “where are you staying?” (John 1:38 NIV). Pretty bold request. They didn’t ask Jesus to give them a minute or an opinion or a message or a miracle. They asked for his address. They wanted to hang out with him. They wanted to know him. They wanted to know what caused his head to turn and his heart to burn and his soul to yearn. They wanted to study his eyes and follow his steps. They wanted to see him.
Jesus’ answer to the disciples? “Come and see.” He didn’t say, “Come and glance,” or “Come and peek.” He said, “Come and see.” Bring your bifocals and binoculars. This is no time for side-glances or occasional peeks. “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2 NIV).
The fisherman fixes his eyes on the boat. The girl fixes her eyes on the boy. The disciple fixes his eyes on the Savior.
When You said, “Seek My face,” my heart said to You, “Your face, LORD, I will seek.”
PSALM 27:8
4. God makes a promise to those who seek him. In fact, we find the same promise repeated time and again in the Bible.
• How does God want to be sought, according to Deuteronomy 4:29?
• When will we find the Lord, according to the prophet in Jeremiah 29:13?
• What does Jesus reveal in Matthew 7:7?
5. What do we learn about seekers in Lamentations 3:25?
Zacchaeus was far from a big guy. He was small, so small he couldn’t see over the crowd that lined the street the day Jesus came to Jericho. Of course the crowd might have let him elbow up to the front, except that he was a tax collector. But he had a hunger in his heart to see Jesus.
It wasn’t enough to stand at the back of the crowd. It wasn’t enough to peer through a cardboard telescope. It wasn’t enough to listen to someone else describe the parade of the Messiah. Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus with his own eyes.
So he went out on a limb. Clad in a three-piece Armani suit and brand-new Italian loafers, he shimmied up a tree in hopes of seeing Christ.
6. Zacchaeus was in earnest. He was willing to go out on a limb in his search for something to trust. What assurance can we draw from Psalm 9:10?
7. Those who seek the Lord are rewarded for their diligence. Take a look at these scriptures, and match each verse with the additional rewards we receive when we find him.
| ___ Psalm 27:4 | a. We shall be “happy” or “blessed.” |
| ___ Psalm 34:4 | b. We will dwell with him, seeing his beauty firsthand. |
| ___ Psalm 105:4 | c. God listens to us. |
| ___ Psalm 119:2 | d. He delivers us from our fears. |
| ___ Ephesians 2:18 | e. He lends us his strength. |
Would you go out on a limb to see Jesus? Not everyone would. In the same Bible where we read about Zacchaeus crawling across the limb, we read about a young ruler. Unlike the way they treated Zacchaeus, the crowd parted to make room for him. He was the . . . ahem . . . rich, young ruler. Upon learning that Jesus was in the area, he called for the limo and cruised across town and approached the carpenter. Please note the question he had for Jesus: “Teacher, what good thing must I do to have life forever?” (Matthew 19:16 NCV).
Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the LORD!
PSALM 105:3
Bottom line sort of fellow, this ruler. No time for formalities or conversations. “Let’s get right to the issue. Your schedule is busy; so is mine. Tell me how I can get saved, and I’ll leave you alone.”
There was nothing wrong with his question, but there was a problem with his heart. Contrast his desire with that of Zacchaeus: “Can I make it up that tree?”
Or John and Andrew: “Where are you staying?” (John 1:38 NIV).
Or Matthew: “Can you spend the evening?”
See the difference? The rich, young ruler wanted medicine. The others wanted the Physician. The ruler wanted an answer to the quiz. They wanted the teacher. He was in a hurry. They had all the time in the world. He settled for a cup of coffee at the drive-through window. They wouldn’t settle for anything less than a full-course meal at the banquet table. They wanted more than salvation. They wanted the Savior. They wanted to see Jesus.
8. How does Psalm 69:32 characterize those who seek God?
9. Scripture tells us how to go about our search. In fact, Peter and Paul offer the same advice.
• 2 Peter 3:14
• 2 Timothy 2:15
Diligently—what a great word. Be diligent in your search. Be hungry in your quest, relentless in your pilgrimage. Step away from the puny pursuits of possessions and positions, and seek your king. Do as John and Andrew did: ask for his address. Do as Matthew: invite Jesus into your house. Imitate Zacchaeus. Risk whatever it takes to see Christ. 
