A well-known passage. A stirring declaration. And in its shadow, a response perhaps unnoticed and a question perhaps rarely marked and answered. So, this morning I hover in the shadow of this great truth, its almost assumed implication, and try and honestly ask myself the question, “Whaddya want?”

The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as He walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?”

(John 1:35-38a ESV)

Behold, the Lamb of God . . . A proclamation? An invitation? A regulation? Yes. It’s a truth to know. It’s a welcome to receive. It’s a duty to perform. I could stop right now and there would be more than enough in those five words to chew on through the day. Behold, the Lamb of God.

They followed Him . . . If Jesus was good enough for John, He was good enough for John’s disciples. If John was leading a Jesus parade, then they were ready to get in line. It’s the only right response, isn’t it? I’m thinkin’.

So, John was pointing the way, and his disciples were walking in the way. But wait, there’s more.

Apparently, this wasn’t enough for Jesus.

Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?”

What are you seeking? What are you looking for? (CSB) “What are you after?” (MSG) “Whaddya want? (PJCV). Literally, what are you striving after?

Think about it. They’ve just decided to follow a Lamb. Yet, Genesis 49:9-10 indicates that the Messiah would be more like a lion — a scepter wielding, staff carrying, top of the food chain roaring king of the jungle. So, what’s with the Lamb thing?

Fluffy, gentle, frolicking and playful? Nope, that not’s the picture that would have come to mind for these first century followers of John. Lambs were about sacrifice. Lambs were about atonement for sin. Lambs were meant to be a blood offering so that others could live (Exodus 12:1-28). Jesus was a man likened to a creature born to die, and that’s who the disciples of John decided to follow.

Okay, so maybe now the almost always overlooked question asked by Jesus makes some sense. You’re following a Lamb whose life’s mission is to die. What are you seeking? Whaddya want?

Hmm . . . how to answer that . . .

Well Lord, I want my sins to be dealt with once and for all, taken away (Jn. 1:29), removed as far as the east is from the west (Ps. 103:12). So, to that end, I guess I want You to die, Lord. But me following you? Is that really where I want to follow You to? How about we skip that part and go right to the blessings of the kingdom You said You’d rule over. Maybe I want the blessed life. The easy life. The good life. Yeah, maybe that’s what I’m seeking.

Wrong answer, says Jesus. That’s not what following a lamb is about.

Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone would come after Me let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”

(Matthew 16:24-25 ESV)

The Lamb of God’s sacrificial altar was a Roman cross. And those who would follow Him, says Jesus, need to be prepared to pick up their own cross. Is that what I’m seeking? Is that I want?

Take a deep breath . . . scary thing to say . . . “But yes Lord, that’s what I’m seeking?”

For if the way to the crown for You was by the cross, then I know the way to the kingdom of heaven for me is through the trials, troubles, and sufferings of earth. If Your wisdom is the world’s foolishness, if Your weakness is what confounds the world’s strength (1Cor. 1:27), then I want to live to die to self, I want Your power to be known in my weakness.

That’s what I want.

Only way it’s gonna happen is by Your grace. Only way it’s gonna happen is for Your glory.