“What seek ye? … Come” John 1:38, 39 KJV
“What do you think? …Come John 1:38,39 NASB
“Whom seek ye? … go” John 18:7,8 KJV
“Whom do you seek? …go” John 18:7,8 NASB
John’s Gospel contains approximately forty-two questions asked by the Lord Jesus. Perhaps the final three in chapter 21 are the best known: “Children have ye any meat?” and “Lovest thou Me?” and finally, “What is that to thee?” In no instance, however, did the Lord Jesus ask a question to find an answer. Almost every chapter of John contains evidence of His omniscience, “He knew all” (John 2:24). His questions were for other reasons.
At times, His questions were to touch the consciences as He did with the woman in John 4. He would test His disciples as when He asked Philip about the bread to feed the 5,000 in John 6. Questions were employed to challenge the unbelief of men as when He asked, “Which of you convinceth Me of sin” in John 8:46. Who can hear Him ask, “Where have ye laid Him” (John 11:34) without sensing the sensitivity of His heart that was sharing the grief of two sisters? What of the pathos of His words when He asked, “Will ye also go away?” (John 6:67).
The first question we encounter from His lips, in fact, the first words of the Lord Jesus in John’s Gospel are, “What seek ye?” That these are His first words in John is not without its own significance. He has come to meet every need humanity has, and to satisfy every desire in the human heart. But attention is not being drawn to this aspect of truth in the question. What is significant in that following this question is the invitation to “come.”
In the question asked by the Lord in the Garden, “Whom seek ye?” there is an opposite desire: “Let these go.” In contrast to Adam in the Garden, the Lord Jesus did not hide but went forth. Again, in contrast, He did not shift responsibility to another but sent His disciples away.
But consider the two questions with their contrasting requests and invitation. When the cross was in view, He sent every disciple away, “Go.” The cross was for Him alone. No one could walk that pathway with Him. When it is fellowship and satisfaction, His message was “come.” His desire was and remains to share all He is with His own.
We can be thankful that He went to Calvary alone to endure the full weight of our sins. We can be equally thankful that He invites us to find our satisfaction in Him.
Consider
Take a quick survey of all the questions the Lord Jesus asks in the Gospel of John. He asks more questions in this Gospel than in the other three. Why do you think this is the case?