Jesus’ First Question: ‘What Are You Seeking?’

Open the Gospel of John and you find in the first chapter at verse 38 that the first question Jesus asked anybody was His query to two of the disciples of John the Baptist, asking them “What are you seeking?”

The two men had left a conversation they were having with John the Baptist and began following Jesus. They did so when the Baptist described Jesus as “the Lamb of God,” a reference to the fact Jesus would ultimately die as punishment for the sins of His followers.

“What are you seeking” is an especially relevant question for congressional aides. You typically are motivated by a high degree of idealism, a passion for making things better in America, and for helping others.

You may also be seeking to become well-known among certain groups of voters, acquire valuable experience doing things like dealing with media, researching and drafting legislation or building networks of relationships around which career paths can be constructed.

Working on the Hill is also a great place to make new friends, meet potential spouses or business partners, set yourself up for appointments in the executive branch under presidents you support, or acquiring knowledge about how “Washington works” that will open doors for you in the corporate world.

But even if you accomplish every single thing you first came to the Hill to seek, odds are solid that you will find yourself not feeling completed or satisfied. In the words of a once-famous singer, “Is that all there is?”

The reality is that there’s more to being happy and fulfilled in life than money, fame, power or possessions. A lot of Hill veterans will tell you in an honest, off-the-record moment of candor that they weren’t as happy as they thought they would be once they achieved their goals. I can relate because that’s what happened to me.

Jesus also said this: “I came that you may have life and have it abundantly.” He also said this: ” I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father but through me.” Happiness — the kind that lasts forever — comes from knowing Jesus as your Lord and Savior, and having a changed heart as a result.

If you would like to know more about this, let’s talk. Coffee is on me. It’s totally off-the-record and my passion is to be a listening ear, not a condemning voice. Email me at mark.tapscott@hillfaith.org and we can get something scheduled that works for your schedule.