As Easter draws near, I am pondering Jesus’ question, “Whom are you seeking?”

Have you ever experienced a time when your mind seems to open and in a fleeting moment, you clearly understand something in a deeper dimension?  I had such an experience during a Bible study. We were talking about Jesus’ betrayal in the Garden, and I read aloud the passage in John.

When Jesus had spoken…, He went out with His disciples … there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered. … Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. Jesus … said to them, “Whom are you seeking?” They answered Him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am He.”  (John 18:1-5)

As I read, I thought, These are not words of defeat, spoken by a captive about to be crucified. These are words of triumph. These are words of identity. And I thought of the times Jesus had spoken metaphorically of His identity, those times when He had connected us to his identity — as our bread, light, gate, good shepherd, resurrection, life, way, truth, and vine.

“Before Abraham was I am.” (Jn 8:58)

“I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.” (Jn 6:35)

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” (Jn 8:12)


“I am the gate; if anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” (Jn 10:9)

“I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. … and I lay down My life for the sheep.”  (Jn 10:14)

“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (Jn 11:25-26)

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (Jn 14:6)

““I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” (Jn 15:5)

Like the turning of the pages of a book, verse after verse came to my heart. I was engulfed in a sense awe as I thought of who Jesus is to me. Then like a shaft of light, revelation came down upon my mind.

The question is, Whom are you seeking?
So often in prayer I find myself being overly concerned about the need or the person. But looking at the need or at the person is looking at man, and I should, instead, be looking to Jesus. I need to see Him for all He is. No matter the circumstances, no matter the need, Jesus asks, “Whom are you seeking?” And always His response is, “I am . . .”

My being reels with the simple magnitude of this understanding.

Whom are you seeking?

Past posts celebrating Easter:

It’s Empty — retelling the Easter Story with a dozen colored plastic eggs.

Alive Forevermore — celebrating the resurrection in verse.

Easters Past — remembering my childhood in verse.

On the first Thursday of the month,
I join a community of bloggers
and reflect on my faith. Today
we are posting
about New Life… Spring…
Easter…
over at Violet Nesdoly’s blog where
she has an inspiring post about Bible journaling.

C.