(Editor's Note: Sorry for the missing blog yesterday! Things got crazy in a hurry, and then I was without internet in the evening. If you read this, and notice that there was a missing post in the series, please collect a free hug on Sunday!)

35The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, 36and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!” 37The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o'clock in the afternoon. 40One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41He first found his brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Anointed). 42He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter). (John 1:35-42)

I've always been a little bit wary of the kind of Christianity that has all the answers. There are those who are out there who want a faith where every question is tied up in a nice, neat little bow. No room for questions. Certainly no room for doubt. Everything has an answer, and if you don't know the answer then you are clearly on the outside. Sadly such a Christianity exists in the world, but it's not the kind I celebrate.

I celebrate the Christianity that asks questions, because we recognize that our Savior set a pretty fine example of asking questions before us. Since I read this passage this morning, Jesus' question has been haunting me. "What are you looking for?" What exactly is it that you are looking for the Savior to do for you? Are you looking for a Savior that always agrees with you, takes your side in every argument? Are you looking for a Savior that provides a challenge, a disruption to the normal day in and day out kind of life we live? Are you looking for a victorious Savior, one that wins every battle on your behalf? Are you looking for a Prince of Peace, someone to come alongside you and quite the shouting voices in your head? Some of these are better representations of who Jesus actually is than others.

I have heard it said that one of the chief sins humanity commits is to shape God in our own image, rather than allowing ourselves to be shaped into his. I wonder this morning what we're looking for? Are we looking for the kind of God that we can shape in our own image? Or are we looking for the kind of God who would show up in human form, living and breathing and walking among us, to show us what God wants to shape us into?

Brothers and sisters, what are you looking for?