Lesson 45. What Do You Need?

Sometimes we expect love to mean the absolute acceptance of every person. The impression arises that a loving heart must seize with a death grip everyone who has shown it interest in any way and bind such souls to itself with ties of affection. Love knows how to do this as well; it is strong enough even for this.

Yet in the life of Jesus we find interesting examples in which His conduct and attitude toward people may appear difficult to understand.

When Jesus was baptized and received the gift of the Holy Spirit, He attracted universal attention, but no one followed Him. For forty days afterward, while being tempted by Satan, He remained completely alone in the wilderness. Having gained the victory, Jesus returned to the Jordan, and once again John the Baptist pointed to Him as the Lamb of God. Yet even now the Lord remained alone; no one joined Him. On the following day Christ came to the Jordan once more and was again proclaimed the Messiah. The close attention of the people was fixed upon Jesus, but He withdrew once more in complete solitude. This time, however, two of John’s disciples decided to become acquainted with Jesus and followed Him, causing the Lord indescribable joy. Someone had become interested in Him; someone desired to know Him more closely! The heart of Jesus rejoiced. Yet turning to the disciples, He asked a strange question: “What seek ye?” (John 1:38). I do not think these words sounded rude, but they were testing. The Lord desired to know the disciples’ true motives. They were firmly determined to become acquainted with Him and were not troubled by such a question. Moreover, the disciples even invited themselves to visit Him. Then Andrew gathered courage and called his brother Simon, whom Jesus immediately received. After this we see that the Savior Himself began inviting disciples to follow Him, and they brought their friends to Him.

We read in Luke 9:57–58: “And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto Him, Lord, I will follow Thee whithersoever Thou goest. And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man hath not where to lay His head.”

Once again we hear an interesting answer from Christ. He makes the new disciple understand that His Kingdom is of an entirely different Spirit and nature. At the same time, the Savior immediately calls another person who is occupied with the cares of this life. Luke 9:59–60 says: “And He said unto another, Follow Me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.”

Then something entirely difficult to understand occurs. In John chapter 6, we read that when Jesus arrived in Capernaum, He preached a remarkable sermon about His mission and thereby destroyed the vain plans of many disciples. Afterward they united in deciding to leave Him. When the disciples expressed their contempt for Jesus by demonstratively walking away, for some reason He did not try to stop them or ask them to return. Moreover, Jesus turned to the other twelve disciples with the searching question, “Will ye also go away?” thereby placing them before a definite choice. They had to make a decision.

But Peter saved the situation and answered for everyone in John 6:68–69: “Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of Eternal life. And we believe and are sure that Thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Once again Jesus says something strange in John 6:70–71: “Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray Him, being one of the twelve.”

When the betrayal was destined to take place, Jesus, knowing everything, did not try to persuade Judas to reconsider and refrain from doing it. Instead, He allowed Judas to carry out his intention, saying, “That thou doest, do quickly.”

When the rich young ruler was offered the opportunity to become Christ’s disciple, the conditions of discipleship were shown to him, and the young man went away sorrowful, Jesus did not attempt to detain him.

I have given these examples to show another side of love in which a person’s choice and right to freedom are respected. I imagine the pain of separation Jesus experienced when He saw His disciples departing forever toward certain destruction, knowing that the doors of salvation were closing to them eternally. Yet He did not hinder them. The most frightening thing is that Jesus sometimes asks me this question as well: “What do you need from Me, Andrey?” making me understand that His Kingdom is not of this world. I must give an answer. And I answer as Peter did: “Where can I go, Lord? With Thee are life, love, happiness, and friendship. In the world are vanity, sin, and death. May I continue with Thee?” Jesus embraces me and nods His head, assuring me also of His love.

Jesus addresses this strange question to many people. Unfortunately, they turn away from Him.

I very often decide to love different people. They differ greatly from one another. One rejoices in such treatment and is ready to open the heart. Another turns away and begins to hate me. Although my love proceeds from a pure heart, each person perceives it differently. Love does not mean that I must run after a beloved friend and attempt to prove something until that person believes me and changes their attitude. Instead, I allow the person to relate to me as they consider necessary, respecting their choice.

Love tests the true feelings and motives of friends. It will not quench the smoking flax or break the bruised reed, yet it will withstand open hostility and will not retreat from its principles when faced with rejection.

Jesus continued loving those who betrayed and abandoned Him. It was exceedingly painful for Him to experience the betrayal of His close disciple, yet Christ did not prevent people from choosing their path. Jesus drank this bitter cup of love while remaining faithful. If any of those who departed had returned to Christ in repentance, they would have been joyfully received and restored.

This approach to human freedom helps me avoid various difficulties and gives the person near me the opportunity to decide independently how to relate to me. I will say honestly that sometimes it is very painful to feel rejected and unwanted when nothing can be done.

From some people it sounds like this: “I need your money, your talents, your body, your connections, your influence, your gifts, or something else that belongs to you—but I do not need you.” From others it sounds this way: “Your place is over there. Take it and do not move.” Love sees all this and gives a person the right to leave.

When you remember how everyone abandoned Christ in His most difficult hour and how He had to drink the cup of suffering in complete solitude, it becomes easier, because you understand that you are no better than the Savior.

The only person who supported Jesus during the darkest moments of His life was an unnamed thief who saw his Savior in Christ and declared his faith in Him. This was all Jesus saw before His death.

Sometimes love leads me through similar darkness, and this condition helps me reconsider many things in life and cast aside what is unnecessary and unstable. What joy it is to understand that someone accepts you, needs you, and treasures you. All these people shine in your life like precious stones, and you value them as the dearest treasure you can take with you to Heaven.

What do you need, my friends, in this School?

In the light of this lesson, please read 1 Chronicles 28:9 and John 6:37.
What did you understand from this lesson?
What revelations did you receive while studying this subject?
What other examples from the Bible came to your mind while studying the lesson? Give two of them.
When, and to whom, should the question considered in this lesson not be asked?
Why does Jesus sometimes ask what I need instead of immediately giving me what I require?
Did you notice that in Revelation 3:18 the Lord likewise imposes nothing upon anyone?