Years later, two missionaries knocked on our door during dinner. We invited them in, but as I watched them try to maneuver the conversation toward their talking points, I felt a familiar cringe. I wasn't judging them; I was recognizing myself. For all their sincerity, the agenda was the elephant in the room. They weren't looking at me; they were looking at a target. Contrast that with how faith actually spreads in John 1. It's a chain reaction of friends. John points to Jesus. Andrew goes and gets his brother. Philip finds Nathanael. When Nathanael raises legitimate theological objections to Jesus being from Nazareth, Philip doesn't sit under the fig tree for seven hours. He just says, "Come and see." Philip knew that his arguments couldn't convince Nathanael, but an encounter with Jesus could. He didn't try to close the deal; he just made the introduction. We often feel the pressure to be defense attorneys for God, answering every objection and closing every loophole. But Jesus doesn't need a defense attorney. Notice how Jesus responds differently to each person: Andrew and John get an address. Peter gets a new name. Nathanael gets a demonstration of omniscience. Jesus isn't running a script. He knows the key to each person's heart. That's why his question is the key to this passage: What are you looking for? Part of following Jesus involves loving God with all of our minds. There's a place for thoughtful answers. But arguments can't replace introductions. Talking about Jesus doesn't compare to meeting him. Jesus' invitation is always open. The question is whether we know him, and if we'll take our friends to meet him.