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In chapter 1 of John’s gospel, John records the first followers of Jesus. It seems they were disciples of John the Baptist. They were with the Baptist, when Jesus was passing by. When John the Baptist saw Jesus, he prophesied, “Look! There’s God’s sacrificial Lamb!” Two of his disciples heard him. One is identified as Andrew, and the other was likely the John who wrote this gospel. Andrew and John immediately left the Baptist and began to follow a short distance behind Jesus.
Now this gets interesting. Jesus saw they were following him and asked, “What do you want?” They responded, “Rabbi, where are you staying?” That seems such an odd response, doesn’t it? Jesus’ question makes sense; likely you have asked the same question at times. One commentator suggests Jesus asked the question to find out whether they were motivated by idle curiosity or by a real desire to know him.
Verse 39: “Jesus answered, “Come and discover for yourselves.” So they went with Him and saw where He was staying, and since it was late in the afternoon, they spent the rest of the day with Jesus.”
This is the first recorded saying of Jesus in the Gospels. Jesus invited John and Andrew to be a part of His life. It is a good question for all of us followers of Jesus to ask ourselves: “What do I want in following Jesus?”
Do we want something only for ourselves? Do we want a ministry? A miracle? Money? Answers to prayer?
Or do we simply want to be with him? Their answer, “Where are you staying?” shows that they were seeking only Him. The word used for ‘staying’ is the same word that’s translated ‘abide’ in John 15, where Jesus describes Himself as the vine and we are the branches. It refers to life-union. To be joined to Jesus, the living vine, is to truly be ALIVE!
Jesus wants everyone to come and discover where He “abides.” He abides in life-union with his Father. He told the nasty Pharisees to believe in Him or believe in the miracles He did so that they quote, “may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father.” John 10:38.
What a marvelous expression of one facet of the grace of God! Jesus, from the beginning, inviting those who would follow Him to become intimately joined with Him in life-union, and joined in life-union with the Father!
Look! There’s Jesus now! Let’s follow Him, abide in Him — and COME ALIVE!
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