John 1:38 Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, "What do you want?" They said, "Rabbi" (which means "Teacher"), "where are you staying?"
John the Baptist had recently introduced the promised coming Messiah to the world with the words: "Look, the Lamb of God." John was letting the world know that the long-awaited Savior of the world that would come to atone for the world's sins had arrived. John also pointed two of his followers to Jesus, Andrew and John, who had responded to the Baptist's call to repent and be baptized. These two men had heard John the Baptist preach on many occasions concerning the Promised Messiah's coming and were aware of this great event.
John the Baptist had already proclaimed that there was one among them, that they did not know whose sandals he was not worthy enough to unlatch. God had revealed to John the Baptist that Jesus was, in fact, the Messiah, the Savior of the world. This truth was confirmed at the baptism of Jesus when the heavens opened, and a dove came to rest on the shoulders of Christ Jesus. These two disciples of John the Baptist, Andrew and John, were so intrigued that they left John the Baptist and began to follow Jesus at a distance. Jesus did not have to look behind Himself to know these men were following Him. He just turned around and inquired of these two what they wanted, and the reply was, "where are you staying?" Jesus knew what was in the hearts of these two future followers and believers in Christ Jesus. However, Jesus wanted them to state that there was no shallow or insincere motive in becoming part of the closest followers of Himself.
The question put to these two men is the same challenge we face when we turn our backs on the world and begin a life of following Jesus. Do we seek answers to life's most intriguing questions concerning who Christ Jesus is and what He has done for the world on the Cross of Calvary, or are we just curious and ready to move on to the next thought-provoking, exciting person that comes along?
These two men, most likely following Jesus that Day, did not precisely know what they were looking for, but they realized that the answers to all of life's questions were in Jesus. So they immediately transferred their alliance from John the Baptist to Jesus and received the most critical invitation we can ever sense, "Follow Me."
This invitation still holds and is as solid today as it did the Day John and Andrew began to follow Jesus. When we reject the world's lure to fame and fortune and surrender ourselves to Jesus, becoming one of His followers, the world's ways will lose its charm and enchantment. The closer we become to Christ Jesus, and the more intimate our relationship with Him becomes, the more we will appreciate and be amazed at Who He is and what he has done and continues to do for the world.
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