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 that Day is the same
challenge we face when we choose to 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, an exciting person that comes along? These two men 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 true and is as solid today as
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 their 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 did
and continues to do for the world.
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