John 1:35-42 – The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” 37 When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38 Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?” They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” 39 “Come,” He replied, “and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon. 40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).
“The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” Once again John points out that Jesus is the Lamb of God who came to take away the sins of the world (John 1:29). Isaiah 53:2 points out that the Messiah Jesus “had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.” John, who whose ministry was to prepare the people to receive their Messiah, pointed out the Lord. God did not want people to focus on the beauty of His physical features, so Jesus physically just blended into the crowd. Jesus appeared in the form of a regular man and was not born rich to give Him a platform that men give to wealthy people. Yes, Jesus came as a man, but was God in the flesh. It was not physical beauty that we are to focus on but on His spiritual beauty. The important part of His salvation work was spiritual and not physical (though not excluding physical works). Jesus broke the spiritual curse that came upon all men at the fall in the Garden of Eden. The consequences of the fall was twofold. The first was loss of spiritual life and the second was the loss of physical life. After all, even after having received salvation from Jesus our bodies still perish, but it is our spirits that now have eternal life with God.
“When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.” These two of John’s disciples immediately followed Jesus. They were hungry for God and though they loved and valued John, even John admitted that Jesus was so far above him that he was not even fit to untie the sandal of Jesus. (John 1:27) How I relate to this is from a memory when I was new in the Lord. At that time I attended a church that was blessed with the operation of the gifts of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12 and 13). The first day I visited there I witnessed a message in Tongues from God, I immediately after service inquired what it was I had just seen. Once I was properly informed I immediately thought “Well if they can have this gift from God, then so can I.” I wanted everything from God that I could have. In prayer, I pursued the gifts and the Lord generously gave them. John’s two disciples wanted as much of God as they could have so they followed Jesus. I think I get their desire. We know all of God is what He wants to give all of us.
“Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?” We know that Jesus knew they were following and that He knew what they wanted. However, He wanted them to say what they wanted. It is a question that today is valid for all who want to receive Jesus as Savior and Lord. What do we want? Because we must confess and repent from our sins so that we may be saved. And we must also desire the Lord to be our Master and Lord, submitting to Him in ever increasing submission. Yes, salvation is a free gift of God and received only by faith, but Jesus did say “If you love me, keep my commands.” (John 14:15) Also let’s remember that Jesus taught that we should count the cost of discipleship to Him (Luke 14:25-35). So yes, even today “What do you want” is a pertinent question.
They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” 39 “Come,” He replied, “and you will see.” The disciples answered His question with a question. Perhaps they knew they wanted more of God, but beyond that didn’t know what more to say. I suppose if I had been asked what I want my only answer would have been “I want to be saved. I want to go to Heaven and not to hell.” Oh, now, knowing the Lord, my answer would be more specific and more personal about growing closer to Him and knowing ever more His wisdom and knowledge. But starting out, my prayer was “Lord, save me!” (Matthew 14:30)
Jesus responded to them “Come and you’ll see.” I wonder if He smiled at them in a welcoming way and in a way that also revealed the joy within Him that they would come to receive and know much more than they could imagine. He probably had that same smile for us as we cried out to Him.
“So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon. At first I wondered at how wonderful that first time alone with Him must have been. Now I venture to say that Jesus said to them what He wants to say to us, that He does say to us. They stayed with Him and listened. So we should hear the Spirit and search His Word and He will continually reveal to us what they would heard. The work of God never stops and so we continually travel along the wondrous path with Him. What things did He say to them, most likely like what He says to us.
“Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus.” Some refer to Andrew as the “First Called.) Whether it was he or the other disciple that first was called by the Lord, or simultaneously called, what is true is that Andrew not only followed Jesus but he believed Jesus was the Messiah. The Word here states that the “first thing” Andrew did after believing in the Lord was to tell the brother he loved, Peter. That is a common experience for Believers. After becoming His disciple we are so excited that we have to share the “Good News” with those we love and know. We have tell them so that they too may know the love and goodness of God. So Andrew told Simon that they had found the Messiah and brought his brother to Jesus. That desire to share should continue to burn as bright as our love for Him.
John 1:5 “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will Hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, Oh man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
Numbers 6:24-26 The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.