John 1:35-42What is your goal? What are you after? These are questions we have asked ourselves or are currently asking. In the Book of John, two of John the Baptist’s disciples follow Jesus, Who asks: “What do you seek?” (John 1:38). They don’t answer Him directly; they call Jesus “Rabbi” (“Teacher”) and want to know where He is staying. It seems as though all they know for sure is that they want to be near Jesus. They appear to intuitively know that they have much to learn from Him.
35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “So you are Simon the son of John? You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter).
Jesus did not rebuke them for not answering Him directly. He simply invited them to join Him (John 1:39). When we draw near to God, God draws near to us (James 4:8). The result is that we turn away from worldly desires and strive “to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age” (Titus 2:12).
Dear God: Just as David called to You in Psalm 35:22, “Do not be far from me.” Help me draw near to You daily, and I know that You will draw near to me. Thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus. Thank You for Your guidance and love. As I turn more fully toward You, help me to be more Christ-like each day. Amen.
Kathy Spradlin
