John 1.35-4235The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, 36and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!”
37The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon. 40One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41He first found his brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Anointed). 42He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).
Thoughts: I was told in seminary to pay particular attention to the first and last words of Jesus in any particular Gospel that you are reading. Today, we get Jesus' first words: "What are you looking for?" I think these are words that should still today stop us cold in our tracks. What am I looking for? If we dare to answer that questions the results can be quite interesting if not a little disturbing. Do the things I seek connect to those values of which I confess to be about? What are you looking for? Andrew and the others stumble around this question and finally they ask literally, "Where do you abide?" Or, as it gets translated "Where are you staying." But the question is deeper than just what address can I find you at. Where do you abide, in waht are YOU rooted, from whence does your life flow? Jesus' answer: Come and see! For the faith is only caught not taught. It is something that must be experienced and only then can we find out whether or not we too would like to 'abide' in him?
What do you think? What do you think about the earliest form of finding disciples...word of mouth! Is it hard for you to share with others about Jesus? Why? Who first told you about Jesus?
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