Friday, April 24, 2015

"Where Are You Staying?"

  Again the next day, John stood with two of His disciples.
  And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, "Behold the Lamb of God!"
  The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
  Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, "What do you seek?" They  said to Him, "Rabbi" (Which is translated, Teacher), "where are you staying?"
  He said to them, "Come and see." They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with him that day(now it was about the tenth hour). John 1:35-39

As I read this today I was struck by the simplicity of His calling. Take a look at what happened here. John the Baptist is with two of his disciples and he sees Jesus walking by. He points Jesus out to them with the declaration about who He is - "Behold the Lamb of God!" - They decide to check Him out for themselves and start following Him as He continues on His way.  Jesus, aware of their interest, asks them point blank, "What do you seek?" which to my way of thinking is a rather pertinent question. To be honest, His question, their response, and then His command are what struck me ... "What do you seek?"  "Rabbi, where are you staying?" and then His, "Come and see."

In these three statements we see a clear picture painted for us of first, the heart of God because His heart is always and forever to meet the needs of His most precious creation. Second, we see the cry of mankind, "God, Where are you? Where can we find you?"  A then third, we see God's solution. "Come and see! Come and dwell with Me in the place I abide, the secret place of My Presence."

"For I know the thoughts I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give tou a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all you heart. I will be found by you, says, the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive. Jeremiah 29:11-14

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1

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