SolLuna, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
11/30
John 1:35-42The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, "Look, here is the Lamb of God!"
The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When 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?"
He 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. One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first found his brother Simon and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated Anointed).
He 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).
Some of the big questions are answered best in proximity.
John is standing. Jesus is walking by.
The new recruits came and remained. One follows. One brings another.
Everyone is on the move.
Jesus says, "Come and see."
In the process, questions are asked and insights imparted:
What are you looking for?
Where are you staying?
The first words of the passage are invitation and admonition. "Look," John says, "here is the Lamb of God."
Here he is and he is urging people to investigate him by coming and seeing for themselves. Whatever question is in their minds will be answered in time and in proximity to him.
This discipleship was relational. All discipleship is relational.
Proximity to Jesus changes us. In some cases, it even changes our names, how we are known to all and how we are known to ourselves. We come to know ourselves and be known to others the way that God already knows us. Simon becomes Rocky.
Advent is about God moving into proximity to us and about us moving closer to him by hearing the words of Jesus, "Come and See."
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