When Jesus Turned Around

When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, "Look, the Lamb of God!" When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.  Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, "What do you want?" They said, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?"  "Come," he replied, "and you will see."  So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him.  It was about the tenth hour.

John 1:36-39

"What do you want?" was Jesus' first question to the two disciples following Him.  It caught my attention for two reasons: (1) Jesus asked, and (2) Jesus gave a friendly tone which lead to an invitation.  Let me expound on my two points.

1. JESUS ASKED.

It's a normal reaction that when someone is following you with reason you do not know, you ask him what he wants from you.  You would want to know why he's following you, like when you walk down the street and you notice that a man is following you wherever you go; he turns left as you turn left; you cross the street then he crosses the street; when you cross a bridge, he is at your back following you.  It would make you wonder with his obvious action of following you.  Then you might turn around and ask him, "What do you want?" (Hoping it isn't someone stalking you to steal from you).

Going back to Jesus, He noticed that these two disciples were following His lead.  He turned around and asked them, "What do you want?"  It was not just anybody who asked; it was Jesus.  Jesus, as the Son of God, knew who they were, where they lived, what they do for a living, what they had in their minds, what kind of persons they were, and all.  It is no surprise for Jesus why these two fellows were following Him.  Jesus knew their hearts and thoughts; he could see through them.  He knew them before the foundation of the earth. Why? Because He is Jesus Christ, the Son of God and God Himself.

But why did Jesus take such an effort to turn around and ask them what they wanted when, in fact, Jesus knew their reasons?  Why? Jesus wanted to draw out their thoughts in them and to express them to Him. He took time to listen when He asked them.

It goes the same with us.  Jesus already knew the very thoughts of our minds and the content of our hearts more than we know them ourselves, but Jesus wants us to draw our thoughts and desires out in us and express them to Him. He delights to take time to turn around, ask us, and listen to us. He desires that we may have fellowship with Him.  Jesus cares about our thoughts, and He will always take time to stop, turn around, ask, and listen to us as we follow Him.

2. JESUS GAVE A FRIENDLY TONE WHICH LEAD TO AN INVITATION.

I could just imagine when Jesus asked the two disciples, He turned around, looked at them and smiled, and then asked them with a gentle, friendly tone.  Jesus was a crowd magnet;  He drew large crowds toward Him.  All kinds of people from all walks of life are captured by His Presence wanting to follow Him around.  People had different motives why they follow Him; some were just curious, some were envious, some wanted to benefit from Him, some knew Him as the Messiah, and others just followed where the crowd was going.

In this verse, it says, when John the Baptist testified that Jesus is the Lamb of God, the first two disciples believed and then followed Jesus.  Now, going back to Jesus' question, I believe Jesus executed gentleness, grace, and love when He asked the disciples.  He captured them by His exuding grace and love of His truth that He is the Messiah.  Besides, who would follow someone who is bitter, unfriendly, indifferent, unloving , and ungracious?

Then here came the follow-up question from the two, "Where are you staying, Rabbi?"  They wanted to know where Jesus was going and staying.  It seemed the two wanted to follow Jesus even to the place of His abode.  Then this was the starting point of Jesus giving His invitation, "Come and you will see."  Jesus invited them to come with Him.  "Come," was Jesus' invitation.  "And you will see," was the result of their response to His invitation.

'Come' is defined as to approach or move toward a particular person or place (dictionary.reference.com).  'Will,' an auxiliary verb which is used to express a future tense, used to express willingness or determination, or used to express capability.  'See' is defined as to perceive with the eyes; look at, or to understand, or to find out.  All these are verbs; two action verbs and one auxiliary verb. 'Come' and 'see' are both action verbs, which imply that Jesus wants us to take action and  to respond to His invitation; and when we respond to Him, we will be enabled of understanding and finding out who He really is. When we won't take action, nothing would happen.  But, when we decide to take effort to move toward Him and follow Him, then we will see and understand Jesus' glory.

First, Jesus asked. Then, He gave an invitation. Jesus cares about our thoughts.  He knows about our motives.  He gives His invitation to anyone who wants to follow Him.  He is saying, "Come and you will see."  he took His first move toward you.  Now are you willing to respond to His call?

There was no significance to me when I read these verses a few years back.  Not. Until. Now.  The Holy Spirit gave me a fresh insight about the heart of Jesus.  The words Jesus spoke made my heart beat; it made me more alive.  It made my heart burn with more passion for Jesus as I continue to know Him through the Scriptures.  There is so much more to discover the very heart of God, and I am hungry for that!

[Journal entry: March 10, 2012]