“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, where are you staying? “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon.”
John 1:37-39 (NIV)
As John the Baptist was preaching, Jesus walked by, and he said “Behold the Lamb of God.” Andrew was one of those two disciples who heard those words, and rose up to follow Jesus from that day forward. Later that day, he went to find his brother, Peter, and introduced him to Jesus.
Hearing John’s description of Jesus, and just knowing about Him, was not enough for Andrew. He wanted to know Him for himself. He wanted to meet Jesus, fellowship with Him and simply hang out with Him. John, the writer of this gospel, made a point of mentioning the time of day, telling the readers that those two disciples were with Jesus from morning until 4:00 pm that afternoon. They were transformed after spending a full day with the Lamb of God, and they never returned to their former lifestyle.
Andrew and the other disciple walked behind Jesus, following Him until He turned and asked them what they wanted, but all they wanted was to go wherever Jesus was going. They asked Jesus where He stayed and Jesus invited them, saying “Come and see.”
If I could visualize myself walking behind Jesus, following Him, as those two disciples did, I would have thought He is too busy, with places to go and people to minister to, and yet Jesus stopped and turned to look at those two disciples. He invited them to come closer and see for themselves.
This is typical of Jesus, to see each of us personally, and He also intends for us to walk beside Him, instead of following from a distance. Jesus calls all of us His friends, not His servants.
(John 15:15)
Imagine being those disciples as Jesus stops walking and looks at you. He invites you to “Come” and know Him, instead of knowing about Him. To get closer to Jesus means discovering that He has better plans for us, than we have for ourselves. When we get to know Him better, walking beside Him, He shares the thoughts of His heart with us.
He calls everyone, saying, “Come closer, I’ve been waiting for you.”
John, the apostle, who wrote this gospel, used to lay his head on Jesus wherever they rested. He was known for laying his head on Jesus’ chest, and Jesus invites all of us to do the same. When our head is on His chest, we forget our own anxieties while listening to His heart.
We can always come to Jesus when we feel burdened and stressed. He said to the crowd, “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”
(Matthew 11:28-30)
We can come to Him for a drink of living water, when we feel empty, dried up, and emotionally have nothing left to give to others. He said “Let anyone who thirsts, cometo me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as scripture says, Rivers of living water will flow from within him.” (John 7:37-38)
If we cast all our cares on Him and rest our weary heads on His heart, those rivers of living water will start flowing within us. I like the imagery of laying our head on His chest. It is a metaphor of leaving all our anxious thoughts upon His heart. As we listen to what is in His heart, He gives rest and peace. No one else can give us that kind of rest, not a friend, a lover, a parent or a life mentor. Each one must come and see for themselves.
Lord Jesus, we hear you calling us to come closer and see. We want to go wherever you go and lay our heads on your chest, listening to your heart. Help us to always walk beside you, all the days of our life. Amen