Where Are You Staying?

 

John, chapter 1.
The story of the first disciples.
All of this just following John the Baptist baptizing Jesus.

Verse 35 tells us that as Jesus walked by the following day, John looked at Him and declared, “‘Look!  There is the Lamb of God!’”

When John’s disciples heard this, they followed Jesus.
John’s humility and awestruck attitude toward the Savior brought hope to those looking on.  The entire purpose of John was to announce Jesus... and he had given his followers permission to chase after the One being announced.

Verse 38 tells us that Jesus looked around and saw them following.  Some versions say He looked around, “attentively”, and He says to them, “What do you want?”

It was the first words we see Jesus speak in the book of John.
And they are…”What do you want?”

And I’ve considered how I would answer that question.
Because He asks us the same thing… “What do you want?”

The disciples respond in verse 38 with this, “Rabbi, where are You staying?”

It’s interesting that this is how they respond.
Because I am not sure it’s what I would have said.
I may have asked some question I’ve been wanting to know the answer to for a long time.
Something like, “Why did this tragedy happen”, or, “What will it be like when I die?”

But instead they ask Him, “Where are you staying?”

The same word, “staying” is the same word used in John 15:4 when Jesus tells His students, “Remain in Me, and I will remain in you…”

That same word in the NLT “remain”, is the same word found in the original King James version, “abide.”
“Abide in Me, and I in you.”  (KJV)

Abide refers to a life-union; to be joined with Jesus as the living Vine.
The word here denotes of dwelling… of making one’s abode, their personal, permanent dwelling in Jesus.  The word means to “put up with; tolerate; stand; endure; sustain; submit to; keep faithful to.”

Their question to Jesus shows their seeking of Jesus only, and it’s the right question.

It’s the only question we ever have to ask.
“Where are You staying, Jesus?”

In other words… Where are You walking today? - I want to walk there with You.


Where are You dwelling?  - I want to live there too.

I want to walk with the Life Source.
I want to abide in the “Shelter of the Most High.”  (Psalm 91:1)
I want to remain in the living Vine.

Where are You staying, Jesus?
It’s where I long to be!