From Sunday’s Gospel:
John 1:38-41
38 Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come, and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about four in the afternoon.40 Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Anointed).
It sounds a little odd to us that Andrew and the other disciple of John the Baptist respond to Jesus’ question with another question, or at least with this question. We do respond to a question with another question in English sometimes: A. What do you want? B responds, What are you doing? But, here, are they really interested in what Jesus’ living accommodations are? Yes and no. The Greek word translated “staying/stayed” three times here is an important one in this Gospel, but it is translated “remain” and “dwell” in later chapters. So “stay” is all right, but we should keep in mind its range of meanings when used by Jesus: “The Father who dwells (stays, remains) in me is doing his works.” (14:10) Also, “If you keep my commandments, you remain (stay, dwell) in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain (dwell, stay) in his love.” (15:10).
The upshot is this: later Andrew is not simply telling Simon (Peter) “We have located the Messiah.” It’s not so much Jesus’ place on the map, it is where he is coming from, it is what energizes him, what centers him, that identifies him as the Anointed One. That’s what they discovered by remaining with him.
Reflect:
How frequently do you remind yourself that Jesus remains in you? Do you consciously choose to stay with/remain in him? Is there something that might make you not want to do that?
Aside from baptism and receiving Communion or other sacraments, have you considered Scripture as another way of staying with him?
Thoughts and comments welcomed.
I love the simplicity of this passage:
“What are you looking for?”
“We have found the Messiah.”
Thanks, Patricia. Andrew can’t wait to pass along the news!