JOHN 1:35-39
Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; 36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God; 37 And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38 Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou? 39 He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.
John the Baptist identifies Jesus for the second time as the LAMB of GOD (the first time was in vs. 29, the day before), presenting the very familiar idea of the sacrificial lamb upon the altar of sacrifice, yet this was a man, the God-Man and no mere Levitically approved animal to be slaughtered in the Temple in Jerusalem.
Scripture speaks abundantly of the Messiah of Israel Who would die for the sins of the people (PSALM 22; ISAIAH 53). Jesus proclaimed Himself as the Messiah (JOHN 4:25) and if one does a careful study of the Messianic Scriptures in the Old Testament, they clearly present the Messiah as both man and God.
The disciples at this point are unaware of course, that this Man that John points out to them is God Incarnate, walking in their midst; but they know that this is the One that John has been preaching about, the One that the Baptist anticipated would come, the One that he was preparing the way for (ISAIAH 40:3). So these two follow Jesus; and that is the wisest course of action that any human being can take - to follow Him.
Yet are we not as sinners, powerless to walk as He walked (1 JOHN 2:6)? These would soon learn that to follow Jesus in Truth, in the Spirit of Truth, would require the Spirit of grace - the One and the same Spirit (JOHN 1:17) - indwelling them and empowering them to truly walk after Jesus in the greatest spiritual sense of the word.
They ask Him a quetion: merely, where He is dwelling, perhaps they were at a loss for words. The LORD of Glory, whose glory they beheld as He lived His holy life before them (JOHN 1:14) responded with an invitation "Come and see!" and yet as the LORD God, YHWH He could have easily declared:
ISAIAH 57:15
For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
When we ponder the glory and wonder of the blessed event of the Incarnation at the First Advent of the MESSIAH, the CHRIST, the LORD Jesus, we are astounded at what a mystery it is, beyond the human mind's capacity to comprehend:
That He Who inhabits eternity - that realm of reality that exists outside of the created continuum of space/time - stepped into this capsule of temporal existence and took on flesh and blood. Fully God and fully man - the GOD Man, the Blessed Bridge that would span the gap between the HOLY God and sinful man.
He took on this body, born of a virgin and thus without the taint of sin attributed to mankind, for He was conceived not by Joseph His step-father, himself a sinner, but by the power of the Holy Spirit of God, and showed us the Father (by presenting Himself Who is One with the Father), and the way to the Father (JOHN 14:6,9).
That 'way' would be known to the contrite and humble spirit, and such would be revived by the indwelling Spirit of Christ, Who would not only dwell in the high and holy place of eternity but also in the hearts of His disciples: temples all, of the Holy Spirit (1 COR. 6:19).
We as saints no longer have to go and find where Jesus dwells and fellowship with Him there; we have His Spirit dwelling within us and so fellowship with our precious Savior is just a whispered prayer of worship away; and to partake of the Bread of Life, we break such together with our LORD as we commune in the Scripture, both corporately in the church and singly in our devotional as well as our study times in the Bible.
We follow Him, our LEADER, our LORD, the LAMB of GOD in the way that He leads us - in knowing our nature that in its sinful state still requires mortification (that is, putting the sin nature to death):
He took on this body, born of a virgin and thus without the taint of sin attributed to mankind, for He was conceived not by Joseph His step-father, himself a sinner, but by the power of the Holy Spirit of God, and showed us the Father (by presenting Himself Who is One with the Father), and the way to the Father (JOHN 14:6,9).
That 'way' would be known to the contrite and humble spirit, and such would be revived by the indwelling Spirit of Christ, Who would not only dwell in the high and holy place of eternity but also in the hearts of His disciples: temples all, of the Holy Spirit (1 COR. 6:19).
We as saints no longer have to go and find where Jesus dwells and fellowship with Him there; we have His Spirit dwelling within us and so fellowship with our precious Savior is just a whispered prayer of worship away; and to partake of the Bread of Life, we break such together with our LORD as we commune in the Scripture, both corporately in the church and singly in our devotional as well as our study times in the Bible.
We follow Him, our LEADER, our LORD, the LAMB of GOD in the way that He leads us - in knowing our nature that in its sinful state still requires mortification (that is, putting the sin nature to death):
ROMANS 6:10-12
10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
We know Him, the Author of Life and partake of His life, known as vivification (COL 3:3-4) and in renewing our minds (ROM. 12:1-2) to become more like our LORD and LEADER Jesus and walk with Him - in the way everlasting!
Speaking for a moment on the issue of leadership, true and godly leadership: we can all see that this is in tragically short supply in our nation today - even in the church! We witness this travesty of corruption and abuse of power nationally, internationally, but also even on the local level, daily! They are proud, unapproachable, unaccountable, thinking that they can do as they please, without a moments thought or concern that they might be called into account for their misdeeds, and even outright crimes!
Yet where in all of creation can we find a Leader like Jesus - the very picture of humility, goodness, gentleness, integrity, compassion; the Man of Truth, Justice and (not the American way, but) the Godly Way! The incarnation of GOD's love and power! - and people recognized this about Him, because they were like sheep without a shepherd (MATT 9:36) and everywhere Jesus went, He could be sure to draw crowds - and it started with these two who followed Him until night fall and stayed at His dwelling until late into the night!
Saints, JESUS RETURNS SOON! And when He does, we will rejoice, because He will lead this weary, sin-worn world into the wonderful reign of holiness and truth, benefiting from the beneficence of our gracious and loving KING of Israel and all the world (PSALM 24; ISAIAH 52:6-7; PSALM 2:8).
Until He returns, let us honor the LAMB, our LEADER by living holy, sanctified lives!
PSALM 139:23-24
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
The next installment in this series will examine JOHN 1:41-42, entitled The SAND and STONE.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
ROMANS 6:13-14
13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
This new life comes to us by the Spirit of GOD, and it's by that same Spirit that provides the empowering grace of GOD to help us in time of need, when temptation is hard upon us and we need the GOD-ordained strength to repel it: this we can find in ample supply at the Throne of GOD!
HEBREWS 4:14-16
14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
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