# 23 The Cry of Your Soul

Joh 1:35 Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. 36 And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, "Behold the Lamb of God!" 37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38 Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, "What do you seek?" They said to Him, "Rabbi" (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), "where are You staying?" 39 He said to them, "Come and see." They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour).

We don’t know how long John had been at his ministry of preaching, baptizing, and preparing the way for Jesus, but suddenly things are really beginning to pop!

The day after the Pharisees grilled John, Jesus shows up! The very next day He shows up again, and the very next day, Jesus begins to add to His followers! (Verse 43)

The snowball of grace is starting to roll! Please note that the Baptist STOOD, but Jesus WALKED! The Law stands firm, immovable, but grace flows and it’s beginning to flow toward the consummation of all things!

God’s timing is perfect and as John preaches to the crowd, Jesus “just happens” to walk by, and John repeats what he had said yesterday about Jesus. “Behold, the Lamb of God!” There He is! I told you yesterday that He is the Messiah!” Well, he didn’t have to say it twice to two of his disciples! They immediately leave John and fall in step with the Messiah!

Look what happens next! Grace personified turns to them and asks, “What do you seek?” They reply, “Rabbi, where are you staying?”  This acknowledgment of Jesus as Rabbi” indicates that Jesus is viewed by these disciples as a great teacher and master.

Understand this about the culture of the day. The terms “teacher” and “master” are interchangeable because in Jewish culture, rabbis were men skilled in the knowledge of law and traditions. They had their own schools and disciples. The disciples would sit at the feet of their rabbi and learn from their school master.

So the disciples ask, “Where are you staying?” In other words, “Where do you hold your schooling sessions?  We want you to be our teacher and Master“ Jesus says, “Come and see. (Just another way of saying, “Follow Me.”

Back up a bit and think about this; The first words of Jesus recorded for us in the Gospel of John are “What do you seek?” Grace personified, (Jesus) asks us all the same question. “What are you looking for? Forgiveness? Peace? Rest? Fulfillment? Whatever it may be, follow Jesus and grace will bring it to you!

Whereas the Law demands that we do things, grace simply invites us to receive what God has already done! Follow Jesus and the cry of your empty soul, the yearning for what is missing in your soul will be satisfied, and you will spend eternity in Paradise!