Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?” They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “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.

When my wife and I first got married, one of our older family members had just got a computer. This person would frequently call my wife and have her help trouble-shoot whatever problems they encountered. Funny thing was, about half the time, after spending 20 or 30 minutes on the phone trying to figure out why it wouldn’t work, it came down to pressing the “on” button. Simple. Too simple to think of for this elderly relative. We love this person and they gave us lots of laughs.
John’s disciples pulled out a “Jesus tactic” in response to his question — they answered with a question. He asked them, “What do you want?” They answered, “Rabbi, where are you staying?” They communicated a lot in this simple question. First, they called him “Rabbi”, this means “teacher”. This is what they would have called John the Baptist earlier. They trusted John, so when he said Jesus was greater than he, they sought after Jesus to learn his teachings. Second, they didn’t just want to meet him, they wanted to stay with him for a while. They wanted to dwell with him. They wanted to break bread with him and listen to his instruction. “Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you. Accept instruction from his mouth and lay up his words in your heart.” (Job‬ ‭22:21-22‬) With John the Baptist they have something very good. But they sought Jesus because they wanted something even better! And seeing this faith and the simple obedience they exhibited when John pointed him out as the Messiah, Jesus invited them into his home. What if the Christian life was just that simple? The “on” button is following Jesus. We follow Jesus, call him Rabbi (and Savior and Lord), and ask him where he is staying. By asking this we are asking to join him in his work. It is as if these two disciples said, “John sent us and he told us you are greater than he is. Teacher, show us where you are staying so we can learn your ways and join you in your work!” Jesus likes honesty and boldness in faith. “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Hebrews‬ ‭11:6‬) Thank you, Lord, for making it so simple to follow you that even I can’t mess it up! You love us and simply desire our loyalty and pledge to follow. Then you open up the “mother load” — the vast riches of your glory — and bestow upon us gifts we don’t deserve. Thank you, Father, for loving even such a sinner as me.