When John saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 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. Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter). (John 1:35-42)

“What do you want?” These are the very first words Jesus speaks in the Gospel of John. The question is addressed to the first two disciples, who represent the first Christians and all those who want to follow Christ.

The text begins with John the Baptist, who is intensely waiting for the coming of Christ. His attitude of expectant waiting enables him to see the events that take place on a deeper level. The Baptist does not just simply glance at Jesus as he passes by. He tries to penetrate the mystery of the one who passes before him and he would like his disciples to do the same.

By calling Jesus the “Lamb of God”, he sees Jesus as the one who will fulfil God’s words and promises. Like the suffering servant in Isaiah, who takes upon himself the afflictions of the God’s people and, though innocent, is slaughtered like a lamb (see Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12) and like the paschal lamb that becomes the symbol of Israel’s redemption (see Exodus 12:1-28), Jesus’ giving of his life out of love will redeem all humanity. The surprise is that Jesus comes as a lamb, a creature that is simple and humble, in order to save the world.

Jesus is passing by. As in many other passages of the New Testament, Jesus is seen as a pilgrim. He is not just “standing there”; he knows that his life has a purpose. If you want to get to know him, you must follow him.

The reaction of the two disciples of John is immediate. They hear, they look and they follow. Is not this how faith is transmitted? We hear the good news about Jesus, we see the way the Christian community lives and we decide to follow him. Unlike the first disciples in the other gospels, these two disciples have already been searching. In this sense they are closer to many people today.

Jesus becomes aware that he is being followed. It is a crucial moment. He turns and asks, “What do you want?” This is a fundamental and universal question, valid for a Christian as well as for any human person. We live in a world where we can choose from so many possibilities. But do we truly know what we want? Are we in tune with our deepest and most sincere desire? It sounds like a simple question, but if taken seriously, the answer can change our life.

Furthermore, Jesus asks this question to two people who already have a “master”, John the Baptist. Thus he is also asking: what has led you to leave your first master? What do you see in me? What makes me different? What can I offer you?

Jesus takes these two men seriously and allows them to express their desires. Perhaps, when we are taken seriously and someone is willing to listen to us, something in us can be transformed. The disciples respond with a question: “Teacher, where do you live?”

This question is not about Jesus’ residence; they are not asking for his address. The question begins with the word “rabbi (teacher)”, which indicates that they see Jesus as a guide, that Jesus does have something to teach them and that they are willing to take the necessary steps to follow him. In biblical language the verb “to follow” means much more than just going after the person. It means to live with that person, to know them intimately, to such an extent that you become like them.

In John’s vocabulary the word “to stay, to dwell, to remain” has a special significance. To know where a person stays is to know where their lives are rooted. At one point Jesus says to his disciples: “If you keep my commandments you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love” (John 15:10). Jesus remains in the Father’s love; his dwelling place is the love that unites him to his Father. This is the secret to his life, what gives it meaning. When the disciples ask: where do you live, they are asking to enter and participate in that unique relationship between Jesus and God.

Jesus’ answer to the disciples is “come and see”. If they want to enter that unique space where Jesus remains, they must take a risk—the risk of trusting; the risk of faith. In the language of John’s gospel, to go or come to Jesus is equivalent to believing in him. Faith is first of all a response, a moving towards a person. Faith sets our life in motion; it allows us to follow.

The evangelist tells us that the disciples stayed with Jesus that day. What did they speak about? We do not know. What we do know is that this encounter with Jesus transformed their lives. For those willing to open their lives there can be an encounter with someone that changes the course of their history.

 When have you experienced in your life that God “passed by”? What did you discover about God through that experience?

 The disciples heard something about Jesus and then they followed. When was the first time you truly heard something about Jesus? What do you see in Jesus that allows you to follow him?

 How would you answer the question: “What do you want?”