John, declares, testifies and exclaims as to who Jesus is and two of John’s disciples follow Jesus. This is what Jesus asks them, What are you looking for? Their answer is to call him Teacher or Master and ask where he is staying. They have heard from John that he is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, the one who baptises with the Holy Spirit and the Chosen One. John has come to this revelation by hearing and seeing a sign and is clearly astonished, saying, I myself did not know him. Jesus’ answer to his new followers’ question is, Come and see.
The psalm tells us of the LORD, Sacrifice and offering you do not desire, but you have given me an open ear… and the psalmist continues, …in the scroll of the book it is written of me. And declares, I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is written within my heart… I have not hidden your saving help within my heart; I have spoken of your faithfulness and salvation… This is John’s testimony. John says, I came baptising with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel… I my self have seen and testified that this is the Chosen One.
Come and see, Jesus says. Isaiah prophesies, Thus says the LORD, the redeemer of Israel and His Holy One, to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nations, the slave of rulers, “Kings shall see and standup; princes, and they shall prostrate themselves, because of the LORD, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.” The tables are turned on the rulers of this world by Jesus. I believe the Principalities and Powers gaze in fear at the Chosen One revealed over those three days at Bethsaida beyond the Jordan . The prophet has seen that the promised one is to be, a light to the nations.
Teacher, where are you staying? The two followers ask. Come and see, says Jesus. They spend the day with Jesus, and there was morning, then there was evening, four o’clock in the afternoon, and they knew a moment of change, We have found the Messiah. They had found the anointed one, the Christ.
And what of us, what are we looking for? Paul reminds us that we have been enriched in him and that we are not lacking in any gift, and that, God is faithful, by whom you were called into the partnership of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Maybe, having spent this time with him, this is our four o’clock in the afternoon time. Grace and peace to you all.
Takeley Chapel 