L. UNDERSTANDING THE MESSAGE OF THE BIBLE

All relationships are a dimension of time and commitment. If a person wants to grow in their relationship with their children and their wife, they must increase their time and commitment. This concept was shared with a man who was skeptical about who Jesus claimed to be. The point was if a person wanted to get to know Jesus, they would need to increase their time and commitment to being with that person…namely Jesus. This is illustrated by what some curious disciples had heard about Jesus from John the Baptist. They ran after Jesus, and Jesus’ reply was insightful. The following passage may give a clue as to how to increase a relationship with Jesus.

John 1:33-39

And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ ³⁴ I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”  ³⁵ The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. ³⁶ When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”  ³⁷ When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. ³⁸ Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?”  They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”  ³⁹ “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.

1. Who is the speaker of this first sentence?

2. What was his claim about Jesus?

3. The man with two disciples made a statement about Jesus. What did that mean?

4. What made these disciples curious about who Jesus was?

5. What did they then do?

6. Why do you think they were so curious?

7. How did Jesus answer their curiosity?

8. Why do you think this is important as we learn more about Jesus?

1. How does this impact you if you were curious? What would Jesus say to you?

2. Would you be interested in reading the rest of John and discovering more about who Jesus is?

3. When would be a good time to start that reading?