Let’s talk for just a minute about some of the first disciples of Christ; the first people to recognize His divinity and walk away from their own lives to find out about His.
Though the scriptures identify one of these gentlemen as Andrew and goes on to discuss some of the things he accomplished after hearing Jesus speak, I’d like to focus on what they did when they first saw Jesus Christ.
Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;
And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!
And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?
He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.
John 1:35-39
Immediately after having the Savior pointed out to them, these men began to follow. Christ noticed them, as He mindful of each one of us, and turned to inquire, “What seek ye?” His first question to them was an invitation into His life and ways.
As much as Christ’s question is interesting to me, the response of the two disciples is what intrigues me. Of all the things you have ever thought to ask the Savior, would “where dwellest thou?” be anywhere near the top of the list?
I know it hadn’t occurred to me, at least until I read these scriptures today. Why “where dwellest thou?” I think it had something to do with faith. They were already familiar with the workings of the Spirit. They were followers of John as he prepared the way for Jesus Christ. They were aware of their inner light and the responses of their souls when they encountered truth and divinity. They had been prepared to follow Christ before they ever came to know Him.
Once they had been introduced, it was natural for them to follow and try to glean knowledge from the Master of all. But perhaps more importantly, they didn’t want to ever leave Him. When given the opportunity to speak, they simply asked where Christ lived, where He could be found, where His safe haven was. Because they asked, Christ could extend an invitation to “come and see.” Once they saw, they stayed. The scriptures say that they stayed with Him because it was the tenth hour, meaning late into the evening: a difficult and tiring time to be traveling. So, they stayed exactly where they wanted to be: wherever their Savior was.
As I’ve struggled with my own tenth hour lately I’ve wondered what I can do, what I can ask of the Savior that will see me through the night until the morning can come again. I have been taught and prepared, my own spirit yearns for the truth and knowledge the gospel can give me. I know some things, but I need to know so much more. I need to spend less time focusing on the coming darkness that is settling around me and stay focused on the ultimate Light in front of me. I think I need to ask where He lives. I can think of no better place to be than taking shelter with the Savior during those times. I need to make sure I’m following behind Him, on the path that will lead to where Christ dwells. I want to be wherever my Savior is.
I think if I would listen, I’d hear the Spirit whisper, “What seek ye?” I want to be able to answer, “I’m seeking You. Where do you live and how can I get there?” Every time I ask, He’ll always answer, “Come and see.” He’ll lead me on the best paths through my trials if I ask where He lives.
This is my basic message to each of you, wherever you live, whatever your joys or sorrows, however young or old you may be, at whatever point you may find yourself in this mortal journey of ours. Some of you are where you want to be or you know where you want to go with your lives, and some of you don’t. Some of you seem to have so many blessings and so many wonderful choices ahead of you. Others of you feel, for a time and for whatever reason, less fortunate and with fewer attractive paths lying immediately ahead.
But whoever you are and wherever you find yourself as you seek your way in life, I offer you “the way … and the life” (John 14:6). Wherever else you think you may be going, I ask you to “come unto him” as the imperative first step in getting there, in finding your individual happiness and strength and success.
Jeffrey R. Holland, “‘Come unto Me’,” Ensign, Apr 1998, 16
The next step is to learn not to leave His home as often as I do, when I think the world is safe and I know my way. I need Him and I need His home. Always.
