Spend Time Learning Who Jesus Is
Welcome to Day 15 of our journey with Jesus. Today, we think about how we will respond to Jesus. The main truth for today is this: We can examine what others say about Jesus honestly and be willing to follow him. Let’s begin.
Current details of the journeyView the calendar, Episode and passage
Jesus in Action
John 1:35–51
Step 5 of 5
Decide how you will respond to Jesus.
Johannes der Täufer und zwei seiner Jünger waren am nächsten Tag wieder an dieser Stelle, als Jesus vorüberging. Da schaute Johannes ihn an und sagte: »Seht, dies ist Gottes Opferlamm!« Als die beiden Jünger das hörten, folgten sie Jesus. Jesus drehte sich zu ihnen um, sah sie kommen und fragte: »Was sucht ihr?« Sie antworteten: »Rabbi, wo wohnst du?« »Kommt mit, dann werdet ihr es sehen!«, sagte Jesus. Also gingen sie mit Jesus dorthin, wo er wohnte. Es war ungefähr vier Uhr nachmittags, und sie blieben bei ihm bis zum Abend. Einer der beiden, die Jesus auf das Wort von Johannes hin gefolgt waren, hieß Andreas. Er war der Bruder von Simon Petrus. Wenig später traf er seinen Bruder Simon und erzählte ihm: »Wir haben den Messias gefunden, den von Gott versprochenen Retter!« Dann nahm Andreas seinen Bruder mit zu Jesus. Der sah ihn an und sagte: »Du bist Simon, der Sohn von Johannes. Von jetzt an sollst du Petrus heißen!« Als Jesus am nächsten Tag nach Galiläa gehen wollte, traf er unterwegs Philippus. Auch ihn forderte er auf: »Komm, folge mir nach!« Philippus stammte wie Andreas und Petrus aus Betsaida. Später begegnete Philippus Nathanael und erzählte ihm: »Wir haben den gefunden, von dem Mose im Gesetz geschrieben hat und den die Propheten angekündigt haben. Es ist Jesus aus Nazareth, der Sohn von Josef.« »Nazareth?«, entgegnete Nathanael. »Was kann von da schon Gutes kommen!« Doch Philippus antwortete ihm: »Komm mit und überzeuge dich selbst!« Als Jesus Nathanael erblickte, sagte er: »Hier kommt ein wahrer Israelit, ein ganz und gar aufrichtiger Mensch!« Nathanael staunte: »Woher kennst du mich?« Jesus erwiderte: »Noch bevor Philippus dich rief, habe ich dich unter dem Feigenbaum gesehen.« »Rabbi, du bist wirklich Gottes Sohn!«, rief Nathanael. »Du bist der König von Israel!« Jesus sagte: »Das glaubst du, weil ich dir gesagt habe, dass ich dich unter dem Feigenbaum sah. Aber du wirst noch viel größere Dinge zu sehen bekommen.« Und er fuhr fort: »Ich sage euch die Wahrheit: Ihr werdet den Himmel offen und die Engel Gottes hinauf- und herabsteigen sehen zwischen Gott und dem Menschensohn!«
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The first disciples did not begin with complete understanding. They heard testimony, followed Jesus, asked questions, stayed with Him, and brought others to meet Him.
John 1 describes movement. John points. Two disciples follow. Andrew brings Simon. Philip finds Nathanael. Nathanael moves from skepticism to confession. Encounter with Jesus does not leave the people in the passage where it found them.
Investigation Has a Purpose.
“Come and see” is not permission to postpone every conclusion forever. It is an invitation to examine Jesus rather than dismiss Him through prejudice or accept Him through social pressure.
Honest investigation remains open in both directions. It is willing to discover that Christian claims have been exaggerated or misunderstood. It is equally willing to discover that Jesus is greater, more authoritative, and more demanding than expected.
A process that refuses in advance to bow before any possible conclusion is not neutral. It has already decided that personal autonomy must remain supreme.
Remaining Long Enough to Know.
The disciples stayed with Jesus. The Gospel will not reveal His identity through one isolated quotation. His words, signs, relationships, conflicts, death, and resurrection interpret one another.
This protects us from constructing Jesus out of selected fragments. A person can quote His mercy while ignoring His warnings, or quote His judgment while ignoring His welcome. “Come and see” means receiving the whole witness.
Encounter Produces Witness.
Andrew does not keep his discovery private. He finds Simon and brings him to Jesus. Philip does the same for Nathanael. Their witness is not coercion. They invite others toward the person they believe they have found.
This pattern will shape the 365 journey and its daily videos. The purpose is not to make the website the destination. The content points beyond itself toward Jesus.
Your Response.
You may not yet share Andrew’s or Nathanael’s confession. Begin with the response the passage permits: come, see, remain, and keep listening. Bring your questions, but also bring your assumptions into examination.
The invitation is generous, but it is not trivial. If Jesus is the Lamb, Messiah, Son of God, King, and meeting place of heaven and earth, seeing Him truthfully will eventually require a decision about following Him.
Consider this.
What would it look like for you to move from observing Jesus at a distance to remaining with Him and following where the evidence leads?
Take your next step
Commit to continue this journey with intellectual honesty, spiritual humility, and readiness to obey what Jesus makes clear.
What This Means for Your Life.
John 1 shows that people often come to Jesus in stages: first hearing about Him, then looking closer, then deciding whether to trust Him. That matters if you are still unsure. Jesus is not asking for blind acceptance or instant certainty. He invites honest attention. But the passage also shows that attention is not meant to stop at curiosity forever. If the witness about Jesus is true, then eventually you have to decide what to do with Him.
One way to respond today is to read John 1:35–51 slowly and ask, “What is Jesus claiming about Himself here, and what would it mean for me if those claims are true?” Stay with the text long enough to let His words, actions, and the responses of others challenge your assumptions—whether they lean toward doubt or toward a shallow, comfortable version of faith.
You do not need to have every question answered before you begin. But you also should not keep Jesus at a safe distance forever. If He is who the passage says He is, then coming to see Him clearly will call for more than observation.
Reflection question: What assumption about Jesus would be hardest for you to let go of if the evidence led somewhere else?
