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.
Наступного дня Іван знову стояв із двома своїми учнями. Побачивши Ісуса, Який ішов повз них, сказав: «Ось Агнець Божий!» Обидва його учні, почувши ці слова, пішли за Ісусом. Обернувшись, Ісус побачив, що вони йдуть за Ним, і спитав їх: ―Чого ви шукаєте? Вони відповіли: ―Равві (що в перекладі означає «Учителю»), де Ти живеш? Він відповів: ―Ідіть та побачите. Вони пішли та побачили, де Він живе, і залишились у Нього того дня. Це було близько десятої години. Одним із цих двох, що чули слова Івана та пішли за Ним, був Андрій, брат Симона Петра. Він першим розшукав свого брата Симона й сказав йому: «Ми знайшли Месію» (що в перекладі означає «Христос»). Він привів його до Ісуса. Подивившись на Нього, Ісус сказав: «Ти Симон, син Йони, будеш називатися Кифа» (що в перекладі означає «Петро»). Наступного дня Ісус вирішив піти до Галілеї. Він знайшов Филипа та сказав йому: «Іди за Мною!» Филип був із Віфсаїди, з того ж міста, що й Андрій та Петро. Филип знайшов Нафанаїла й сказав йому: ―Ми знайшли Того, про Кого писали Мойсей у Законі та Пророки. Це Ісус, син Йосифа з Назарета. Нафанаїл сказав: ―Хіба з Назарета може бути щось добре? Филип відповів: ―Іди та подивись! Коли Ісус побачив Нафанаїла, що йшов до Нього, то сказав про нього: ―Ось істинний ізраїльтянин, у якому немає лукавства. Нафанаїл запитав: ―Звідки Ти мене знаєш? Ісус відповів йому: ―Ще перед тим, як Филип покликав тебе, Я бачив тебе під смоковницею. Нафанаїл відповів: ―Равві, Ти Син Божий, Ти Цар Ізраїлю! Ісус сказав у відповідь: ―Ти повірив, тому що Я сказав, що бачив тебе під смоковницею? Ти більше від цього побачиш. Потім сказав: ―Істинно кажу вам: «ви побачите відкриті небеса й Божих ангелів, які підіймаються та опускаються» на Сина Людського.
Новий Завіт і Книга Псалмів, Бібліка ® Відкрита Новий Переклад Українською™ © 2022 Biblica, Inc. New Testament and Psalms, Biblica® Open New Ukrainian Translation™ Copyright © 2022 by Biblica, Inc.
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?
