Read: And Jesus turned and saw them following, and *said to them, “What are you seeking?” They said to Him, “Rabbi (which translated means Teacher), where are You staying?” John1:38

Examine: Once John saw Jesus coming to him, and said, “There is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘A man is coming after me, but he is greater than I am, because he existed before I was born.’

And John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from heaven and stay on him. I have seen it,” said John, “and I tell you that he is the Son of God.”

The next day John was standing there again with two of his disciples, when he saw Jesus walking by. “There is the Lamb of God!” he said. The two disciples heard him say this and went with Jesus. Jesus turned, saw them following him, and asked, “What are you looking for?”

They answered, “Where do you live, Rabbi?” (This word means “Teacher.”)“Come and see,” he answered. (It was then about four o’clock in the afternoon.) So they went with him and saw where he lived, and spent the rest of that day with him.

One of them was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. At once he found his brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah.” (This word means “Christ.”) Then he took Simon to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “Your name is Simon son of John, but you will be called Cephas.” (This is the same as Peter and means “a rock.”)

Application: John’s statement to glorify Jesus led his disciples to follow Jesus, who later became Jesus’s disciple. All that because John was selfless and wanted Jesus alone to be glorified. The thought that John even let his own disciples to follow Jesus shows John was so humble.

Disciples followed Jesus, the question Jesus asked the disciples are so relevant for us, “What are you looking for?”, what will we answer, Jesus I am following so I can be with you and I can be you bond servant. Let us not be selfish by following Jesus for what Jesus might provide for me. Response of disciples, where do you live, that night staying with Jesus changed the entire story.

Decision: Lord my savior help me to be like John so humble and wanted Jesus alone to be glorified. Help me to be like disciples who followed you so they can stay and be with Jesus.

Oh Lord let me stay with you always and then bring other to Jesus, as Andrew brought Peter to Jesus.

Read: “Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” (Matthew 7:3).

Examine: Jesus started ministry by teaching practical life, sermon on the mount. During the teaching, Jesus taught us that we judge others. Following are the words of Jesus… “Do not judge others, so that God will not judge you, 2 for God will judge you in the same way you judge others, and he will apply to you the same rules you apply to others. Why, then, do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the log in your own eye? How dare you say to your brother, ‘Please, let me take that speck out of your eye,’ when you have a log in your own eye? You hypocrite! First take the log out of your own eye, and then you will be able to see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

“Do not give what is holy to dogs—they will only turn and attack you. Do not throw your pearls in front of pigs—they will only trample them underfoot.

Application: This passage is part of the Beatitudes, (The Sermon on the Mount) which encompass the greater part of Matthew 5-7). Matthew 4:25 tells us great crowds followed Jesus from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan. When He saw them, He went up on the nearby mountain and preached. Throughout the sermon, Jesus spoke of the characteristics of the blessed and He told the people who they were to be and how they were to act.

Isn’t this a conundrum we all face? As much then as now, we need these words of Jesus to guide our lives. In this passage, Jesus addressed judgment when it’s used to condemn others. We are indeed to discern within the church, but condemnation (vengeance too) belongs to the Lord alone. We can’t see past our own sinful pride as we regard the (perceived) sins of others.

Therefore, our Lord reminds us to look at ourselves first, and in the light of our sinless Savior, we all fall short of exemplary and sinless lives. The Apostle Paul spoke of the Lord’s grace throughout his epistles, often greeting his readers with “grace to you…from the Lord Jesus Christ” and ending with a grace-filled doxology such as, “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you” (Romans 16:20). As we consider others, remember God’s grace toward us and the grace with which we are to regard others.

Decision: Lord unless I hit rock bottom, Lord all my discerns might lead to judgements, thank you for all the rock bottom situations that you allow, that teaches us the great lesson on humility, compassion and mercy.

Read: “Yes,” said Jesus, “if you yourself can! Everything is possible for the person who has faith.” Mark 9:23

Examine: During the ministry of Jesus, after transfiguration, a man in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, because he has an evil spirit in him and cannot talk. Whenever the spirit attacks him, it throws him to the ground, and he foams at the mouth, grits his teeth, and becomes stiff all over. I asked your disciples to drive the spirit out, but they could not.”

Jesus said to them, “How unbelieving you people are! How long must I stay with you? How long do I have to put up with you? Bring the boy to me!” They brought him to Jesus. As soon as the spirit saw Jesus, it threw the boy into a fit, so that he fell on the ground and rolled round, foaming at the mouth. “How long has he been like this?” Jesus asked the father.

“Ever since he was a child,” he replied. “Many times the evil spirit has tried to kill him by throwing him in the fire and into water. Have pity on us and help us, if you possibly can!” “Yes,” said Jesus, “if you yourself can! Everything is possible for the person who has faith.” The father at once cried out, “I do have faith, but not enough. Help me to have more!”

Jesus noticed that the crowd was closing in on them, so he gave a command to the evil spirit. “Deaf and dumb spirit,” he said, “I order you to come out of the boy and never go into him again!” The spirit screamed, threw the boy into a bad fit, and came out. The boy looked like a corpse, and everyone said, “He is dead!” But Jesus took the boy by the hand and helped him to rise, and he stood up. After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive the spirit out?” “Only prayer and fasting can drive this kind out,” answered Jesus; “nothing else can.”

Application: A help father making an honest plea to Jesus – also explained the trauma the child goes through. He did not care what people thought, father just wanted the child to be healed and saved from the pain.

When Jesus replied – Everything is possible for the person who has faith. Father response is probably the greatest and most honest response – Yes I do believe help me to overcome my unbelief. As father I know you can Lord, but help me to get the knowledge in my head to my heart as true belief.

Decision: Lord like the honest and helpless father, we come to you presence and cry, have pity on us, heal us, help me to overcome my unbelief.

Read: “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, Acts 9:4-5

Examine: Saul kept up his violent threats of murder against the followers of the Lord. He went to the High Priest and asked for letters of introduction to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he should find there any followers of the Way of the Lord, he would be able to arrest them, both men and women, and bring them back to Jerusalem.

As Saul was coming near the city of Damascus, suddenly a light from the sky flashed around him. ⁴ He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul! Why do you persecute me?”

“Who are you, Lord?” he asked. “I am Jesus, whom you persecute,” the voice said. Saul followed up asking What must I do, Jesus replied “But get up and go into the city, where you will be told what you must do.”

 The men who were traveling with Saul had stopped, not saying a word; they heard the voice but could not see anyone. Saul got up from the ground and opened his eyes, but could not see a thing. So they took him by the hand and led him into Damascus. For three days he was not able to see, and during that time he did not eat or drink anything.

Application: Jesus is persecuted when His children are persecuted. When we sin against others, we need to so fearful especially if our actions are affecting someone else. We should never be a stumbling block to anyone. Our actions can persecute the Lord.

Saul asked two questions “Who are you Lord” and then followed by “what wilt thou have me to do?” When he heard it was Jesus who he hurt. To know more of Jesus and to know what Jesus wants me to do, if we live in this simple principle every day, our lives will be totally transformed.

Decision: Lord Jesus, I am so sorry that I have persecuted you in my actions, deeds and behaviors. Forgive me Lord. Lord, I surrender my life to know you more and more. And I want to seek your face and know what you want me to do. That I may never hurt you, never ever persecute you, but always please you Lord.

Read: “But Who do you say that I am?” (Luke 9:20).

Examine: One day when Jesus was praying alone, the disciples came to him. “Who do the crowds say I am?” he asked them.

“Some say that you are John the Baptist,” they answered. “Others say that you are Elijah, while others say that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life.”

“What about you?” he asked them. “Who do you say I am?”

Peter answered, “You are God’s Messiah.”

Application: Jesus and His disciples had reached a “tipping point,” so to speak. The disciples had been with Jesus as He healed, taught, and did other miraculous signs. His group had reached Caesarea Philippi, and in the sight of a pagan worship site referred to then as “the gates of hell,” Jesus questioned His followers.

He first asked who people said He was, and then He pointedly asked Simon Peter who he said He is. Peter’s confession of faith brought Jesus’ ministry, that a person heart is opened to see and understand the Jesus is the savior of the world.

Peter’s answer declared Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God. Thereafter, Jesus told His disciples what would take place next — His crucifixion, death, and resurrection. The Gospel was there in their midst, and Jesus told Peter that he would be the rock on which the Church was built.

When God of universe is asking “who do you say that I am” – implication is much more that knowing, that true knowledge is transformational. Did it transform me? Oh that we have heart of Peter.

Decision: Oh Lord! Help me to live a life with knowledge and full understanding that Jesus is Messiah and also live a life worthy of that knowledge. Jesus helps us to share this truth to many and fervently pray the heart of people will open and accept you as the savior of their life.

Lord in this busy life, help me to slow down and always hear this question – who do you say Jesus is? Teach me to answer this carefully, committed and in a consecrated way.