“What are you looking for?” Jesus asked them. “We would like to know where you are staying.” Today’s Gospel reading recounts the John’s account of Jesus’ first action following his baptism by the Baptist in the river Jordan: the calling of his first disciples. The event of the baptism had served as the moment of unveiling Jesus for his ministry. As the Holy Spirit descended upon him in the river Jordan, a new chapter in his life was opened. No longer was he going to retreat to the comfort of his Nazareth home. From thence onwards, he was going to fully immerse himself in ministry. He had probably seen from the Baptist how useful it was to have disciple-companions. And so when Andrew and the unnamed disciple approached him with all the indications that they wanted to “shift” allegiance from the Baptist to him, he did not prevent them. But just to make sure that they were on the same page, he asked them what it was that they wanted from him. “We would like to know where you are staying,” said the two disciples.
Andrew and the unnamed disciple had all the reasons to want to know the place Jesus called home. They were not delusional into wanting to know where Jesus was “hanging out.” After all, an individual’s abode speaks volumes about him/her. If they were to heed their master’s command (look, there is the lamb of God) and follow this new Rabbi Jesus, it was only right that they got to know something about him. Jesus seemed to like the idea, and he let them have their wish. “Come and see,” he told them.
This short conversation that took place between Jesus and his first two disciples is what discipleship is all about. Discipleship begins with “hearing” about Jesus (evangelization). Andrew and his buddy heard about Jesus from the Baptist’s testimony (cf. John 1:19-34). It was probably easy for them to warm up to Jesus because the Baptist’s preparatory teaching had been about Jesus. And so when Jesus finally appeared and the Baptist told them that he was the one he had been talking about, it was easy for them to accept him. But first, they needed to know more about him. They had to form a personal relationship with him. “Tell us where you are hanging out so that we can check you out.”
The second phase of discipleship is the desire to know more about Jesus. This is a personal initiative that follows a successful “evangelization.” Hearing about Jesus from others should make one both inquisitive and curious. Andrew and his buddy must have been grateful to the Baptist for the much he shared with them about Jesus. But they felt that it was not enough. They had to learn about Jesus “first-hand.” Their knowledge of Jesus had to come from experience. This can only come by “hanging out” with Jesus. They had to know the likes and dislikes of Jesus, so to speak. They had to know what makes Jesus tick. And this leads to the third phase of discipleship: “hanging out with Jesus.”
Jesus allowed Andrew and his buddy to accompany him (essentially making them his disciples/followers). He must have observed from the Baptist the benefit of having close associates in a line of work such as his. In order for his mission of preaching the message of God to succeed, he needed partners. Andrew and his buddy provided him with the perfect opportunity to recruit his first partners in ministry. While some of the group who later joined Jesus did so at the invitation of Jesus, they nonetheless had to “be with” Jesus in order to learn from him and to know more about the mission. When we look back at that group of Jesus’ initial companions and marvel at the success they had in doing ministry, we realize that it was possible because of the personal relationship they formed with Jesus.