Come + See

​The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”
​When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.
Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked “What do you want?” They said,
“Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?”
“Come,” he replied, “and you will see.”
So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him. It was about the tenth hour.
John 1:35-39

Where was Jesus staying?

I find it interesting that John records the time of day which the disciples were with Jesus but does
not mention or give detail to the dwelling place of Jesus, especially since that was their initial
inquiry. Jesus did not hesitate to invite them to this place and once they saw it, the disciples spent
the day there with Him. My first thought is that this home must have had a welcoming aura,
overflowing with grace and love. I envision it as a place of solitude and retreat. Simple. Quiet.
Comfortable.

But then my mind is met with the challenge, what about the uncomfortable? What about the
unwelcoming? I think it is so easy to assume that where Jesus was staying was comfortable
because it is easy to find Jesus in these places, but does He not also dwell in the uncomfortable?
Perhaps, this place Jesus invited His disciples was not a place of solitude and warmth, but
because they were in the presence of Jesus, they decided to dwell there with Him for the day.

I come from a ‘one stoplight town’ that is welcoming and considered a place of retreat for many
individuals. It is tucked away in the quiet, humble mountains of North Carolina. Life is gentle
and slow there. It is silent and peaceful, with space to breathe. There is no doubt that Christ is
present in that sweet little town. But in my heart I heard His invitation to come and see where
else He dwells. So I packed bags and moved across the country to a bustling city. Far away from
what is comfortable, where hurry, worry, and noise are woven into the atmosphere, Jesus has
made His presence known.

In the friendships that have formed, in the conversations with co-workers, in the laughter that
fills our home, in the smiles of my students, in the Saturday morning breakfasts, in the constant
hum of rubber meeting asphalt, in the moaning whistle of the train, Jesus has breathed life into
all of it and therefore, He is a part of it and present within it. He continues to meet me in the most
mundane of moments to the most difficult and uncomfortable of moments. He is here, staying
here, in Salt Lake City and has invited me to experience it with Him.

How beautiful it is that all we have to do is accept His invitation to see where He is staying. He
will meet us there and sit with us in that place, whether it be for a day, a month, or a year. Let us
strive to dwell with Him in the uncomfortable, in the unwelcoming, in the chaos, and in the
noise.

Jesus, where are you staying?
Come and you will see.

​Kellie Simon
SLF Class of 19-20