John 1:35-39 The two disciples heard him speak and they followed Jesus

Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples.  And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, "Behold the Lamb of God!"  The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.  Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, "What do you seek?"  They said to Him, "Rabbi" (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), "where are You staying?"  He said to them, "Come and see."  They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour).
 

Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples.  This "next day" is the third of three consecutive action-packed days.  The Baptist had been carrying on his ministry across the Jordan for approximately one year in advance of Christ's baptism.  Then suddenly the Jewish leadership of Jerusalem demanded answers as to John's prophetic identity and his divine authority.  John's identification and certification of Jesus as the true Christ occurred on that second day of this trilogy.  The details of Jesus' baptism are omitted by our gospel writer because they had already been documented in the previously written synoptic gospels.  Let us review the events of that second day as recorded by Matthew.
 

 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him.  And John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?"  But Jesus answered and said to him, "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness."  Then he allowed Him.  When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.  And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” - Matthew 3:13-17
 

And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, "Behold the Lamb of God!"  The prior day, John had recognized Christ by the sign of the dove and declared the ministry of Christ Jesus, proclaiming, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"  Now, the third day, John called the people's attention to Jesus with the cry, "Behold the Lamb of God!"  This pronouncement, and subsequent announcement, is reminiscent of the wedding ceremony in which a couple is first declared to be married; and shortly thereafter presented as husband and wife.
 

The Baptist introduced the newly certified Christ to his disciples, and those who had come to be baptized, as "The Lamb of God," once again stressing the purpose of Christ's first earthly mission.  Christ's testifier not only verified that Jesus was the Son of God; he also rightly associated Christ's role as our sacrificial Lamb.  Christ's offering of Himself on the cross is the only remedy which will ever be provided to resolved mankind's helpless and hopeless state of sin.  Yet how often do scoffers (who are obviously unfamiliar with the Bible) claim that Jesus was merely a good man, a good teacher, or a fine example to follow?
 

The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.  Two young men went out to the Jordan in the tradition of the Old Testament School of the Prophets.  They sought not only to be baptized but also to sit at the feet of the Baptizer.  These two may have come to John looking for the resolution of their own sins.  But rather than return to their normal occupations, they were moved to reside with John by the river, and to grow even closer to God through the words of the prophet.  They were familiar enough with the ancient writings to know that the Messiah would possess all knowledge and wisdom.  So once these two heard the Baptist testify that Jesus was the Christ, they were compelled to follow Jesus.  And all of the New Testament writings indicate John's full approval in their new pursuit.

 

 

Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, "What do you seek?" They said to Him, "Rabbi" (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), "where are You staying?"   Jesus asked the two who had been followers of John, "What do you seek?"  This was in fact a question of commitment.  In response, the two might have asked for further assurance; or even for a sign to prove that Jesus really was the Son of God.  Or they might have asked Jesus to explain some perplexing theological issue, so that they might perfect their own personal theology.  But instead what they really wanted was just to be with Jesus.
 

He said to them, "Come and see." They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour).  "Come and see", was the invitation from the Lord God of heaven; who had come to earth in the form of man.  The King of kings, and the Lord of lords extends this same invitation throughout the age to whosoever would come. "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." - Matthew 11:28-30
 

It was about the tenth hour, that is, about four o'clock in the afternoon, when these two disciples of John the Baptist joined Jesus for the remainder of that day.  It would be several more months before Jesus officially gathered and appointed His own disciples.  But these two, who had been the first to follow Jesus, were indeed chosen to be among the Twelve.