The synoptic gospels do not indicate that some of those who had first followed the Baptist then followed Jesus, but it makes their immediate response to Jesus easier to understand because they had been prepared for this step which was to change their lives. Andrew and another unnamed man were prepared to meet Christ; the Baptist identified Jesus as the Lamb of God (l :35-36) so that they knew who he was. It becomes obvious from John 1 that there was nothing in the outward appearance of Jesus by which he could be identified for what he was; he was just one man amongst many other men to those who could not see with the eyes of faith. The Baptist had identified Jesus only because of the revelation given to him; he in turn identified Jesus to two of his disciples. In this first chapter of the gospel the author succeeds in an extraordinary way in showing us not only Jesus, the Word of God, the Son of the Father, but Jesus the man of Nazareth, called the son of Joseph (l :45 and 6 :42).

The two disciples of the Baptist followed Jesus but did not speak to him (1:37) until he asked them what they were looking for (l :38), a question with a double meaning. They were looking not only for the Messiah but for new life. Everyone who turns to Christ has to answer this question. The two men did not give Jesus an immediate reply but addressed him as Rabbi (which is explained by the author), asking him where he lived. He then invited them to come with him (l: 39).