<p>1:38 <em>Jesus turned around, and observing they were following him, said to them: What do you seek? And they replied: Rabbi (we would say Teacher). Where are you staying?</em>- The disciples were asked: &ldquo;What seek ye?&rdquo;, and they reply: &ldquo;Where dwellest thou?&rdquo;. Remember that this is John, one of them, recording their response (see on :37). It&rsquo;s as if he&rsquo;s pointing out how inappropriate was their response to Jesus; rather like the record of Peter wanting to build a tent for Jesus, Moses and Elijah so they stay a bit longer. <em>They</em> had responded inappropriately- and yet they urged their hearers and readers to respond appropriately.</p><p>John is highlighting how they misunderstood. They asked where the Lord was abiding that night, thinking in terms of a physical house, and for a limited time- maybe just that night. But as John will demonstrate at length, the Lord abides not in houses, nor temporarily, but permanently in the hearts of believers through His Spirit. &lsquo;Abiding&rsquo; is a major theme in John. Several times he records how the Lord Jesus &lsquo;abode&rsquo; in houses or areas during His ministry (Jn. 1:38,39; 2:12; 4:40; 7:9; 10:40; 11:6), culminating in the Lord&rsquo;s words that He would still abide with them through the Spirit gift, but would physically leave them soon (Jn. 14:25). The repeated teaching of the Lord is that actually, He will permanently abide in the heart of whoever believes in Him. And all the stories of Him &lsquo;abiding&rsquo; a night here or there prepare the way for this. Those hearts become like the humble homes of Palestine where He spent odd nights- the difference being that there is now a permanent quality to that &lsquo;abiding&rsquo;, &ldquo;for ever&rdquo;. This is how close and real the Lord can come to us, if His words truly abide in us.</p>