John 1:35-42 (WEL) Again on the following day, John was standing with two of his disciples. 36 And he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Look! The Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38 Then Jesus turned and saw them following and said, “What do you want?” They answered him, “Rabbi (which, when interpreted, means, Teacher), where do you live?” 39 He said to them, “Come and see.” They went and saw where he lived, and they stayed there with him that day because it was about the tenth hour [4 p.m.]. 40 One of the two who heard John and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which, when interpreted, means, the Christ). 42 Then he brought him to Jesus. When Jesus looked at him, he said, “You are Simon, the son of Jonah. You will be called Cephas” (which, when interpreted, means, a stone).
V35 Again on the following day, John was standing with two of his disciples.
John remains busy in his ministry, which lasted approximately 1.5 years.
There was a personal conversation between John and two of his disciples. Perhaps a question, perhaps advice, or perhaps some wise counsel.
V36 And he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Look! The Lamb of God!”
Jesus, at that moment, walked by them. John exclaimed that Jesus is the Lamb of God. Jews at that time were familiar with the Passover Lamb, which protected the Jews of the Exodus from God’s wrath. Jesus, the Passover Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7), provides a permanent protection from God’s wrath.
V37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
The two disciples heard, then followed.
V38 Then Jesus turned and saw them following and said, “What do you want?” They answered him, “Rabbi (which, when interpreted, means, Teacher), where do you live?”
The two disciples wanted to be with Jesus, to learn about Him and His teachings.
V39 He said to them, “Come and see.” They went and saw where he lived, and they stayed there with him that day because it was about the tenth hour [4 p.m.].
Jesus gives the invitation to come, which was accepted.
V40 One of the two who heard John and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.
Who were these two disciples of John the Baptist? The first was Simon Peter’s brother Andrew. Andrew wanted his brother to know about Jesus, too. He went, found, and preached the good news to Simon Peter.
V41 He first found his brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which, when interpreted, means, the Christ).
The message is simple, “Jesus is the Messiah.”
J. C. Ryle notes:
“This simple story is a pattern of the way in which good has been done to souls in every age of the Christian Church. By such testimony as that before us, and by none else, men and women are converted and saved. It is by exalting Christ, not the church,—Christ, not the sacraments,—Christ, not the ministry,—it is by this means that hearts are moved, and sinners are turned to God. To the world such testimony may seem weakness and foolishness. Yet, like the ram’s horns, before whose blast the walls of Jericho fell down, this testimony is mighty to the pulling down of strongholds. The story of the crucified Lamb of God has proved in every age the power of God unto salvation. Those who have done most for Christ’s cause in every part of the world have been men like John the Baptist. They have not cried, Behold me, or Behold the church, or Behold the ordinances, but “Behold the Lamb.” If souls are to be saved, men must be pointed directly to Christ.”
V42 Then he brought him to Jesus. When Jesus looked at him, he said, “You are Simon, the son of Jonah. You will be called Cephas” (which, when interpreted, means a stone).
Jesus must have surprised Simon. Simon must have thought, “How does this man know me?”
Barclay (beware) notes:
“(ii) Andrew is characteristically the man who was always introducing others to Jesus. There are only three times in the gospel story when Andrew is brought into the centre of the stage. There is this incident here, in which he brings Peter to Jesus. There is the incident in John 6:8-9 when he brings to Jesus the boy with the five loaves and two small fishes. And there is the incident in John 12:22 when he brings the enquiring Greeks into the presence of Jesus. It was Andrew’s great joy to bring others to Jesus. He stands out as the man whose one desire was to share the glory. He is the man with the missionary heart. Having himself found the friendship of Jesus, he spent all his life in introducing others to that friendship. Andrew is our great example in that he could not keep Jesus to himself.”
We learn:
- How the first disciples of Jesus came to Him.
- Some characteristics of these people.
Questions:
- Are you interested in bringing others to Jesus, as Andrew did?
- Who brought you to Jesus?