INTRODUCTION :
You’re on the playing field and it is after-lunch recess at your elementary school. You’ve just been chosen to be the captain of one of the soccer teams. You and the other captain will now be taking turns choosing people to be on your teams. Who do you choose? It’s a tremendous responsibility, isn’t it? You want your team to win but you also want your friends to be on your team and they may not be the best players. Once you start choosing, your new teammates start telling you who to choose: “choose him”, “choose her”. All kinds of thoughts are going through your mind as you look at the children waiting to be chosen. “He’s a good kicker” . . . “she’s a fast runner” . . . “he doesn’t ‘hog the ball’ ” . . . “she’s the best goalie”. Winning the game may depend upon your choices, and everybody wants to win. If you don’t win, you may be considered to be the one to blame because you made the choices. If your team doesn’t win, you may not be chosen to be a captain anymore. You have to make your choices in a hurry because you don’t have much playing time before the bell rings and you’re back in class again. That’s a lot to worry about on a full stomach! It’s not always easy to make choices, is it? It’s especially difficult when other people are affected by your choices.
In this passage of Scripture, the Lord Jesus is making some choices. It was the day after His baptism. John the Baptist witnessed the voice from heaven and the Spirit descending as a dove, and he had proclaimed that Jesus was the Messiah. This was to be the first day of Jesus’ discipleship ministry. It was time to begin choosing “His team” – the men whom He would be training, and who would continue the ministry after Him. It was also a day when He would be getting some help in the selection process.
I. HELP FROM JOHN THE BAPTIST (verses 35-37)
Verse 35 begins with John the Baptist standing beside two of his disciples as Jesus is about to pass by. I don’t think this was a coincidence. On the previous day, John baptized Jesus, saw and heard the miraculous events, and proclaimed that Jesus was the Messiah. These two disciples may well have been there and witnessed those events also. I personally think that John the Baptist spent some time talking to His disciples about Jesus, preparing them to be at the right place at the right time so that he could introduce them to Jesus. As the forerunner, John was not only preparing the nation for the Messiah’s arrival but also the individuals within the nation of Israel who had repented in response to his preaching and were eager to follow the Messiah. When he points out Jesus, he uses the same title again: “Behold, the Lamb of God“. He is inviting his disciples to follow Jesus. Verse 37 says, “The two disciples heard him speak and they followed Jesus.” They did what John the Baptist wanted them to do: they left him and followed Jesus. We know from verse 40 that one of those disciples was Andrew, and the other person was probably John, the writer of this gospel. He prefers to leave himself unnamed.
II. HOSPITALITY OFFERED AND ACCEPTED (verses 38-40)
Jesus must have heard the sound of their steps behind Him because “He turned, and seeing them following, said to them, ‘What do you seek?’ ” Those four words are the first words spoken by Jesus as recorded in John’s Gospel. Notice that He did not say “Whom do you seek“, but “What do you seek“. To put it into everyday English, Jesus was saying, “What can I do for you”, or “How can I be of service to you.”
The two men responded politely, “Rabbi, where are you staying?” They had a lot on their minds to talk to Him about, and thinking that He was busy, asked if they might stop by later at the place where He was staying. They wanted to know more about Him and get to know Him. Notice that they call Him “Rabbi” (Teacher). They weren’t ready to call Him “Lord” yet, so they addressed Him as “Rabbi”. This title literally means, “My great one”. It is similar to the title “doctor” that is addressed to the professor that has earned a doctorate degree in his field of study.
Jesus’ answer must have surprised them, but I’m sure they were overjoyed to hear it! He said, ‘Come and see”. Jesus showed them immediate hospitality, offering them the opportunity to spend the rest of the day with Him as His guests. John mentions that it was ‘the tenth hour” (either four o’clock in the afternoon according to Jewish time, or 10:00 a.m. Roman time. We don’t know for sure). They chatted with Him on the way to the place where He was staying, and they had all the time they wanted to ask Him questions and express their feelings and concerns in the comfortable atmosphere of a home.
I worked as a checker and stocker in a grocery store for over three years. The owner told me that whenever someone asked where an item was located in the store, whenever possible, to take the person there myself rather than just telling them where it is.. He said, “It’s our way of showing people that we appreciate them as our customers and are glad to serve them.” I found that I enjoyed doing that act of service, and the short conversations we had in the process of going there brightened their day and my day as well! I can imagine that the two disciples enjoyed the conversation on the way to their destination and felt much more comfortable sharing their hearts with Jesus after they arrived at the place where He was staying.
While in college I spent several weeks of my summer vacation in a Latin-American community in East Los Angeles, California. While there, I learned the meaning of the phrase “mi casa es su casa”, It means “My house is your house”, and they really meant it! I had never experienced such hospitality before, and from people who hardly knew me! Knowing the way Jesus treated people, He probably showed the same kind of hospitality by providing refreshments for these two men, and maybe a meal as well! Who knows? They might have even spent the night!
III. HELP FROM ANDREW (verses 41-42)
After spending the day with Jesus, Andrew was convinced that Jesus was the Messiah, and John was convinced also. Verse 41 tells us that Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, “found first his own brother Simon“. The word “first” can also be translated as “first thing in the morning” or “early in the morning”. Andrew could hardly wait to tell his brother the good news! He searched for his brother Simon until he found him, and then told him, “We have found the Messiah“. In parentheses, it says “which translated means Christ”. “Messiah” – now that’s a word that would make a Jew stop and pay attention! The Jews had been waiting for, looking for, and praying for the Messiah to come for many years. The word “Messiah” in Hebrew and the word “Christos” in Greek have the same meaning. Both words mean “anointed” or “anointed One”. In those days kings were anointed with oil at their coronation. That practice is still followed in some countries today. “Messiah” and “Christ” both mean “God’s Anointed King”.
Andrew not only told Simon about finding the Messiah, but he also took Simon along with him to introduce him to Jesus. I picture in my mind Andrew and Simon walking at a fast pace, and Andrew is telling his brother about all the things Jesus said to him the previous day. In the New Testament scriptures, we find very little information about Andrew. But almost every time his name is mentioned, he is bringing someone to Jesus. Andrew was content to be in the background escorting people to Jesus!
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Alexander Whyte pastored a large church in Edinburgh, Scotland. During that time a salesman by the name of Rigby would travel to Edinburgh regularly just to hear him preach. He would often invite other businessmen to accompany him to the services.
One Sunday morning he asked a fellow traveler to go to church with him. Reluctantly, the man said yes. When he heard Whyte’s message, he was so impressed that he returned with Rigby to the evening meeting. As the preacher spoke, the man trusted Christ as his Savior.
The next morning, as Rigby walked by the home of Pastor Whyte, he felt impressed to stop and tell him how his message had affected the other man’s life. When Whyte learned that his caller’s name was Rigby, he exclaimed, “You’re the man I’ve wanted to see for years!” He went to his study and returned with a bundle of letters. Alexander Whyte read Rigby some excerpts – all telling of changed lives. They were men that Rigby had brought to hear the gospel. Like the Samaritans who had been led to Jesus by the woman at the well, these men “believed in Him because of the word” of Rigby. (Our Daily Bread devotional)
When Andrew introduced Jesus to Simon, verse 42 says that Jesus “looked at him”. The Greek word used here, emblepein, means to “look at intently”, to “focus one’s gaze upon”. Jesus was looking beneath the surface at Simon’s character, which was hard-headed and impulsive. Then He says to Simon, “You are Simon the son of John; you shall be called Cephas” (which translated means Peter). Once again we are given the Hebrew name (Peter), and the Greek equivalent (Cephas). Those two words mean “rock”. Jesus is saying, “I can turn your weaknesses into strengths if you will follow Me.” As we progress through the Gospel of John we will find that it’s going to take some doing for God to change unstable Peter into a rock. But Peter is moldable and God will change Peter into a new person who fits his new name.
The gospel writer Matthew tells us just when Peter and Andrew, James and John, left all to follow Christ. Here are his words:
“From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand.” And walking by the sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. And He said to them “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they immediately left their nets and followed Him. And going on from there He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and He called them. And they immediately left the boat and their father, and followed Him.” (Matthew 4:17-22 NASB)
Have you found the Messiah? Have you been introduced to Him by a friend, a family member, or through your own study of the Bible? If you know who He is, have you believed in Him; have you committed your life to Him, to worship Him, serve Him, and glorify Him as your Lord and King? If Jesus Christ is not reigning in your life and you are not growing closer to Him and becoming more and more like Him, then you have yet to “find your Messiah”.
If you have truly found the Messiah, you will know. It’s a life-changing experience when the King of heaven and earth begins to reign in your life. Just don’t forget to tell others that you have found the Messiah. Don’t keep the joy all to yourself. Remember, you’re a child of God and an ambassador for the King! May you enjoy the privilege of introducing many to your King, the Lord Jesus Christ!
CONSTRUCTION SITE:
Please visit other completed projects on this website. May you continue to “grow in grace and in the knowledge of the truth”. WORD OF CAUTION: As you’re hammering the nails of Truth into your life, remember to keep your eyes on the nail, not your fingers! The Lord Jesus was a carpenter, and I’m sure He could tell you that from personal experience!