John and Andrew were first disciples of John the Baptist. When John the Baptist saw Jesus walking by the sea he said to them, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” When they heard that, they left John and began to follow Jesus.
Immediately, John and Andrew follow Jesus to where He was staying and spent the day with Him. Take a moment and think about what John must have been thinking. This is when John was told his cousin Jesus was the “Lamb of God”. After John knew Jesus as his cousin for 20 years, John learns Jesus true identity. What must be going through his mind? What would you be thing?
Andrew, Peter’s younger brother, went to tell Peter about Jesus. He told him we have found the Messiah. When Peter came to see Jesus, Jesus said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).” He will be given that name later. The name by which generations will know him.
The next introduction amazes me. Scripture says, “The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, He said to him, “Follow Me.”
Just “follow Me” and Philip was in. Can you imagine being in the presence of the Spirit that must have been present for that to happen. Just thinking about it amazes me.
Nathanael’s call was also amazing. Philip ran to tell Nathaneal. Nathaneal mocked the fact Jesus came from Nazareth, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?”, when he was introduced to Jesus, he made a major faith turn around. He simply said, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.” Truly an explosion of faith.
I think of John 60 years later reflecting back on these introductions. What wonder it must have brought back to him. Think about being there and watching those guys when they met Jesus.
Do you remember who introduced you to Jesus? Is there a moment you remember that changed your direction for eternity? I was a youth leader at church, and we went to a regional youth conference. A speaker made a statement that God used to open my eyes. I had been teaching the Bible to teenagers but living a very self-centered life. The speaker told a long story but ended by basically said if you call yourself Christian, but are living for yourself, change your name or change your conduct. God broke me and I have never been the same. Think about your story. God reaches us in many different ways.
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