Can you imagine the disciples sitting together and talking to each other? What stories they could tell. Just like you, I’m sure the day they met Jesus stood out above them all.
Today, we hear John, the Disciple, tell us of the first two disciples. We also hear Jesus’ invitation for them to come and see.
Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples and looking at Jesus as He walked. He said, “Behold the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. Then Jesus turned and, seeing them following, said to them, “What do you see?” They said to Him, “Rabbie (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), where are you staying?”
He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour). One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.
He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah.” (which is translated, the Christ). And brought him to Jesus. Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, “You are Simon, the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” (which is translated, a stone). John 1:35-42 NKJV.
What is a disciple?
A disciple is very important to any leader. The leaders are called teachers, and others are called masters. But, regardless of how you look at it, disciples secure and multiply their teaching. John the Baptist also had disciples.
They believed his message, and we’re waiting for the One who was to come. John the Baptist knew that pointing his disciples to Jesus was a good thing. They would leave him and transfer their loyalty to Jesus, the new and greater Teacher.
If they stayed to hear the voice crying in the desert, then the truth will eventually emerge. The voice did not cry in vain. It’s unknown how many disciples were with John the Baptist, but I’m sure there were a good number. Two took him at his word and followed Jesus – the One.
The first disciples?
One disciple is unnamed, and the other is Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter. By leaving John and going to Jesus, they believed He was the Messiah. It was worth checking out. As we see, later, Andrew’s conviction led him to bring his brother Peter to Jesus.
Something convinced Andrew enough to bring his brother to Jesus.
On a side note, whenever Scripture mentions Andrew, he brings someone to Jesus. His faith and confidence in the Messiah were so strong that he couldn’t keep it to himself. Andrew didn’t introduce others to Jesus to confirm his belief, but because he knew Jesus was and is the Messiah.
Andrew and the other unnamed disciple may have been too shy to approach Him directly. So they followed at a respectful distance. It was apparent that they wanted to see Jesus. They didn’t want to speak to Jesus in passing, as a chance acquaintance, or stop to exchange a few words.
Seekers
Jesus made it possible for them to draw near, asking, “What do you seek?” This question draws out their commitment. Are they coming to see or stay? Are we merely curious or devoted?
When our human mind seeks and our heart longs for more, we find Jesus meets us where we are. If Jesus, as He claimed, came to seek and save the lost, then the Seeker draws the lost to Himself. Jesus does not leave us to seek Him in vain; He comes to meet us. Invites us to come to Him and see. In seeing, we come to know intimately the Savior of our souls and Keeper of our lives.
Accept the Invitation
When Jesus invites us to come and see, He’s honestly asking us to join Him in conversation and fellowship. Come and uncover the profound mysteries known only to the Messiah—the secrets of God’s wisdom.
Jesus asked us this question when we choose to believe. Are we seeking Him as the true Messiah or just another teacher to add to our list of teachers?
A genuine commitment to Jesus requires us to abide with Him—to stay where He stays and go where He goes. Where the Master is, so goes the devotee-disciple. Intimacy follows true devotion. The Master-disciple relationship is a matter of choice. The Master chooses to receive, guide, direct, and teach the true of heart. The decision of the disciple is to follow the Master wholeheartedly.
Jesus says, “Come and you will see.”
This invitation intends solely to invite these two disciples to investigate. It was sincere. He encouraged them to become acquainted with Him and spend time in His presence.
He still urges us to do the same today. Are we motivated by idle curiosity or a genuine desire to know Him and be called a disciple?
The Unnamed Disciple and Andrew
Scholars debate whether the unnamed disciple is the Apostle John. But John didn’t think it important enough to mention his name. I think it was John himself who didn’t want to distract from Andrew’s testimony.
Andrew is on record as the first to declare directly that Jesus is the Christ. Both Christos (Greek) and Messiah (Hebrew, literally meaning “the Anointed One”.
Anointing with aromatic, spiced oil was a common practice in Jesus’ day. Particularly during festivals or celebrations of some kind, or when honoring a special occasion, p. The anointed one would carry that fragrance until it faded. Spiritual anointing never fades.
Andrew remains largely unknown, but the little we know reveals a great deal about his character. Repeatedly, he’s introduced in Scripture as Simon Peter’s brother. Here he is one of the first to follow Christ and yet he didn’t make a big deal out of it. He never asked to be part of the inner circle with Peter, James, and John. Honestly, we see Andrew was content to know Jesus, introduce Him to others, and make Him known.
Andrew is a good example of a humble and loyal disciple who loves being near Jesus more than the prestige that comes with it.
Oh, to have the missionary heart of Andrew! He honestly could not keep Jesus to himself. When once touched by the Holy, nothing else matters.
The Third Disciple – Simon Peter
The first thing Andrew does is bring his brother, Simon Peter. Jesus looks at Peter with a concentrated, intent gaze, reaching into his heart.
Jesus not only sees what we are today, but also who we will become in the future. He says, “Come to Me, give Me your life. I’ve got you. Let me transform you into what I see in you. Let me give you a new name.”
Jesus calls Peter by a new name: Cephas, or in Aramaic, “the stone.” A name reveals the character of the named. In Peter’s case, we see in sacred Scripture how he becomes a solid, rock-steady leader in the ancient Church.
Our identity in Christ is not who we think we are, but who Christ knows we are.
What does it take to be a disciple?
Andrew is a good example, but if our identity is in Christ and we call ourselves disciples, then these characteristics should be an integral part of our lives:
- Follower: Make a conscious decision to trust and follow Jesus, commit our loyalty and devotion to him.
- Transformed: Strive to be more like Jesus in our thoughts, words, and actions, guided by the Holy Spirit.
- Committed: We should actively take the Great Commission seriously: make new disciples and spread the gospel.
- Trust and obey: We listen to sacred Scripture and strive to live according to the Word.
- Love: A hallmark of a disciple is love for Christ and others. They will know we are disciples by our love.
- Sacrificial service: We prioritize the needs of others above our own, serving selflessly as Jesus did.
- Humility: We show humility in our actions and focus on honoring God rather than seeking personal recognition.
- Prayer, intimacy, and dependence: We recognize our need for consistent communication and fellowship with God and rely on Him for strength and guidance.
- Growth through adversity: We grow closer to God by persevering through trials that test our faith and trust in Christ.
Are you a Disciple?
Anyone can call themselves Christian, but not everyone can be called a disciple. Listen, you might hear Jesus inviting you to come and see.
Can you imagine the first disciples sitting around and talking about how they met Jesus and who was the first? Do you remember when you met Jesus?
What stories can you tell?
“The strength and happiness of a man consists in finding out the way in which God is going, and going that way too.” ~ Henry Ward Beecher
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