John 1:35-51
The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by he exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon. One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Anointed). He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter). The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him about whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!” Nathanael asked him, “Where did you get to know me?” Jesus answered, “I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.” Nathanael replied, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” Jesus answered, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.” And he said to him, “Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.” John 1:35-51 (NRSVUE)
When Jesus invites, people respond.
We often forget that the vehicle for God making things happen is Word. God speaks and it is. God says, “Let there be light!” and there is light. Jesus says, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand,” and it is. In Christ, we hear, “You are forgiven,” and we are forgiven. We do not have the potential to be forgiven, or the hope that one day we will be forgiven but we have the power of that Word and promise now, in the moment it is spoken, heard, delivered. What God says IS.
In the early days of Jesus’ public ministry, he chooses people to be his disciples. Jesus chooses. It is a choosing that happens through Jesus’ words. Come and see. Follow me. And when Jesus invites, people respond because God speaks and it happens.
We sometimes think that discipleship is more complicated than this – that we somehow have to do all these things in order to be disciples – but it turns out that faith is not about our doings but about God’s doings. In Jesus, we find that what God does is call and choose and who Jesus calls and chooses is you. Chosen, you are made a disciple, following the one who leads you.
Come and see! Follow me! A call and promise that in Christ, you do.
Questions for Reflection:
- Reflect on a time when you were chosen for something – a job, a team, a part. How did that feel?
- Jesus chooses you not naively, but knowing fully who you are. How is this humbling? Uplifting?
Prayer:
Good and gracious God,
You speak and it is. Give me faith in your Word, made flesh in Jesus Christ, and the confidence to know that I am what you have called me. Amen
Login To Leave Comment