John 1:35-42 – Come and See: A Model for Discipleship
(Luke Kephart)
John 1:35-42 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter).
In today’s reading John continues to point his followers toward Jesus. We also see them begin to follow Him, and we see how Jesus connects with them, beginning to transform their lives from their first contact, inviting them to ‘come and see’. Finally, we see how those initial disciples very quickly expand the circle by inviting other to ‘come and see’. Let’s look at how the story unfolds, and how we can follow in their footsteps.
In this series of events, there are several pivotal moments that we should look at, and I want us to consider how discipleship comes about. I especially want us to think about two questions:
What is our primary role in making disciples?
How does Jesus change people?
- John points to Jesus.
- John, standing with two disciples declares Jesus to be “the Lamb of God”. John introduces Jesus as something extraordinary. To make disciples, they need to be introduced to Jesus.
- The two men follow.
- Something induces in these men a need to know more. For people to move toward Jesus, the Holy Spirit must move them.
- Jesus turns toward them.
- The remarkable truth about Jesus is that He is always waiting for us to move in His direction, and He will turn toward us.
- Jesus invites them to ‘come and see’.
- Jesus’ invitation isn’t about being their teacher, it is about encountering the person of Jesus. John had told them who Jesus was, but there is a reason that we use the phrase “coming to know Jesus” as the critical turning point.
- Andrew invites Simon to ‘come and see’.
- Andrew’s contact with Jesus in one day convinces him that Jesus is the Messiah, and that belief drives him to take the news to his brother that they have found the Christ. It’s not hard to imagine that Simon would have had many questions and probably doubts. Andrew answered all by taking him to ‘come and see’ Jesus.
- Jesus changes those who come to Him.
- Jesus’ meeting with Simon is remarkable. First, he makes it known that he knows Simon already. Second, he gives Simon a new name, Peter. This renaming is an act of authority—just as God renamed Abram to Abraham and Jacob to Israel. It signifies that Jesus is the one who transforms and directs our lives. Peter is at the beginning of a journey that will change him, and us.
John and Andrew model what we, as makers of disciples, should be about. First, we need to be directing people to Jesus, trusting that the Holy Spirit will move hearts. Second, we need to introduce people to the person of Jesus, knowing that transformation happens not through human persuasion but through an encounter with Christ Himself. This passage gives no indication that Jesus convinced them of who He was through signs and wonders—He convinced them by His presence and His call.
Likewise, today, Jesus calls His people primarily through His Word and Spirit, and we are called to faithfully proclaim Him. Tim Keller once pointed out that since the relationship with Jesus is personal, it isn’t surprising that the human person of Jesus is persuasive. He also noted that most people come to Jesus through a personal introduction, rarely apart from a friend’s influence.
When I was in college, I had friends who were Christians and friends who weren’t. I found that introducing my non-Christian friends to my Christian community often revealed Jesus in ways that I alone could not. By inviting them to “come and see” the body of Christ, I was inviting them to witness what Jesus does in His people. I’ll admit that I still miss opportunities to do this, but I’ve seen how powerful it is when we invite people to meet Jesus through His Church.
As we invite others to “come and see,” we are not merely introducing them to an idea or a community—we are inviting them to Christ Himself, revealed in Scripture and present in His people. May we be faithful to point others to the Lamb of God, trusting that He is the one who transforms lives.
Weekly Prayer Focus: Congregational Renewal
Daily Prayer Request: Zeal for Witness. That we would be eager to share our faith with those around us and aware of opportunities to speak of Christ.