the e-Testament
Scripture
John 1:35-42
Come, See for Yourself
The next day John was back at his post with two disciples, who were watching. He looked up, saw Jesus walking nearby, and said, “Here he is, God’s Passover Lamb.”
The two disciples heard him and went after Jesus. Jesus looked over his shoulder and said to them, “What are you after?”
They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”
He replied, “Come along and see for yourself.”
They came, saw where he was living, and ended up staying with him for the day. It was late afternoon when this happened.
Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard John’s witness and followed Jesus. The first thing he did after finding where Jesus lived was find his own brother, Simon, telling him, “We’ve found the Messiah” (that is, “Christ”). He immediately led him to Jesus.
Jesus took one look up and said, “You’re John’s son, Simon? From now on your name is Cephas” (or Peter, which means “Rock”).
Reflection
In this passage we see the amazing effect that meeting Jesus can have on people.
All the disciples do is show they are interested in him, and Jesus notices them right away, and asks what they want. He invites them back to his house – and they spend all day listening to him, and talking with him. Do we realise that Jesus is so easy to get on with, if we want to get to know him?
He’s the sort of person you want others to get to know too – as soon as he leaves Jesus, Andrew goes off to find his brother Simon, and he tells him he’s got to meet him. Andrew only had to spend a short time with Jesus to know he’s the Messiah – that he has been sent by God to save us all.
Jesus only has to meet Simon/Peter to decide he will be a rock. We all know quite a bit about what Peter does later on, and he’s not all that reliable! Maybe the thing we remember most is that he loses courage – he gets scared and ends up running out on Jesus when he needs him most. But none of us is perfect, and Peter found his faith and courage in the end. Jesus went on believing in him, and giving him the strength he needed. We trust and count on the friends we make, but Jesus can be the friend who is always there for us, if we let him into our lives.
Thinking of this story can help us become closer to Jesus, and really get to know him. He’s just waiting for us to tell him want we’re looking for, and that we want to be his friend.
Clare Lewis
Salesian Communications Worker
Prayer
Dear Jesus
Help me to meet you and be your friend.
Help me to share my joys and my worries with you.
Show me how to hear you talking to me,
Through the people around me,
and in the things going on in my life.
Help us to see the good in people,
Just as you do.
And help me to bring others to you
by showing them your love and care.
Amen