John 1:35-42. The Effect of Meeting Jesus

We have already seen in this chapter that John the Baptist exemplifies a person who is committed to promoting Jesus Christ. In this section we can see the effect of meeting Jesus in two of John’s disciples. This account is surely included as an example of the way Jesus affected the other disciples.

“The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by he said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God.’” John 1:35-36

The previous day John had made that majestic statement about who Jesus is and what he would achieve,

“Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29

John the Baptist pointed his disciples to Jesus and directed them to follow Jesus. It is one thing to say ‘Jesus is everything’ but to pass on your own disciples is much more difficult. John ‘walked the talk.’

The two that he pointed to Jesus were Andrew and another disciple who was almost certainly the apostle John himself. After hearing John the Baptist, ‘they followed Jesus.’ It would seem that they did this rather hesitantly. It was Jesus himself who sensed their presence and who initiated the conversation.

“Turning round, Jesus saw them following and asked, ‘What do you want?’” John 1:38

It is not clear whether Andrew and John knew what they wanted. Their reply, “Where are you staying?” may have just been something to say. However Jesus’ reply was so welcoming and demonstrated the sort of response all Christians should emulate when talking with strangers.

“Come, and you will see.” John 1:39

Jesus loved to have double meanings in what he said and John often picks up on this. Was Jesus just saying that they could see the tent or house he was staying in, or was he really saying, “You will come to see who I really am, the Messiah, the answer to all men’s needs!”

They meet with Jesus

The two followed Jesus, arriving at 4pm, ‘the tenth hour’, and probably spent the whole evening talking with him. The book of John was written when John was an old man, possibly 60 to 70 years after this event, yet he clearly remembered exactly the details of what occurred and when this happened. This is surely no surprise as that was the greatest day of his life – the day when he came to know and follow God’s Son, God’s Messiah.

They would never forget such a conversation. Their lives began on that day, that spring afternoon in Galilee in 30AD at 4pm. We can only speculate about what they talked about but it is probable that Jesus explained to them what the Old Testament, the Jewish Scriptures, were all about. This was a favourite topic for Jesus. On the day of his resurrection, Jesus joined Cleopas and his companion as they walked the seven miles to Emmaus. They started explaining how Jesus had been crucified, as if Jesus didn’t know, adding that some women had seen the empty tomb and had had a vision of angels telling them that Jesus was alive and that some of the disciples had confirmed that the tomb was empty. Then Jesus intervened,

“ ‘How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?’ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.” Luke 24:25-27

Later that same day, Jesus joined his disciples as they were hiding in the locked upper room. After eating some fish he said to them,

“ ‘This is what I told you while I was still with you: everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.’ Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, ‘This is what is written : the Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations . . .’” Luke 24:44-47

Jesus longed that his followers should understand the Scriptures and today this remains the prime purpose of his church – to teach the Scriptures and encourage all people to live according to them.

What a great privilege it must have been for these two disciples of John to have heard Jesus explain what matters in life. They must have been so excited and felt so privileged. They learned something that evening that remained with them for the rest of their lives. Jesus was willing to go out of his way to win others for the Kingdom of God.

They were also being shown how to do personal evangelism. Jesus had befriended them, welcomed them to share his life and then he had shared with them what he knew to be important.

They long to share Jesus

The effect on Andrew was immediate.

“The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus.” John 1:41-42

Such enthusiasm is the natural effect that meeting Jesus has on people. When Kent Hughes was just 13 years old he went to a Christian camp where he was taught the gospel. He realised, for the first time, that he was a sinner before God and he approached the camp leader saying,

“I don’t think I know Jesus. I don’t think I have him in my heart.”

His leader explained how Jesus was waiting to be invited into our lives. He put his arm on Kent’s shoulder and they prayed. Kent asked the Lord Jesus to come into his life, forgive his sin and direct his life. He left that room with a great burden removed from his shoulders. He had been marvellously saved. He couldn’t wait to share the news with the other lads in his group at the camp. He wanted everyone to know.

This was Andrew’s experience too. He couldn’t help himself as he had been enthused.

Andrew continued to be earnest in introducing people to Jesus. Every time he is mentioned in the gospels he is bringing people to meet Jesus, because he knew who he was. On one occasion Jesus saw thousands of people approaching and he said to Philip to test him,

“Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” John 6:5

It was Andrew who then brought a young lad to Jesus and said,

“Here is a boy with five barley loaves and two small fish.” John 6:9

Some Greeks asked Philip, “Sir, we would see Jesus.” Philip then went to tell Andrew and they took the Greeks to Jesus. Both Mark and Matthew tell the story about how both Andrew and his brother Peter were formally called to become disciples of Jesus and as disciples they were to be evangelists.

“As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ‘Come follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men.’ At once they left their nets and followed him.” Mark 1:16-18

Richard C. H. Lenski was a New Testament scholar and he thinks the Greek for , ‘He first found his brother’ should be understood as meaning that John was also looking for his brother James to introduce him to Christ but Andrew found Peter first.

This natural longing to introduce others to Jesus was a feature of the disciples. Jesus found Philip and called him to be one of his disciples, saying ‘Follow me.’ His immediate reaction was natural,

“Philip found Nathanael and told him, ‘We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law and about whom the prophets also wrote – Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” John 1:44

This desire to introduce people to Jesus continued throughout their lives. Those early Christians were both enthusiastic and habitual in this work.

Just 24 hours before, John the Baptist had been a voice ‘crying in the wilderness’. Then two of his followers, Andrew and John, responded and turned to follow Jesus. Each of these then brought another to Christ, Andrew brought Peter and John brought his brother James.

Dawson Trotman, an evangelist and founder of ‘the Navigators’, wrote in his little book, “Born to Reproduce’, that there are some interesting mathematics here. If I win one person for Christ and in 6 months he in turn wins another and this rate of replication continues, by two years there would be 16 new Christians. By three years there would be 64, by 5 years 1048 and by 15½ years there would be 2 billion, 176 million, the number of people in all of Europe!

What Jesus wants is for our churches to be full of people with the desire Andrew had, to introduce others to Jesus. We do need some able people who are able to teach the Bible well but our greatest need today is for all Christians to become personal evangelists. It is so satisfying to see a member of your family, your neighbours and friends coming to know Jesus.

The experience Jesus gives

Our English word ‘enthusiasm’ comes from two Greek words, ‘en’ meaning ‘into’ and ‘theos’ meaning ‘God’. When a person enters into a genuine relationship with God there will inevitably be some form of enthusiasm showing, the nature of which depends on the personality.

We must be careful not to expect everyone to behave in the same way – enthusiasm will have different effects in different people but one thing is sure, when someone meets with Jesus they will long to share him with others.

Many years later the other person who met Jesus that day, John the apostle, wrote of the effect that same experience had on him,

“That which was from the beginning, which we have seen and heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched – this we proclaim concerning the Word of Life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. . . . We write this to make our joy complete” 1 John 1:1-3

There are many ways to proclaim Jesus, including writing about him. There is also much joy to be experienced when we share the news about Jesus with others. Joyful enthusiasm is a mark of those in the Christian faith. We have been invited to the marriage feast of the Lamb where there will be much joy. When Christians arrive in heaven, we will be full of worship and joy.

Another warning needs to be given – not all enthusiasm comes from the truth. I remember a fellow medical student who kept failing his exams. He had become involved with Maharishi Yogi and took to meditation in a big way. He couldn’t stop talking about the calm and other effects this had on his life. The downside was that he didn’t bother to do much work either and he kept failing. Some preachers enthusiastically advocate a prosperity gospel, that God longs to bless his people materially in this life. Such ministers may get rich through their enthusiastic preaching but their message is not that of Jesus Christ. Television advertisements are usually full of enthusiasm for their product but this enthusiasm doesn’t mean the product is the best buy.

When Jesus considered the fate of those who rejected him, he was very emotional.

“As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it.” Luke 19:41

One of the most effective evangelists this country has known was C.H.Spurgeon. He was not afraid to show his emotions and would often weep as he begged people to repent and turn to Christ.

Andrew is usually known for being the brother of Simon Peter, which is not very flattering. Many know about the self-confidant Peter, who was indeed a great man. Andrew didn’t have his personality but undoubtedly, in God’s eyes, he is highly valued. He was not only enthusiastic; habitual in his concerns but he was also humble.

Andrew wasn’t in the inner circle of the disciples but he was the first Christian. It is likely that the greatest crowns will be awarded in heaven to those we have not heard of. An elderly irreligious builder became a Christian when someone told him the gospel. He then invited his daughter to come to a carol service and she subsequently turned to Christ. She then invited an older couple to come to an Exploring Christianity group. They both became Christians and they have now brought their neighbour regularly to church. Such is the work of God’s people – it is much more important than being the person up front.

Each of us is in a unique situation in our families and in society. There are people around us with similar experiences, ages, handicaps and the like. Each of us is uniquely placed to find ways to share the gospel with those around us. Some will respond, ‘But I’m not theologically trained!’ Neither were Andrew or John. All they said is that they had found the Messiah. Peter was won by an enthusiastic brother who put his arm around him and said simply ,

“I want you to meet the person who has changed my life.”

When Peter was introduced to Jesus we read, ‘Jesus looked at him.’ God could see into the heart of the self-confident Peter and said these words,

“ ‘You are Simon, son of John. You will be called Cephas,’ (which, when translated, is Peter).” John 1:42

Peter means ‘rock’. Jesus was being prophetic in saying there would be a character change in Peter’s life – he would become a stable rock. He was a strong-willed, self-confidant, vain, impulsive, irresolute, unstable and selfish man who was to deny his association with Jesus to save himself. Yet Peter was later to be the man to lead the early church and gave that first sermon on the Day of Pentecost that resulted in about 3000 people, mainly Jews, putting their faith in Jesus. He then risked imprisonment and persecution and eventually was executed because of his love for Jesus. It was Peter who bravely said to the Sanhedrin when ‘commanded not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus’,

“Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:18-20

Jesus certainly transformed Peter into a rock, a man God could use.

The sculptor, Michelangelo (1475 - 1564) was working on a huge, shapeless piece of rock. A visitor naively asked him,

“What are you doing?’

A great answer was given,

“I am releasing the angel that is imprisoned in this stone.”

He saw what was there and spent months releasing the angel.

When we are brought face to face with Jesus he sees both what we are and what we can become. His word changes us. He wants not just to forgive us our sin but to give us his Holy Spirit to change us to be of use and to be a light for him in a dark world. He chisels us into people he can use. This is what the apostles did in their day and this is what God empowers us to do today. What a state God’s churches have got into when the vast majority of Christians have never helped someone else become a Christian and, what is worse, seem to have little desire to be equipped for this task. Can we not see what a joy it will be to stand before the Lord Jesus in glory? This joy is well described in one of the Psalms of Ascent,

“When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them." The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.” Psalm 126:1

Those who keep going with Christ will be given a white stone with our new names written on it,

“To him who overcomes . . . I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it . . .” Revelation 2:17

What a thrill it will be to hear him say to us,

“Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness.” Matthew 25:21

The important message is that we can all change because God gives us the power of his Spirit to do just this.

God longs for more Andrew’s, whose enthusiasm for Jesus doesn’t dwindle, but becomes a habitual overflowing to others. At the same time there must be a humility if we are to be used. Christians are not here on earth for ourselves, for our own interests, but to be ambitious for Jesus Christ, that he should be glorified through us.

God does not want us to be passive Christians, who turn up at church when convenient, and are satisfied with just believing orthodox doctrines. Jesus calls us all to be ‘sold out to him’ and his service. We should decide what our ministry should be and then make that our ministry for the Lord Jesus.

Henry Martyn was a brilliant Cambridge undergraduate who was the top mathematician (Senior Wrangler) of all students in 1801. He was also a brilliant linguist. He heard a sermon by Charles Simeon about the influence William Carey had as a missionary to India and he felt that God wanted him to be a missionary also. On his voyage to India in 1806 he saw the ravages of the war to conquer South Africa for the British Empire. He had a deep passion that others should hear and understand the gospel and wrote at this time,

“I prayed that…England whilst she sent the thunder of her arms to distant regions of the globe, might not remain proud and ungodly at home; but might show herself great indeed, by sending forth the ministers of her church to diffuse the gospel of peace.”

He realised that the great need in these undeveloped countries was for a translation of the Scriptures into their own languages and this he set about to do. He translated the whole of the New Testament into Urdu, Persian and Judaeo-Persic. He also translated the Psalms into Persian. An indication of his zeal for the gospel was his statement.

“Let me burn out for God.”

He died in 1812 when still only thirty one years old, committed to the service of his Lord. He recognised that this concern for the salvation of others was from the Holy Spirit, saying,

“The Spirit of Christ is the spirit of missions. The nearer we get to Him, the more intensely missionary we become.”

BVP