All Glory to God the Father and to our Savior Jesus Christ
From Westminster Shorter Catechism, questions 39 to 42:
Q39. What is the duty which God requireth of man?
A39. The duty which God requireth of man is obedience to His revealed will.
Q40. What did God at first reveal to man for the rule of his obedience?
A40. The rule which God at first revealed to man for his obedience, was the Moral Law.
Q41. Where is the Moral Law summarily comprehended?
A41. The Moral Law is summarily comprehended in the Ten Commandments.
Q42. What is the sum of the Ten Commandments?
A42. The sum of the Ten Commandments is, “to love the Lord our God” with all our heart, all our soul, with all our strength, and with all our mind; and our neighbor as ourselves.
Today we will go through John 1 verses 35 to 42. John the Baptist is just about to complete his task as defined by God and spoken by the prophets so long ago (Isaiah 40:3). This chapter is also where Jesus begins his ministry and starts to gather his disciples.
35 Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciples,
36 and he looked at Jesus as He walked, and *said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!”
Charles Spurgeon, known as The Prince of Pastors and also known to be able to speak, without microphones (this was the late 1800’s) to large auditoriums and everybody could hear him. Here is a charming story that relates to verse 36. “Spurgeon once tested an auditorium in which he was to speak that evening. Stepping into the pulpit, Spurgeon loudly proclaimed, “Behold the lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world.” Satisfied with the acoustics, he left and went his way. Unknown to him, there were two men working in the rafters of that large auditorium, neither one a Christian. One of the men was pricked in his conscience by the verse Spurgeon quoted and became a believer later that day!”
It is very interesting how God uses us in our everyday lives. Our job is not to deliver salvation, but to bring the True Word (John 17:17) to an unbelieving world. As believers, it should show, by our actions and our words. We have the ability, through the Grace of the Lord, to say or do something that will cause an unbeliever to wonder at where this example of faith or good works is coming from. You really need to think about this and how it relates to your life. John the Baptist understood his role as herald to the Lamb of God. His example, his life, was used by God to show people their sin and repent, for that is the first act of a believer. Repent and forsake your sin, and then pursue Christ like your life depends on it.
37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
The implication may be that they went after Jesus to examine Him more closely because of John’s testimony. These guys knew the scriptures and when they heard “Lamb of God”, that was good enough for them to follow this Jesus to see for themselves. They eventually dedicated their lives to Him as true disciples and apostles when Jesus called them to permanent service after these events. At this point in the narrative, John the Baptist fades from the scene and the attention focuses upon the ministry of Christ.
38 And Jesus turned and saw them following, and *said to them, “What do you seek?” They said to Him, “Rabbi (which translated means Teacher), where are You staying?”
The strongest and most prevailing argument with an awakened soul to follow Christ, is, that it is he only who takes away sin. Whatever communion there is between our souls and Christ, it is he who begins the discourse. He asked, What do you seek? The question Jesus put to them, we should all put to ourselves when we begin to follow Him, What do we design and desire?
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.
Come and see. They think of a visit later, it may be, on the following day. He bids them come at once. Then, as now, he was willing that they should come at once and enjoy the full opportunity which they desired of his conversation. Jesus is ever ready to admit those who seek him to his presence and favor.
40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.
From MacLaren’s Expositions:
There are many ways by which souls are brought to their Saviour. Sometimes, like the merchantman seeking goodly pearls, men seek Him earnestly and find Him. Sometimes, by the intervention of another, the knowledge of Him is kindled in dark hearts. Sometimes He Himself takes the initiative, and finds those that seek Him not. We have illustrations of all these various ways in these simple records of the gathering in of the first disciples. Andrew and his friend, with whom we were occupied in our last sermon, looked for Christ and found Him. Peter, with whom we have to do now, was brought to Christ by his brother; and the third of the group, consisting of Philip, was sought by Christ while he was not thinking of Him, and found an unsought treasure; and then Philip again, like Andrew, finds a friend, and brings him to Christ.
41 He *found first his own brother Simon and *said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which translated means Christ).
From Gill’s Exposition
He first findeth his own brother Simon,…. Either before the other disciple, or before he found any other person: after he and the other disciple departed from Christ, being affected with the grace bestowed upon him, and his heart warm with the conversation he had had with him, and transported with joy at finding the Messiah, goes in all haste in search of his relations, friends, and acquaintance, to communicate what he had seen and heard, in order to bring them to the knowledge of the same; for such is the nature of grace.
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 is translated Peter).
Cephas – This is a Syriac word, meaning the same as the Greek word Peter, a stone. The stone, or rock, is a symbol of firmness and steadiness of character – a trait in Peter’s character after the ascension of Jesus that was very remarkable. Before the death of Jesus he was rash, headlong, variable. Yet when Christ had ascended, Peter became what Christ had wanted in him:
Matthew 16:18
And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Let the Grace of the Lord flow through you and take pleasure in the fruit of the spirit that has been your allotment. Your life truly does depend upon it.