GOOD NEWS FROM ST. JOHN
WHAT a wonderful example John the Baptist gives here for us all, and specially for ministers of the Gospel. John was with two of his disciples when Jesus was passing by. Immediately John the Baptist directs his disciples towards Jesus, and tells them Jesus is the Lamb of God. He does not do this casually or indifferently, but urgently. John says to his disciples Look! Look on Jesus. See Jesus as the Lamb of God for you.
John knew what this would mean, and he meant it to be so, even though he would diminish in the estimation of these two disciples, and he would lose them as his disciples. John the Baptist was not concerned for his own glory, but only for the glory of Jesus. He was not concerned about his own comfort, but the good of the souls of these two disciples. John knew he could not save them from their sins. John knew Jesus was appointed to save them, so he urges them to leave him and become disciples of Jesus. How we need to have the same humility, and the same concern for the eternal happiness of others.
Immediately these two disciples began to follow Jesus, Jesus knew, and turned to greet them and began his saving work in them. Jesus asked them what they wanted, and perceived in their answer that they had a desire to know him and to follow him, and so he responded in saving love to this desire, even though it was made in such a timid and indecisive way. This is always the way of Jesus. The moment we move towards him in our need, he knows and responds in saving love. He immediately affirms our desire for his saving love, however weak and uniformed it may be. He nurtures that love. The important thing is to turn with a true heart to Jesus, not just out of curiosity, but in a real desire for his blessing. Jesus will receive us and nurture our desire, even though at the moment of seeking Jesus we may have many doubts and fears, and our understanding is poor. The important thing is to place our trust in Jesus and place ourselves into his care.
Then we read in verse 39 that these two disciples spent the day with Jesus. They did not just find out where he lived and then move on, but they stayed with him to be with him and listen to him and learn. Notice firstly the desire expressed in this act. Their desire to know Jesus was deep. Then let us learn, secondly, that a true disciple of Jesus wants to spend time with Jesus. We are not able to go to a house on earth and see Jesus physically, but Jesus does meet with us when we seek him spiritually in Bible study and reading, and in prayer, and in the worship and fellowship of the church, and when we have spiritual conversation and fellowship with others who are God’s people. Thirdly, let us learn that those who spend most time with Jesus are those who know the most of the blessing of Christ’s redemption in their lives, and grow most into his likeness.
As we read on these verses we see how special Jesus had become to Andrew. So special was Jesus, and his faith had grown so much, that he could not help but share the faith he had with his brother, Simon Peter. Here we learn the secret and motivation for evangelism and witness. We will want to share Jesus with others more and more as our appreciation of the glory and love of Jesus deepens in our lives.
Like most, if not everything in the spiritual realm, witness is never achieved by seeing it as a duty we ought to perform. Nor is witness effective if it is done as a duty. When witness is done as a duty, we convey very little delight in Jesus. Our attitudes convey messages through atmosphere and body language. When we witness as a duty we convey that we are not very thrilled with Christ, and that being a Christian is rather a burden because of all the duty that is involved.
The right motivation in witness, the motivation which has the right vibes and conveys delight and joy, is that of love for Jesus, and a deep sense of the glory of his person, and the wonder of the salvation that is found in him. The measure of our witness will relate to the measure of our appreciation and our joy in Christ.
Lastly, let us appreciate the joyous welcome that Jesus gave to Simon Peter when he responded to the invitation of his brother to see for himself the truth that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah. Like Jesus’ response to the following of Andrew and the other disciple who followed Jesus to find out who he was and where he lived, there is immediate affirmation and welcome. Jesus immediately gives a new name which expresses the future purpose of Peter’s life as a disciple of Jesus. We need never fear that anyone who makes a genuine movement towards Jesus will ever be disappointed. The moment we truly move towards Jesus in genuine enquiry and faith, Jesus responds and welcomes and brings us to faith and salvation.