John 1:35-42
Something new and exciting has taken place in your life and
it is almost impossible to keep quiet about it. I’ve yet to meet a grandparent that does not
talk about the new grandchild, and if you give them a chance they will be
showing you pictures. If it is a first
grandchild and the only thing they have to show is a sonogram, get ready to see
the most beautiful little black and white picture and grandmother will explain
all the parts. For guys it may be the
new bass boat, or corvette, but we find great pleasure in sharing our
grandchildren or new house, car, kitchen and with me it would be my garden with
most everyone who asks.
Not much has changed, John had been looking for the Messiah,
and as he and two of his disciples were talking and he saw Jesus walking by and
said, “Behold the Lamb of God!” These
two must have been with John when the priests and Levites ask him, “Who are
you?” And they remember his reply was, I
am not the Christ, nor am I Elijah, nor am I the Prophet, but today this man
they follow had said to them, “Behold the Lamb of God!”
We like the rest of the story, they started to follow Jesus
and look at what happen, “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?”
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.” (John 1:
38-39) Have you heard the expression, “I
would like to have been a fly on the wall,” but God did not share what took
place as these two disciples of John went and spent the night with Jesus. But one thing is a fact, Andrew’s life was changed that night,
and he wanted to share with his brother Simon the good news that he had found
the Messiah. This is what happen on the
next day; “The
first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have
found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ).
Then he brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John.
You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter). (John
1: 41-42)
We live in a time where many who go by the family name of
Christian, who claim they are members of the family of God, Christ has redeemed
them from the penalty of sin and death, and yet they never tell anyone else
about this great gift. Many act as if
they did God a favor to join His family, and others bring shame on His holy
name. Could it be that Andrew and Simon were
looking, waiting, and expecting the Christ to visit them? And could it be that many who go by the name
of Christian are not looking, not waiting, and not expecting His soon
return? I do not know the answers to
those questions, but this I know, I told all my neighbors about a 13 inch
broccoli head I grew in my garden, it was something, but it has been eaten,
it’s gone, and it has no power, no hope, no authority to give life, to change a
heart, to redeem a person. But let me
tell you Jesus does, he is the giver of life, I know because for 27 years of my
life I was religious, but without hope, without life, and one night in a hotel
I read this verse, “Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord
and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be
saved.” and I acted on it as if it were truth, and Jesus forgave my
sins and came to live in my life and now I live in Him. Note: Never forget “Do and done,” “Do” is
religion, what I can do for God, but “Done” is Christianity what Jesus Christ
has done for you.
From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice
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