John the Baptist Points Out the Lamb of GodBible World
1:37John 1:37
And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
When John pointed to Jesus as the Lamb of God, two of his own disciples left him and began to follow Jesus, and these first followers were Andrew and John. They were drawn to Him without yet fully understanding or knowing for certain that He was the Messiah, but by coming to stay with Him and learning from His teaching about salvation they became convinced that He was the Christ. John in particular stayed as an eager, absorbed listener longing for ever closer fellowship, and in that adoring contemplation his proud and combative nature as a son of thunder was rebuked and transformed into likeness to Christ. Their seeking, hearing, and then bringing others laid the foundation of the Christian church, as Andrew at once went to find his brother and lead him to the Saviour. Their course shows that everyone who knows Jesus is to personally bring family, friends, and neighbors to Him rather than leaving the work to ministers alone, for faith is strengthened by unselfish effort and spiritual life deepens only as it is shared.
Setting and First Response
The verse belongs to the account of the first disciples coming to Jesus, whose theme is finding the Messiah. That coming follows hearing John speak, and the call to read the whole chapter places it within John the Baptist's ministry and his witness to Christ as the true Light and the world's Creator, whom the world did not know. Its setting is John's preaching and baptizing at Bethabara beyond the Jordan. Nearby memories of Israel crossing the Jordan and the fall of Jericho heightened interest in his message and stirred hope that God would again deliver Israel. At that time his preaching had gained a strong and growing following that drew the attention and concern of the Jewish religious authorities.
It took place when Jesus returned to the Jordan and was declared to be the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. At that same time John, Andrew, Simon, Philip, and Nathanael were chosen as disciples as Jesus entered upon the great work of His life. When two of John's disciples heard him identify Jesus as the Lamb of God, they left John and followed Jesus. They were Andrew and John, Jesus' first disciples. Their following began their seeking to know Christ personally, hear His words, and learn from His teaching.
Their response laid the foundation of the Christian church in that they sought Jesus, came to see where He dwelt, and heard Him explain the plan of salvation before bringing others to Him. It showed how John directed people to Jesus rather than to himself. They were drawn to Jesus but did not yet fully understand John's words or know whether Jesus was the Messiah.
Knowing Jesus and Sharing Him
Their following was the start of seeking Christ to know Him for themselves and to learn from His teaching, for He invited them to come and see where He stayed and opened to them the plan of salvation. One of the two was Andrew, who with his companion turned from John the Baptist to Jesus when they heard Him proclaimed the Lamb of God. Hearing Jesus speak convinced them that He was the Messiah, and they began to own their faith in Him. Their testimony of what they had seen and heard at the Jordan kindled in others the hope that God had raised up a deliverer for His people.
The unnamed second disciple with Andrew was John himself, who heard Jesus beside the Jordan and followed Him. While Andrew hurried away to call his brother, John remained silent, rapt in contemplation of wondrous themes. He followed as an eager, absorbed listener, pressing close to Jesus, sitting by His side and longing for love, sympathy, and companionship. He desired every opportunity for close contact with his Master and for still nearer intimacy, and it was granted, so that his relation to Christ became among the closest of the twelve. Like a flower drinking sun and dew, he drank in divine light and life in adoration and love until likeness to Christ and fellowship with Him became his one desire. His proud, ambitious, combative nature as a son of thunder was thus rebuked, tested, and transformed to reflect the beauty of holiness and his Master's transforming love.
That following placed them among the first company who left all for His service, gladly forsaking home and friends to be with Him. They walked and talked with Him in the privacy of the home and in public assemblies, while He quieted their fears, delivered them from danger, relieved their sufferings, comforted their grief, and with patience and tenderness taught them until their hearts were linked with His. In ardent love they longed to be nearest to Him in His kingdom, so John took his place next to Jesus at every possible opportunity, and James longed to be honored with as close a connection with Him. It was the beginning of following Jesus as disciples, with John among the five chosen to accompany Jesus in His ministry, to receive His teachings, to witness His miracles, and to make them known to the world.
In these first few disciples the foundation of the Christian church was being laid by individual effort, as they sought Jesus, came to see where He dwelt, heard Him, and then brought others to Him. Andrew went on to find his brother and bring him to the Saviour. Their example teaches that once people know Jesus they should tell others about Him. That means personally bringing family, friends, neighbors, relatives, and acquaintances to the Saviour through direct, unselfish effort. This work belongs to every follower and church member, not to ministers alone, and must not be left with the minister while enjoying grace selfishly and doing nothing for those outside Christ, for God has left upon members a work in the vineyard that even a well-qualified minister cannot do.
Faithful, unselfish, interested workers share largely of grace here and of reward hereafter. Faith is called into exercise by good works and increases through working faith, with courage and hope attending it. So spiritual experience deepens, the divine life advances, and life becomes bright and living only when engaging in the work God gives to do.
When John pointed to Jesus as the Lamb of God, two of his own disciples left him and began to follow Jesus, and these first followers were Andrew and John. They were drawn to Him without yet fully understanding or knowing for certain that He was the Messiah, but by coming to stay with Him and learning from His teaching about salvation they became convinced that He was the Christ. John in particular stayed as an eager, absorbed listener longing for ever closer fellowship, and in that adoring contemplation his proud and combative nature as a son of thunder was rebuked and transformed into likeness to Christ. Their seeking, hearing, and then bringing others laid the foundation of the Christian church, as Andrew at once went to find his brother and lead him to the Saviour. Their course shows that everyone who knows Jesus is to personally bring family, friends, and neighbors to Him rather than leaving the work to ministers alone, for faith is strengthened by unselfish effort and spiritual life deepens only as it is shared.
Setting and First Response
The verse belongs to the account of the first disciples coming to Jesus, whose theme is finding the Messiah. That coming follows hearing John speak, and the call to read the whole chapter places it within John the Baptist's ministry and his witness to Christ as the true Light and the world's Creator, whom the world did not know. Its setting is John's preaching and baptizing at Bethabara beyond the Jordan. Nearby memories of Israel crossing the Jordan and the fall of Jericho heightened interest in his message and stirred hope that God would again deliver Israel. At that time his preaching had gained a strong and growing following that drew the attention and concern of the Jewish religious authorities.
It took place when Jesus returned to the Jordan and was declared to be the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. At that same time John, Andrew, Simon, Philip, and Nathanael were chosen as disciples as Jesus entered upon the great work of His life. When two of John's disciples heard him identify Jesus as the Lamb of God, they left John and followed Jesus. They were Andrew and John, Jesus' first disciples. Their following began their seeking to know Christ personally, hear His words, and learn from His teaching.
Their response laid the foundation of the Christian church in that they sought Jesus, came to see where He dwelt, and heard Him explain the plan of salvation before bringing others to Him. It showed how John directed people to Jesus rather than to himself. They were drawn to Jesus but did not yet fully understand John's words or know whether Jesus was the Messiah.
Knowing Jesus and Sharing Him
Their following was the start of seeking Christ to know Him for themselves and to learn from His teaching, for He invited them to come and see where He stayed and opened to them the plan of salvation. One of the two was Andrew, who with his companion turned from John the Baptist to Jesus when they heard Him proclaimed the Lamb of God. Hearing Jesus speak convinced them that He was the Messiah, and they began to own their faith in Him. Their testimony of what they had seen and heard at the Jordan kindled in others the hope that God had raised up a deliverer for His people.
The unnamed second disciple with Andrew was John himself, who heard Jesus beside the Jordan and followed Him. While Andrew hurried away to call his brother, John remained silent, rapt in contemplation of wondrous themes. He followed as an eager, absorbed listener, pressing close to Jesus, sitting by His side and longing for love, sympathy, and companionship. He desired every opportunity for close contact with his Master and for still nearer intimacy, and it was granted, so that his relation to Christ became among the closest of the twelve. Like a flower drinking sun and dew, he drank in divine light and life in adoration and love until likeness to Christ and fellowship with Him became his one desire. His proud, ambitious, combative nature as a son of thunder was thus rebuked, tested, and transformed to reflect the beauty of holiness and his Master's transforming love.
That following placed them among the first company who left all for His service, gladly forsaking home and friends to be with Him. They walked and talked with Him in the privacy of the home and in public assemblies, while He quieted their fears, delivered them from danger, relieved their sufferings, comforted their grief, and with patience and tenderness taught them until their hearts were linked with His. In ardent love they longed to be nearest to Him in His kingdom, so John took his place next to Jesus at every possible opportunity, and James longed to be honored with as close a connection with Him. It was the beginning of following Jesus as disciples, with John among the five chosen to accompany Jesus in His ministry, to receive His teachings, to witness His miracles, and to make them known to the world.
In these first few disciples the foundation of the Christian church was being laid by individual effort, as they sought Jesus, came to see where He dwelt, heard Him, and then brought others to Him. Andrew went on to find his brother and bring him to the Saviour. Their example teaches that once people know Jesus they should tell others about Him. That means personally bringing family, friends, neighbors, relatives, and acquaintances to the Saviour through direct, unselfish effort. This work belongs to every follower and church member, not to ministers alone, and must not be left with the minister while enjoying grace selfishly and doing nothing for those outside Christ, for God has left upon members a work in the vineyard that even a well-qualified minister cannot do.
Faithful, unselfish, interested workers share largely of grace here and of reward hereafter. Faith is called into exercise by good works and increases through working faith, with courage and hope attending it. So spiritual experience deepens, the divine life advances, and life becomes bright and living only when engaging in the work God gives to do.