John 1:41, commentary and pictures

Andrew spent time with Jesus and became convinced He was the promised Deliverer, then sought out his own brother Simon to tell him the Messiah had been found and to bring him to Jesus to meet Him for himself. Messias means Christ, the promised Saviour of the world. This is the pattern of personal witness, where one who has found Christ makes a direct appeal to bring relatives, friends, acquaintances and neighbors to the Saviour. Once anyone knows Christ, young or old, the natural desire of a converted heart is to tell family and others about Him and be a channel of God's blessing to them. Such individual effort to bring souls to Jesus helped lay the foundation of the Christian church.

Words and Setting

Andrew heard Jesus and became convinced that He was the Messiah, and he did not keep the discovery to himself but went first to find his own brother Simon to tell him the news. His message was that they had found the Messiah, spoken with confidence and joy out of a sure recognition of who Jesus was. He then brought Simon to Jesus so that Simon could hear and meet Him for himself. The word Messias is explained as meaning the Christ, the promised Saviour of the world.

This finding took place amid the preaching and baptizing of John the Baptist at Bethabara beyond the Jordan. That place was full of memories of Israel crossing the Jordan and of the fall of Jericho, and those memories stirred the people to hope that God would again act powerfully to deliver Israel. It was the first meeting beside the Jordan, at the beginning of Christ's ministry in Judea when He received His first disciples. From that meeting His message began to spread through those who followed Him, as Andrew hurried away to call his brother Simon while John sat silent, rapt in contemplation of wondrous themes.

Disciples Jesus Gathered

Andrew shared his joy with his own brother Simon, telling him that they had found the Messiah, which means the Christ. Simon hastened to Jesus after hearing John the Baptist preach. Andrew brought his brother Simon to Jesus after himself becoming a disciple, and Christ later named Simon Peter. Simon is named among the five who accompanied Jesus in His ministry, received His teachings, and witnessed His miracles so they could make them known to the world. In telling his brother that they had found the Messiah, the Christ, Simon acknowledged his faith in Jesus, and the testimony of the disciples about what they had seen and heard at the Jordan kindled hope that God had raised up a deliverer for His people.

At that first meeting beside the Jordan, while Andrew hurried away to find his brother, John remained silent, absorbed in what he was contemplating. John sat rapt in contemplation of wondrous themes after hearing Jesus. From that time John followed Jesus as an eager, absorbed listener, seeking every opportunity for close contact. Of the twelve his relationship to Jesus became closest, because he wanted a still nearer intimacy and obtained it.

Call to Personal Witness

Andrew's finding of his own brother Simon after finding the Messiah and bringing him to the Saviour stands as the example of personal effort, teaching followers to make direct appeals to lead relatives, friends, acquaintances and neighbors to Christ. Once they know Him, those who have found Christ are to tell their family, friends and neighbors about Him personally, a work that anyone can do, young or old. Sharing the truth with others is the natural desire of the converted heart, for Christians are to be channels of God's blessing to others. Such individual effort helped lay the foundation of the Christian church.