Today's Meditation - Wednesday, August 5, 2020

Today's Meditation

Read John 1:29-42

²⁹The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! ³⁰This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’ ³¹I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.” ³²And John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. ³³I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ ³⁴And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.” ³⁵The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, ³⁶and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!”

³⁷The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. ³⁸When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” ³⁹He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon. ⁴⁰One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. ⁴¹He first found his brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Anointed). ⁴²He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).

     In the gospel of John, Andrew (Simon Peter's brother) begins following Christ as his first disciple.  He recognizes immediately who Jesus is and tells his brother about him.  Later, in their travels and life with Christ, Andrew is the disciple who finds the boy with the five loaves of bread and two fish who he brings to Jesus to share a meal with the multitude (John 6:8).  The disciple Philip is approached by a group of Greeks who wish to speak with Jesus.  Philip goes to Andrew first for advice and counsel before they bring them to Jesus. (John 12:22).

     I find it initially interesting that Simon Peter emerges as the more prominent of the two brothers, particularly when Andrew seems to be the more level headed and wiser of the two from the accounts we have in scripture.  Each brother, however, serves a purpose.  Each brother filled that purpose and their role.  While Simon Peter is given the leadership role in the early church by Jesus, Andrew fulfills his purpose, as well.  What we read in the gospel of John is that Andrew brings people to Christ; first his brother, then the boy, and finally a group of Greeks.  This role of bringing people to Christ, of being that friendly and comforting presence, is just as important as the one who leads.

     What role or purpose do you offer?  All gifts are worthy and all roles in the church fulfill our purpose, using the gifts we were given.

Simple Gifts A Barbershop Quartet (with Shenandoah)