Text: John 1:35-42 (see below)
Today is the feast day of Saint Andrew, one of the disciples of Jesus. Andrew was a fisherman from Bethsaida and the brother of Simon Peter. In the Gospel of John, Andrew is the first to be called by Jesus to “come and see”. Following the Day of Pentecost, it is believed that Andrew travelled to Greece and there preached the Gospel of our Lord. In the Greek Church, he is referred to as the “Protoclet” or “first called.” Legend states that Andrew was crucified outside the city of Achaia on an X-shaped cross sometime during the reign of Nero. Andrew is the patron saint of Russia and Scotland.
The Gospel lesson for today is one of my favorites! John is standing with his disciples, of whom one is Andrew, and Jesus comes walking by. “Behold, the Lamb of God!” John exclaims. Andrew and another of John’s disciples go off following Jesus.
Our Lord turns around and asks, “What are you looking for?” The English translation always makes me laugh. It appears as if Jesus has startled the two men for the best answer they can come up with is: “Where are you staying?” What! They have just been told by their master, John, that here is the Lamb of God and the best thing they can come up with is “Where are you staying?”
Well, their question is actually a brilliant one for in the Greek the inquiry means: “Who do you abide with?” or better, “With whom do you dwell?” For a fisherman, that is truly an astute theological question. It is clear that Andrew and his friend are on a sincere spiritual journey. They are eager to find the truth that will set them free.
I appreciate Jesus’ response. No creedal formula. No doctrinal evidence, No Sunday School lecture. Just a simple invitation: “Come and see.”
That is what Christian evangelism is all about – a simple invitation to come and see.
When we begin to see in this way that evangelism is a uncomplicated trouble-free request, it takes away all of the fear and anxiety we might have in talking about our faith or offering an invitation to someone to attend church with us. And look what happens, Andrew and the other disciple follow and stay with Jesus for the rest of the day. The author of the Fourth Gospel believes that this is such an important moment that he indicates at exactly what time the two men leave John to follow Jesus – four o’clock in the afternoon.
One final thought about this amazing text. In John’s Gospel, discipleship is not complete until the person brings someone else to know Jesus. Andrew will invite Peter to come and see. The Samaritan woman at the well will bring her entire village. The gentile officer will bring his household. And on and on and on.
This is how it has always been in the Church; people inviting others to experience the love and compassion that they have found in Jesus with a simple invitation: come and see.
Love One Another - Brian
Encounter
Jerry Levin
I entered captivity during the Iranian War as a hostage--shackled, blindfolded, in solitary confinement--for eleven and a half months. I entered captivity an atheist. All I had was a Bible. I came out having encountered Jesus Christ, knowing freedom, joy, hope, endurance, wonder.
Jerry Levin was one of those taken prisoner in the infamous 1979-1981 "Iran hostage crisis."
Source: Letter to a friend
John 1:35-42
The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, ‘Look, here is the Lamb of God!’ The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When 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?’ He 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. One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his brother Simon and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (which is translated Anointed). He 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).
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