Andrew Finding Peter

I was trying to clean my toothbrush recently, and the old toothpaste had somehow gotten stuck on the bottom of the bristles. I beat that toothbrush against the side of the sink, and suddenly it began to shake, like it was afraid and maybe coming apart.

Except that it wasn’t.

It took me a minute, staring at it and feeling it vibrate in my hand, to realize that this was an electric toothbrush that I have been using for a year—and didn’t know it!

I thought the fat handle was some orthopedic design to fight carpel tunnel or whatever. No! It housed a hidden battery with two well-disguised buttons, one for off and the other for on.

I know that I shouldn’t tell this on myself. My family begs me not to reveal such things. But these awkward family photos are just to rich to keep hidden. And everyone has them.

Take for instance, this strange man, cousin of Jesus.

Hear John's Testimony:

"Look, the Lamb of God!" — John 1: 36

John the Baptist is an amazing human being. The Apostle John mentions John the Baptist 18 times in his short treatise and tells us more about John than any other Gospel writer.

• The term “Baptist” did not come from John the Baptist, and we do not trace the origin of modern-day Baptists back to John. We are not disciples of John the Baptist. The common ground is the way that we baptize. This is evidently how John baptized.
• The Baptist is unusual in his lifestyle. His dress is unique. His diet is unique. He’s like the movie stars who are all in sequins eating sushi, except the opposite.
• He is fearless in his preaching. Thousands of people were going to the Jordan River to hear John the Baptist.
• Thousands are coming from all over Israel to hear John and to be baptized. He is a phenomenon in his time.

John’s Testimony is of great importance to John the Evangelist.

• John 1:7-8: “He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.” He was a preacher of righteousness and judgment.
• John 1:19: “Now this was John’s testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Christ.”
• John 1:26: “Among you stands one you do not know. He is the one…”

The lamb may come to bring judgment. The Baptist says that “his winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will thoroughly sweep his threshing floor. He will gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire” (Luke 3:17).

• The Evangelist will later write in Revelation 17 of the Lamb who is victorious over all his enemies.
• Our victory is assured through the blood of the Lamb.
• The Baptist knows that this Lamb will bring judgment, and that he will take away the sin of the world.

Follow Jesus:

“They followed Jesus. Turning around, Jesus saw them following.” — John 1:37-38

Following Jesus may feel a little awkward at first, as Andrew will tell you. John the Baptist recognized Jesus as the Son of God, and Andrew and another one of John’s disciples (John himself?) peel off their group and begin to physically follow Jesus.

“Following” is a discipleship term. John uses it here to describe more than walking in the same direction as Jesus.

• John uses this term to describe being a disciple of Jesus. It is used here in verses 37, 38, 40, and 43.
• John also uses this term in 8:12; 10:4, 27; 12:26; 13:36; and 21:19, 22 (where I will be preaching on Easter: “follow me”).
• It is also prominent in the Synoptic accounts.

John is thoroughgoing in this matter of following Jesus. He alone among the disciples follows all the way to the cross.

His teaching on discipleship may be summed up from his first letter (1 John 2:6): Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.

You will find that following Jesus is much harder than it might first appear. Follow Jesus:

• in your lifestyle—seeking first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.
• in your relationships—love one another as I have loved
• in your attitudes—Blessed are the poor in spirit.
• among the poor—I was hungry and you fed me.
• among foreigners—I was a stranger and you took me in.

We style ourselves disciples of Jesus. But often we are cutting corners, adopting the world’s point of view. It remains costly and sometimes lonely to actually follow Jesus today. But that is no different than it was when Andrew left the Baptist to go follow Jesus.

Note Jesus' First Words:

"What do you want?" — John 1:38

Have you ever been followed by someone and turned around and asked them, “What do you want?” (John 1:38). It would be similar to saying, “May I help you?” It communicates mild concern and some puzzlement.

These are the first words of Jesus recorded in John. I think there is more here than casual conversation. “Followed Jesus” is more than physical steps, and “what do you want” is more than irritation or exasperation. What may appear at first to be awkward gets even more awkward as Jesus probes the reason for these two men following him.

• Jesus does not suspect that they are panhandlers trying to get some money from him. He has no money.
• Jesus does not ask the question without any clue.

Prepare yourself for this question: What do you want? You may be surprised to find how difficult it is to put it into words. You may be surprised how difficult it is to be honest.

I don’t know that you can begin to give an answer in this hour of worship. But it might be a good assignment for you when you get home. Meditate on this question as you go through your week. Here Jesus asking it of you. Try to be honest and find words.

• Interestingly, I wrote my life’s goal out in a song when I was 16 years old, composing it on my bed playing a guitar. I call it “I Want My Life to Count for Jesus.” That’s what I wanted when I was teen. And that’s what I want even now.

Stay With Jesus:

"Where are you staying?" — John 1:38

The answer they give Jesus is “Rabbi, where are you staying?” Again, that seems a little awkward. Why do they want to know this? These two men go home with Jesus and spend the day there. When was the last time this happened to you?

There was no internet, television, radio, or newspaper in the days of Jesus and Andrew although news did get around by word of mouth, and quicker than you would think. They could not get acquainted with Jesus by checking him out on FB or YouTube or even by reading his printed articles. The only way to get to know the man was to spend time with him, and this is what they did.

Staying with Jesus was not just about physical proximity even though that is what happened. Just as “follow” is loaded with the commitment of discipleship, so “staying” is also loaded with commitment.

• Some people intended to be disciples—until the teaching of Jesus got too hard for them. Then they left. Jesus never committed himself to those disciples, as John noted. He knew what was in them.
• Jesus asked the Twelve, “Will you also go away?” And Peter answered for them all: “To whom shall we go? You alone have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68).

I must give them their due. These first disciples will stay with Jesus until their dying breath.

• I know that some of you are already thinking of leaving Jesus. The way has gotten too hard. His work and his words are too far out of the mainstream for you.
• I know that some of you will certainly go away before you finish the course. Jesus knows what is in you.

The only way that you will ever “Come and see” where Jesus actually resides is to stay the course.