The Gospel of John, Day 11: ch. 1, vv. 40-43

40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus.

Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).

43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”

Three things are happening in this passage:

1. People are following Jesus
2. People are telling about Jesus
3. Jesus is calling people to follow him

This is appropriate to the season we are in now: Christmas. As we celebrate the first coming of Jesus, these three things should be happening. Am I doing this in my life? What distracts me from these basic things? Is this what I am living for?

Think about these things as you have a merry Christmas!!

The Gospel of John, Day 10: ch. 1, vv. 35-39

35 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”

37 When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38 Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?”

They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”

39 “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.”

So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon.

I think there is an emphasis on concrete experience. Jesus invites the disciples to come and see where he is going and what he is doing. The disciples experience Jesus in person. We can experience his love, grace, action, and transformation in our lives also.

The first two disciples followed Jesus after John pointed out Jesus to them. No questions, conditions, or reservations. They didn't even know where Jesus was taking them, they just went. Should we be surprised if we don't know where He is taking us? Just follow. No one knows the future or the best way to get there. But He does.

The Gospel of John, Day 9: ch. 1, vv. 32-34

32 Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33 And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”

At the baptism of Jesus, the dove descends on him as a sign of the spirit of God coming down to rest upon him. This also accomplishes God's purpose for John's ministry of baptism: so that Jesus might be revealed to Israel (31). Since Jesus has the spirit of God remaining in him, he baptizes us not with water, but with the holy spirit. Water baptism is a physical sign that Christians are told to practice for many different reasons. However, I do not believe it is a requirement of salvation. Yet baptism of the holy spirit is something that all believers are given when they follow Jesus. What exactly the holy spirit gives us is expounded upon later in John 14-16.

Check out Mark 1:7 also for more about John's baptism and Jesus' baptism.  This is a tricky subject, but I think it is important.