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Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, "Behold the Lamb of God!" The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, "What do you seek?" They said to Him, "Rabbi" (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), "where are You staying?" He said to them, "Come and see." They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour). One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus. Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, "You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas" (which is translated, A Stone).
- John 1:35-42
In yesterday's reading, we read of the "second day" in John's gospel. The first day accounted for was the day John spoke about the purpose for which he baptized, and of the One who was to come (Tuesday's reading). The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is He of whom I said, 'After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.' I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water." And John bore witness, saying, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God."
Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. Today's reading is the third day reported in the Gospel of John. The Baptist is with his own disciples.
And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, "Behold the Lamb of God!" The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. Again, as in yesterday's reading, we note the personal quality of this reporting. This is not an announcement to multitudes. This is the Baptist speaking to two of his disciples about Jesus whom they observe as He walked. Again, the title Lamb of God is used, suggesting the passages from Isaiah about the "Servant of God" (Isaiah 53:4-12). The Baptist guides his disciples to Jesus. It is a time of "handing off," a significant transition not only for the Baptist and these two disciples, but in the entire way the Church views salvation and the "times" of the Lord.
Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, "What do you seek?" They said to Him, "Rabbi" (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), "where are You staying?" He said to them, "Come and see." They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour). In a few simple sentences, we learn the idea of what constitutes discipleship. First He asks them a question, and they must articulate what they want. This is a common pattern with Jesus, who will also ask others, "What can I do for you?" But here, these two disciples of the Baptist ask Jesus where He is staying. "Come and see" is an invitation to discipleship, in which they will dwell together with Him in order to fully learn what He has to teach them throughout His ministry. The tenth hour is about 4:00 PM.
One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus. Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, "You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas" (which is translated, A Stone). Here, Jesus' first three disciples are recounted. Two of them are named: Andrew, and Andrew's brother Simon, who is given the name Cephas. Cephas, as the text tells us is translated "Stone." In the Greek, this is Petros, rendered into English, Peter. One of the two who heard the Baptist speak remains unnamed. He is considered to be the author of this Gospel, John. All three of Jesus' first disciples were first disciples of John the Baptist.
Something special about discipleship is revealed also in these very brief sentences, and that is Jesus' special way of knowing. In this case, He sees into His disciple whom He renames Peter, or in the Greek, Petros meaning rock. We'll come to know Peter throughout many of the Gospels and be introduced to his exuberant, sometimes fearful, and emotional character. He will become in times to come a spokesman and leader among the Apostles. But today let's observe Jesus as Teacher, in relation to His disciples. In the renaming of Peter there is a powerful sense of Jesus' knowing. Jesus "looks" at Peter at a depth that reveals. He brings something out about Peter that nobody else knows, least of all Peter himself. He reveals something about what is in the heart a true quality of character of the disciple, and reveals by renaming the transformation to come in discipleship - and after the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Christian discipleship isn't so much about who we are as individual entities on our own, but rather about who we are in capacity with Christ, with our Creator, the One who truly knows us and knows what and who we are. This is real discipleship. It's a synergy within this relationship of cooperation and teaching. It takes our "yes" in discipleship to become the person that Christ calls us to be; but it is the grace of God that makes "all things possible." Let us consider what it is to be a human being in relationship to Christ and to the grace of God. Character and persona are shaped not as a separate isolated individual, but as one in communion with our Source, with the One who can tell us where to go and what to do, who knows us better than we can know ourselves. Only Christ can see into Peter and rename him, alluding to "the rock upon which He will build His Church." By the grace of the Lord, and the working of His Spirit, others along the way can also help us to learn these truths about ourselves and what we can be and become in His name. Let us consider what discipleship is, and what it truly means to grow as we are "in communion."
