The Calling of Peter
They Followed - The heard from John and they followed Jesus
The apostle John turns now from the faithfulness of John the baptist’s testimony to a consideration of the fruitfulness of that testimony. Some of the Lord’s earliest disciples had previously been disciples of John the baptist. John the apostle was one of these. The greatness of John’s fruitfulness is seen in two phrases, “They heard him [John]” and “they followed Jesus” (1:37). That should be the primary objective of every evangelist, soul-winner, pastor, teacher, deacon, and elder. When people hear us, they should follow Jesus.
Simon (or Simeon) was the original name of Peter, the son of Jonas (or John), and brother of Andrew, a disciple of John the Baptist, as Peter also may have been. A fisherman by occupation, he was an inhabitant of Bethsaida on the Sea of Galilee, though subsequently he dwelt with his family at Capernaum
how they found the Lord (1:35–37).
I How they Found the Lord
The next day referred to here is the third day that has been mentioned. John was with two of his own disciples. These men had heard John preach and believed what he said. But as yet they had not met the Lord Jesus. Now John bore public witness to the Lord. On the previous day, he had spoken of His Person (the Lamb of God) and His work (who takes away the sin of the world). Now he simply draws attention to His Person. His message was short, simple, selfless, and all about the Savior
On the first day in the series we have a delegation, the representatives of the Sanhedrin, questioning and challenging John the baptist. On the second day we have a declaration, John the baptist formally presenting Jesus as lamb of God and Son of God.
a) God calls people
b) God expects an answer
II How They Followed the Lord
One of the two is identified as Andrew. The other remains unnamed, though there can be little doubt it was John himself, the author of this gospel.
The Lord, knowing that he was being trailed, turned around and confronted these two. “What seek ye?” he asked
The Lord, knowing that he was being trailed, turned around and confronted these two. “What seek ye?” he asked
He wanted a more personal and private setting. Where could he find this wondrous messiah again? Already he had someone in mind he wanted to bring to Jesus
No one with a genuine desire to learn more of the Savior is ever turned away. Jesus invited the two to the place where He was staying at the time—probably a very poor dwelling, compared to modern homes
III How Peter was Brought to the Lord
What an astounding announcement this was! For at least four thousand years, men had waited for the promised Christ, God’s Anointed One. Now Simon hears from the lips of his own brother the startling news that the Messiah was nearby. Truly they were living where history was being made. How simple Andrew’s message was. It was only five words—“We have found the Messiah”—yet God used it to win Peter
The Lord looked searchingly at Andrew’s big blustering brother. He identified him at once and then gave him a new name which completely eclipsed the old one: “Thou art Simon, the son of Jona [an Aramaic form of the name John]; thou shalt be called Cephas [the Aramaic form of the name Peter].” The word for “Peter” is petros meaning a movable stone, not a rock (petra). It was an indication of what Christ intended to do for impulsive, easily swayed Simon. He was going to give him a rocklike character
Andrew brought his brother to the right place and to the right Person. He did not bring him to the church, the creed, or the clergyman. He brought him to Jesus. What an important act that was! Because of Andrew’s interest, Simon later became a great fisher of men, and one of the leading apostles of the Lord