John 1:29-42 (NRSV)
Read John 1:29-42 on biblegateway.com
Verse 29The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, "Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! Verse 30This is he of whom I said, 'After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.' Verse 31I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel." Verse 32And John testified, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. Verse 33I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' Verse 34And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God." Verse 35The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, Verse 36and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, "Look, here is the Lamb of God!"
Verse 37The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. Verse 38When 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?" Verse 39He 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. Verse 40One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. Verse 41He first found his brother Simon and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated Anointed). Verse 42He 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).
Devotion
When you hear the word evangelism, what sort of feelings does it conjure up in you? It may be a frightening thing to consider telling others about your faith. You may feel ill equipped or afraid of being rejected. Or you may feel repelled as images of certain judgmental television evangelists come to mind. Yet evangelism in its original intent was not meant to create negative feelings within us.
Evangelism is, after all, simply the sharing of the good news of Jesus the Christ. John the Baptist points to Jesus and declares, "Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" He simply and boldly shares the good news by pointing out to others his observations and experience of Jesus' appearance and presence.
As we notice God's involvement in our lives, it doesn't have to be frightening. To the contrary, it's something inspiring that fills us with awe and wonder, enough that we would — dare I say it — want to share it with others.
Prayer
Dear God, may we be so filled with the wonder of your presence that we too may willingly point to the Lamb of God like John the Baptist did, sharing the good news come into the world. Amen.