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
John the Baptist saw and “testified that this is the Son of God.” The disciples came to Jesus, saw, and followed. They saw Jesus’ “signs.” In the face of doubt, Thomas saw and was invited even to touch the risen Jesus. In John’s Gospel, faith in Jesus is often based on sight.
Nonetheless, the disciples’ faith journey was not easy. They had to deal with the desertion of some followers of Jesus, the rejection of fellow believers in God—even family—and the crucifixion of the one who they believed was the Messiah. Despite Jesus’ signs, Jesus’ crucifixion left them devastated; but their experience of the Resurrection restored their faith, empowering them to be courageous witnesses.
Jesus recognized that faith would be difficult for people who have not seen (John 20:29), people like us. However, Christians empowered by the Holy Spirit continue to have faith in Jesus, trusting the words of those who saw the signs and experienced the Resurrection.
Prayer
Dear Jesus, thank you for the testimony of John the Baptist, for calling Andrew to come and see, who asked Simon to do the same, and for inviting us to trust you and what they saw. Sustain our faith by the power of the Holy Spirit amidst the trials and tribulations of our lives until our faith is turned into sight. Amen.