Devos- Pinedale Christian Church

Monday
Jun 13th, 2022

By: Matthew Sink

The Gospel of John-Day 6

John 1:35-42 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter).

From the first moment Simon saw Jesus, his life was changed. That’s because from the first moment Jesus saw Simon, He saw something different than anyone had ever seen.

Simon came to meet Jesus at the request of his brother, Andrew, a follower of John. Andrew heard John’s glowing reports about Jesus and wanted to see Him with His own eyes, and He was not disappointed. Instead, he left that initial meeting convinced that Jesus was the Messiah, and he started to spread the good news.

Imagine the awkwardness of the moment when Andrew brought his brother to meet Jesus, and as the introductions were made, Jesus looked deeply into Simon’s eyes. That’s the meaning of the phrase “looked at him” in verse 42. Jesus looked at Simon with a gaze that penetrated his soul. In that moment, He saw Simon and He knew Him. There was no hiding – Jesus saw the good and the bad.

But it was more than that – Jesus saw what He COULD be. “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be Cephas (i.e. “the rock”). “I see who you are right now, but I also see who you will become.” There is so much hope in that statement; so much transformational power; One second after meeting Jesus, Simon has a knew name, a new direction, and a new destiny. As they used to say at the little Church where I grew up: “That’ll preach!”

Jesus loves us and accepts us just as we are, but He is never satisfied with where we are. He sees us with the eyes of the Creator. He knows who we were made to be, and when we come to Him, He patiently transforms us into that image. Praise God for His Grace and for His Patience with us.