John 1: 35 – 42
Father you wait for us until we are open to you. We wait for your Word to make us receptive. Attune us to your voice, to your silence, speak and bring your Son to us – Jesus – the Word of your peace.
35The next day
John was there again with two of his disciples, 36and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, “Behold, the Lamb of God.”
37The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus. 38Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, “What are you looking for?”
They said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “Where are you staying?”
39He said to them, “Come and see.”
So they went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about four in the afternoon. 40Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus.
41He first found his own brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Anointed). 42Then he brought him to Jesus.
Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John; you will be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).
* * * * * *
John sets out the second part of Chapter 1 in the pattern of a week. It will be useful to mark each day in your Bible. On Sunday morning, the first day of the Jewish working week John is asked by the authorities, “Who are you?’ (1: 19)
Monday begins in v29, “the next day”. Today we hear about Jesus’ Baptism. (1: 32)
Our reading, today, is placed on Tuesday.
Andrew calling Peter takes place on Wednesday. (1: 41)
The call of Philip is the first story on Thursday. ( 1: 43)
Chapter 2 begins “On the third day.” (2: 1)
Friday and Saturday have passed and it is now Sunday morning. ‘On the third day’, means that God is going to do something special. It is fitting that John places the Wedding at Cana here. This is symbolic of a new creation, new life, new hope, confidence in the future and above all a time of great rejoicing. Jesus’ coming was indeed good news, a moment of great hope.
In the prologue to John’s Gospel we are told what John’s mission was to be;
“He came to witness, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to testify to the light.” (1: 6 – 8)
John is the first to speak in today’s Gospel, “Behold, the Lamb of God.” He is carrying out the task entrusted to him. He is perfectly happy to have two of his disciples leave him to explore the possibility of their becoming disciples of Jesus. The lesson, for us, is that we too have been missioned to point others towards Jesus. Andrew went off to call his brother Simon, and later Philip called Nathanael. (1: 44)
Let us pray.
Lord, we thank you for people who guided us but did not try to posses us:
parents, teachers, spiritual guides, friends. For a time we stood with them.
Very simply, like John the Baptist, they said to us, “Look, there is the one you should follow,” and hearing this we followed that person.
* * * * * *
The first words spoken by Jesus in John’s Gospel are, “What are you looking for?”
These words are also addressed to us. We need to stop and consider what is it that we are trying to achieve in life. I am sure all of us are concerned for the safety and security of our families. Where do we place our relationship with Jesus among our priorities? How often do we think about our mission to guide others in developing a spirituality with Jesus at the centre?
Jesus invites the disciples and us to, “Come and see.” As we listen to the Word of God, as we grow in our understanding of the Word, we too are responding to this invitation.
The disciples asked Jesus, “Where are you staying?”
The answer to this question will be found in the prologue:
“In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God.” (1: 1)
The only Son, God, who is at the Father’s side, has revealed him. (1: 18)
Perhaps the most comforting answer to “Where are you staying”, is, for us;
“And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. (1: 14)