Wednesday, January 24, 2018
John 1:40-44 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, "We have found the Messiah" (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus … The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, "Follow me." Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote--Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."
THE GOOD NEWS THAT GIVES LIFE
This is the delightful story of Andrew, Peter, Philip and Nathanael (four who got to see Jesus with their physical eyes, but most importantly with their faith-eyes). The evangelist John records: 1) how Andrew told his brother Peter about Jesus, and Peter became a believer ... 2) how Jesus shared the Gospel with Philip, and Philip became a follower of Christ, and 3) how Philip shared the message of Jesus with his friend Nathanael, who became a believer too.
Something that should catch our attention in these verses is the power the Word possesses to change skeptics and unbelievers into believing children of God. Still today the Spirit of God uses the simple message of our God who so loved the world that He gave His Son to give His life to atone for our sins and then rise from the dead ... to instill saving faith in hearts. We need never doubt that, just as He used this Message to bless us with faith-vision, He will do the same as we share it with others in our circle of life and our church-wide mission endeavors. He will graciously bless countless souls with vision to behold Jesus as the holy Lamb of God who gave Himself for them that He might redeem them from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, eager for good works. He'll confer on them the remarkable ability to discern what no eye has seen, no ear has heard, what no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him.
I hear the Savior calling! He leads a soul to me,
A soul in better anguish, One needing to be free.
The gift I have to offer Is Christ, my Lord’s decree
That all have been forgiven-- My Savior calls for me!
I hear the Savior calling! He changes hearts for me.
From door to door I witness To share my Savior's plea;
Yet nothing can be added, No word on bended knee,
Beyond the simple gospel-- My Savior calls for me!
(Worship Supplement 2000, 770:2, 4)
