The Compelling Call

 

 

Jn 1:35-42

John’s Disciples Follow Jesus

³⁵ The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. ³⁶ When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”

³⁷ When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. ³⁸ Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?”

They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”

³⁹ “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.”

So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon.

⁴⁰ Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. ⁴¹ The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). ⁴² And he brought him to Jesus.

Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).

Is our world much different from the world Jesus experienced? The Romans occupied Israel, the Jews were taxed, "the rich get richer and the poor get poorer", as the song goes.  Except for major improvements in communication and transportation, it's pretty much the same now as then.. People are still searching and Jesus is still calling, "Come and you will see." Ah, there's the invitation that can make all the difference. It captured Andrew who brought Simon Peter to Jesus, followed by James and John, and eventually the rest of the Twelve, not to mention the huge crowed who came for cures.Finding and following Jesus give meaning to our lives and fill us with joyful energy to live each day and in small ways, or even large and dramatic ways, experience the presence of Jesus and move us to bring others to him. As with these first disciples, it starts small but then grows and grows.  Might I take some time today to see where I stand, what my role is, what God is calling me to, and how I am answering the call?

Bro. Rene

Dear Jesus, you are calling me to follow you and bring others to you..Grant me the courage and grace to answer your call. Amen.