John 1:35-42 - The First Disciples - Bible Studies With Mark

 

 

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). [Jhn 1:35-42 ESV] 

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This passage in the Gospel of John marks the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry through the gathering of his first disciples. The account occurs the day after John the Baptist famously declared Jesus to be the "Lamb of God." In these verses, we see the practical result of that testimony.

The Handoff (Verses 35-37)

John the Baptist is standing with two of his own disciples. When Jesus walks by, John repeats his witness: "Behold, the Lamb of God!" Although John has his own followers, John demonstrates the ultimate goal of his mission—to point people toward Christ. Upon hearing John’s declaration, two of John’s disciples immediately leave John to follow Jesus. This signifies that John’s preparatory work was successful.

The First Interaction (Verses 38-39)

Jesus turns and asks a profound, foundational question: "What are you seeking?" This isn't just about physical directions; it's a challenge to their motivations. They respond by asking where he is staying (Rabbi, where are you staying?). Jesus doesn't give them an address; he gives them an invitation: "Come and you will see." They stayed with him that day (it was about the tenth hour, or 4:00 PM). The mention of the specific time suggests an eyewitness account—it was a moment so life-changing that the exact hour was burned into memory.

The Chain Reaction of Faith

The second half of the passage (Verses 40-42) illustrates how the Gospel spreads through personal relationships. One of the two who followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. His first instinct is to find his brother and share the news: "We have found the Messiah." Andrew brings Simon to Jesus. Before Simon even speaks, Jesus looks at him and declares: "You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas" (which means Peter). Jesus sees Simon not just for who he is (a fisherman), but for who he will become (the "Rock"). In the biblical tradition, receiving a new name from God signifies a new mission and a transformed character.

Key Themes in the Passage

• Seeking and Finding: The passage moves from a question (What are you seeking?) to a discovery (We have found the Messiah). 
• Personal Witness: Notice the pattern: John points to Jesus→ Andrew follows Jesus →Andrew brings Simon. This "each one reach one" model is the primary engine of the early Church.
• The Title "Messiah": This is one of the few places in the Gospels where the Hebrew term Māšîaḥ is transliterated into Greek (Messias), emphasizing the fulfillment of Jewish expectation.