Reading for Lent

Reading for Lent

Andrew And Peter

Prayer

Heavenly Father, may the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable to You, in Jesus’ name, Amen. 

John 1:35-42

Verses 35-39, 35 Again, the next day, John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus turned and saw them following, and said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which is to say, being interpreted, Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come, and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about the tenth hour.

Reflection

      The was first day of Jesus’ public ministry. Upon hearing John the Baptist’s testimony that Jesus was the Lamb of God, two of John’s disciples, Andrew and his brother Simon, followed Jesus. They asked Jesus where He stayed. Jesus turned around and invited them to His place of abode. They spent the rest of the day with Him. 

Verses 40-42, 40 One of the two who heard John and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his own brother, Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah!” (which is, being interpreted, Christ. 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him, and said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” (which is by interpretation, Peter).

Reflection

     Jesus changed Peter’s name from Simon, which means “he has heard” to Peter which means ‘’rock.” Jesus’ first and second disciple, Andrew and Peter were fishermen from Bethsaida in Galilee. Andrew was a connector. He connected his brother Peter to Jesus. In John 6:I-9, he connected a small boy who had 5 loaves and 2 fishes to Jesus. In John 12:21-22, he connected some Greek God-fearers to Jesus. Aramaic for Peter is Cephas which means “rock.” Jesus chose Peter to be the rock upon which He would build the Church, Matthew 16:8. Jesus became the leader and spokesman for the first century church. 

John 6:8-9 (NIV), Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” 

John 12:21-22 (NIV), “They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus”. 

Matthew 16:18 (NKJV), “and I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gate of Hades shall not prevail against it”. 

     Application

In today’s lesson we are introduced to Andrew and Peter. Andrew was a connector who connected other people to Jesus. Are you a connector? Do you connect other people to Jesus? Will you invite someone to come and see what the Lord has done for you? Peter was a leader of the first century church. Are you a leader of your church?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help us to imitate Andrew by connecting people to Jesus. Help us to be soul winners. Help us to imitate Peter’s leadership qualities, in Jesus’ name, Amen