Four decisive encounters

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John the Baptist was at the Jordan to fulfill his divine commission. Two of his disciples were with him. Then Jeus came near her, but went on. When John the Baptist saw Jesus, he said, "Behold, this is the sacrificial lamb of God!

1. First encounter: Where do you live?

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. 

John 1:37-39 (ESV)

Jesus does not reject the two disciples, he invites them. They are to examine and judge by the reality they find in Jesus.

They came and saw, listened and examined, and stayed with him for some time. This encounter brought the two disciples to the conviction: We have found the Messiah!

2. Second encounter: Andrew leads Peter to Jesus

 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). John 1:41-42 (ESV)

The name Peter means "rock" Later, Jesus goes into more detail.

My personal experience:

I was able to experience the same thing. My brother invited me. He said to me, "Tonight I will receive the Holy Ghost." What is that? He had already told me before that I was a sinner and would be lost without Jesus. Of course, I wanted to know and check everything exactly. I went to the meeting point. It was the last evening of a week of prayer I was inwardly curious about what was going to happen. My brother's statement: Tonight I will be filled with the Holy Spirit. I witnessed this divine truth, my brother was praying to the Lord, and suddenly I heard him speaking in a foreign language. His face lit up. I was completely overwhelmed by this wonderful experience. This last evening of prayer was my chance. My decision was clear. I became God's child. Since then, I have lived in close relationship with Jesus my Lord.

3. Thirth encounter: Responding to God's Call

The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.”  Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.
John 1:43-44 (ESV)

Phillipus accepted the invitation and followed Jesus.


4. Fourth encounter: How do you know me?

Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

John 1:45 (ESV)

Philip said to Nathaniel, "We have found Jesus, including Andrew, John, Peter, and Philip." This was the temporary circle of disciples that Jesus gathered around him. For the first time in the Gospel of John, we learn about Joseph and the origin of Jesus of Nazareth.

Nazareth? Nathanael replied. What good things can come from there! But Philip answered him, "Come with me and see for yourself."

Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”

Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!”

Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”

Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”

John 1:46-49 (ESV)

How did Nathaniel come to this knowledge, did he know God's Word, did he have relationships with the scribes, or was it an inspiration of the Holy Spirit?

 Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.”
John 1:50 (ESV)

When Nathaniel heard these words, "You will see greater things." He could only marvel and wait for the events he will experience. That was just the beginning of walking with Jesus. Divine revelations become visible and tangible.


5. Hopeful future

And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” John 1:51 (ESV)

Jesus' truth can be trusted. The sky is open, we look up, from where our help comes. God the Father and Jesus the Son of God are always available.

And to which of the angels has he ever said, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”? Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?

Hebrew 1:14 (ESV)


6. The call is still valid today

• Come and follow me!
• Hear God's Word
• Make the decision and follow Jesus
• Have the same experiences as the disciples.

The disciples heard, came, saw, marveled and experienced Jesus.

Author: Edith Waechter
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