An Encounter with the Son of God
John 1:35‒51
Do you still remember your first encounter with Jesus? What made you believe in him?
Our Gospel for this week tells of the time when Jesus called his first disciples. It was a time when people are eagerly longing for change and revival. Some thought that John the baptizer was perhaps the guy they needed. He preaches a powerful message of renewal and he was baptizing people who wishes to return to the Lord.
However, John said that he is not the man but there is someone greater than him (Jn 1:27). He was talking about Jesus of Nazareth, “the lamb of God who will take away the sins of the world” (Jn 1:29). It was confirmed to him at the moment when he baptized Jesus and he received a revelation from God when he saw the Holy Spirit descending on him (Jn 1:31‒34).
The following day, John saw Jesus and declared to his followers, “Here is the lamb of God!” (Jn 1:35). Immediately, two of his disciples followed Jesus (Jn 1:37). When they asked him, “Rabbi, where are you staying?” Jesus simply answered, “Come and see” (Jn 1:39). Later, this same phrase was repeated by Philip to Nathanael when the latter asked, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” (Jn 1:46).
Interesting to note how these stories of encounters with Jesus mirrors one another. Notice how the calling of the first disciples resulted in them recognizing Jesus to be the Messiah that Moses and the prophets wrote (Jn 1:41, 45). They introduced Jesus to their brothers (Andrew to Simon) and friends (Philip to Nathanael). Both encounters resulted in transformations; Simon’s named was changed to Cephas or Peter which prefigures his role in the founding of the Church (Jn 1:41, 42), while Nathanael’s attitude toward Jesus was changed from doubtful scepticism to belief in the Son of God (Jn 1:48, 49).
These transformations happened when people encounter Jesus, follow him, and spend time with him which is the essential meaning of the expression, “Come and see.”
Another detail we can see here is how people are also seen by Jesus.
When Andrew brought his brother Simon, Jesus looked at him, then he gave him a new identity (v. 42). When Philip introduced Jesus to Nathanael, Jesus said, “Before Philip called you, I saw you” (v. 48). It’s fascinating how Jesus sees people, and when he looks at them, he exposes their great potentials and deep longings for the Savior.
When people see Jesus, he also reveals himself to them. The first disciples called him “the Word of God”, “Rabbi”, “Prophet”, “Messiah”, “Son of God”, “King of Israel”, while Jesus refers to himself as “the Son of Man”. Apparently, there are many ways through which we can have an encounter with Jesus. We can see him when we read the Bible, we can see him as the teacher who enlightens us and imparts us his wisdom. He can reveal himself as the Messiah who can liberate us from our troubles. He can be the king of Israel who establishes God’s sovereign rule in the world. Or, he can be the Son of Man who will reconcile all creation (the heavens and the earth) by sacrificing his life, as the Lamb of God, for the sins of the world.
What fresh encounters with Jesus do we need today?
Like the first disciples, people today have different impressions of who Jesus is. Some see him as their Messiah or Savior. Others doubt whether he can really make significant impact in their lives.
But what people really need to hear is the invitation, “Come and see.” It’s an invitation to experience the transforming power of Jesus by spending time with him through the Word and by hearing stories how people experience him in their lives.
Let us pray that Jesus will reveal himself to us in new ways that will also transform the way we see him through our own experiences and deep longings.
Let us know how we can pray for you.
