Outline/Summary

The Lamb of God

The day after John testified about Jesus, he was with two of his disciples when he saw Jesus passing by. He again said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”

When the two disciples heard this, they followed Jesus. Jesus turned around and asked them, “What do you want?”

They said, “Rabbi (teacher), where are you staying?”

Jesus replied, “Come, and you will see.”

So they went with Jesus and spent the day with him. It was about 4 in the afternoon.

Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two disciples. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah (the Christ).”

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

What the story means to us today

Spreading the Word

At first glance, this story might seem unrelated to the bigger picture of Christ’s plan. However, its true purpose is to illustrate how a seemingly innocuous sequence of events thrust Jesus’ ministry to the forefront of ancient Israel, leading to a religious movement that endures today.

We, too, can trigger spiritual chain reactions today when we share Jesus’ message with others. You don’t have to be preachy or self-righteous; simply demonstrate that you’re a Christian through your actions. In doing so, your faith in Jesus will naturally shine through in your daily interactions.

The outcomes of your actions might have the power to save someone’s eternal soul. Is there any other action that could have a greater impact?

Deeper thoughts and additional considerations

The significance of Simon Peter’s new name

Cephas (pronounced kay-fas) is an Aramaic word that translates to “rock” or “stone. The name “Peter” is simply the Greek translation of the same concept – both names mean “rock”. Cephas and Peter are akin to “Juan” being the Spanish equivalent of “John”. More specifically, though, Cephas described a smooth or rounded stone shaped by prolonged exposure to weather or human traffic. As we’ll discover, the significance of this name becomes clear when Jesus tells Simon Peter, “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.”

Simon Peter – The Rock

Jesus knew right away that Peter was special. He would grow to become a cornerstone of the new Christian church. As we will see later, Peter wasn’t chosen because of his strength or bravery, but because he was a flawed individual who would become the perfect real-life example of Jesus’ salvation.

Jesus looks past our imperfections and foresees what we can become. Simon Peter was truly the rock on which the church was founded. Therefore, these very verses mark the birth of Christianity and the Christian church.

“What do you want?”

When Jesus notices the two disciples following him, he turns around and asks, “What do you want?” This might seem rude to modern ears, but a more accurate translation would be “What are you seeking?”

Jesus is genuinely inquiring about their desires and goals. It’s clear that they were seeking the truth, as evidenced by their decision to leave John the Baptist and follow Jesus, whom John recognized as the “truth” (as John stated, the one coming whose sandals he was not worthy of loosening).

“Where are you staying?”

Similarly, the disciples’ response to Jesus’ question was “Where are you staying?” They weren’t truly concerned about where Jesus was staying, but rather, they hoped to follow him wherever he went.

From John the Baptist’s teachings, the two disciples knew another teacher was coming who would surpass all teachers before him, and now John was telling them that Jesus was the very teacher he had spoken of. Of course, they were going to follow him! This is what they had been anxiously waiting for.

The Messiah

Andrew hurries to find his brother, Andrew, to share the news, “We have found the Messiah.” The term “Messiah” appears twice in the New Testament, both times in the Gospel of John, with Andrew being the first to call Jesus by that name. John, who incorporates various Hebrew and Aramaic terms in his writings, explains to the reader that Messiah is the Greek equivalent of Christos. “Messiah” is the Hebrew equivalent of the Greek word “Christ”.

Translation notes

The 10th hour

The original texts say this meeting occurred “at the 10th hour”. The Jewish method of counting time began at sunrise, or 6:00 AM. That would make the 10th hour equal to 4:00 PM in the afternoon, which is the time most modern translations mention.

Bible text

NIV

The next day, John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?” They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” “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. Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). 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).

WEB

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. 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).

NET Bible

1:35 Again, the next day, John was standing there with two of his disciples. 1:36 Gazing at Jesus as he walked by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” 1:37 When John’s two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 1:38 Jesus turned around and saw them following and said to them, “What do you want?” So they said to him, “Rabbi” (which is translated Teacher), “where are you staying?” 1:39 Jesus answered, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. Now it was about four o’clock in the afternoon.

1:40 Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two disciples who heard what John said and followed Jesus. 1:41 He first found his own brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah!” (which is translated Christ). 1:42 Andrew brought Simon to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon, the son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).

NKJV

35 Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. 36 And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God!”

37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38 Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, “What do you seek?”

They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), “where are You staying?”

39 He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour).

40 One of the two who heard John speak, 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 translated, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus.

Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” (which is translated, A Stone).

The Message

      35–36 The next day John was back at his post with two disciples, who were watching. He looked up, saw Jesus walking nearby, and said, “Here he is, God’s Passover Lamb.”

      37–38 The two disciples heard him and went after Jesus. Jesus looked over his shoulder and said to them, “What are you after?”

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

      39 He replied, “Come along and see for yourself.”

      They came, saw where he was living, and ended up staying with him for the day. It was late afternoon when this happened.

      40–42 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard John’s witness and followed Jesus. The first thing he did after finding where Jesus lived was find his own brother, Simon, telling him, “We’ve found the Messiah” (that is, “Christ”). He immediately led him to Jesus.

      Jesus took one look up and said, “You’re John’s son, Simon? From now on your name is Cephas” (or Peter, which means “Rock”).

KJV

35 Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; 36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! 37 And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38 Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou? 39 He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour. 40 One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. 42 And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.

Image Credits:
• The Calling of Saints Peter and Andrew via Wikimedia Commons by Caravaggio with usage type - Public Domain, 1603 / 1606

Featured Image Credit:
• The Calling of Saints Peter and Andrew via Wikimedia Commons by Caravaggio with usage type - Public Domain, 1603 / 1606