284. Monday after Fifth Sunday after Trinity.
Lord Jesus, draw us to thee. Amen.
John 1, 35-42. Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; and looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 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? 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. One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. 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.
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John has here with his inspired pen described his first meeting with Jesus. “Behold the Lamb of God!” He and Andrew heard this remark by John the Baptist, and they followed the Lord. He who hears the word of repentance, and feels his sin with sorrow, will also hear the gospel, and follow the Lamb of God. Jesus at once turns to them and speaks to them, helps them to voice their longing, and invites them to come to him. Happy men! But we; where shall we hear the voice of the Baptist calling to repentance? Where shall we find the Lord Jesus?
I know a house in which my Savior dwells, his holy church, the city of God (Psalm 46, 5). Often have I said to him with burning heart: “Master, where dwellest thou?” And he has answered: “Come and see!” And I came, and saw where he dwelt; and now, while I live, I will sing with David, Psalm 65, 4: “Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts; we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.” “Come and see!” Do not stand far away, you who inquire after the Lord and his habitation. We pray you, and press you to come in. Do come and see!
— Besser
The two who had found the Messias could not let the sun go down before finding Simon, Andrew’s brother, who like them thirsted after the water of life. They could not sit rejoicing at the fountain, and let him perish with thirst in the desert. The Lamb of God makes missionaries of his followers. Both of these men go out; and Andrew “first findeth his own brother Simon,” and with glad voice cries out to him, “We have found the Messias!” and then brings him to Jesus. Then there is joy in the presence of the angels of God, when one brother brings the other to the Savior. And “Jesus beheld him,” and saw that this was the man whom in the counsel of the Father he had ordained to be his instrument in founding the church of the Pentecost. “Thou art Simon, the son of Jonas.” Jesus knew what Simon was; a man warmhearted, but carnally minded; honest, but easily tempted. And he saw what he would be able to make of him: “Thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A man of rock;” or, in Greek, Peter. The truth which Peter confessed: “Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God;” this truth is the rock, and therefore he is called Peter. — How did the Lord find you, dear reader? And how have you been since he found you? Who brought you to him; and whom have you brought to him? What has the Lord said to you? What was your name; and what name did you receive of him?
“I am a great sinner; this is the only name I have of which to be proud when I hear the sentence of the law. But Jesus is become my Savior, and has borne my iniquity; there I now have a beautiful name written in the book of life.” Blessed be thy name, Lord Jesus!*
O make thy church, dear Savior,
A lamp of burnished gold,
To bear before the nations
Thy true light as of old;
O teach thy wandering pilgrims
By this their path to trace,
Till, clouds and darkness ended,
They see thee face to face.
[TLH 294, LSB 523; listen here]
* Here the head of the family says a short morning or evening prayer in his own words, and closes with the Lord’s Prayer and the Benediction. This is to be done every day. If the stanzas are not sung, they may be read in their proper place before the impromptu petition and the Lord’s Prayer.