Come and See

John the Baptist was with his disciples when he saw Jesus passing by. He said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” (John 1:36). Two of his disciples then followed Jesus. Jesus asked them, “What do you want?” They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” He said, “Come and see.” They went with Him and spent the day with Him. Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the men who followed Jesus. The first thing he did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). Then he brought him to Jesus.

Go and Tell

Andrew found something special in Jesus and couldn’t wait to tell his brother Simon. When Jesus saw Simon, He called him Peter. Things change when we encounter Jesus in our lives too. The experience is too good not to share, as Andrew did. Do you wonder what was so special about Jesus that made the men want to stay with Him that first afternoon? I think they encountered His love. Then Andrew wanted to tell his brother. Friend, that is what we should do too. How will others know unless somebody tells them? Be encouraged to give a reason for why you believe.

Prayer

Thank you Holy Father, for Jesus. Thank you for your amazing love that changes us and makes our relationship with you contagious. Empower us with confidence to reach out as Andrew did, to speak about you. In your precious and powerful name, Amen.

Capernaum, Jesus’ Hometown

Resting on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee is the fishing town of Capernaum. The name, Capernaum, means Village of Comfort, which seems the perfect place for Jesus to settle. He taught in a synagogue where Jairus was the synagogue leader, and He raised his daughter from death. He healed a woman with a twelve-year medical problem. He healed Peter’s mother-in-law here, and she got up and served Him. He healed a paralyzed man and forgave him of his sins after his friends took him to the roof, uncovered some mud tiles and reeds to let him down in front of Jesus. He delivered a man possessed by demons and healed a Roman centurion’s servant here in Capernaum. Jesus called Philip, Andrew, Peter, James and John to be His disciples in this town.

Jesus claimed Capernaum as His home; not Bethlehem where He was born; not Nazareth where He grew up and not Jerusalem, the religious center of Israel. Although He performed most of His miracles in this place, they didn’t bring about repentance and changed lives. This is where Jesus said, “And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades, for if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you” (Matthew 11:20-24).

Although we may wonder why the people did not respond to Jesus’ miracles, His teaching or His amazing love, we can. They did not have the Bible as we have it today. They learned from teachers, like Jesus, who read the Scripture and taught what it meant. We have the great advantage of having the complete Bible to read and study on our own or in church, Sunday school classes or Bible studies.

Prayer: Teach us Father God to be receptive to the truth about who you are and how it can bring meaning to our lives. In Jesus’ name, Amen.