Joh 1:41-43 | KingComments | STEP | Andrew was a disciple of John the baptist, but through the testimony of John he went after the Lord. As a further description of Andrew, the evangelist tells us that he is “Simon Peter’s brother”. Andrew is so full of the Lord that he cannot keep it to himself. He has to talk about it with others. It is a general characteristic of someone who has found and follows Christ, that he seeks others to speak about Him. Andrew starts at home. The first person he meets is his own brother Simon. It says so emphatically: “His own brother.” If anyone has come to know the Lord Jesus as His Savior, his first concern will be for His own family, that they too may come to know Him (cf. ). Andrew gives a brief but powerful testimony of his ‘Finding’. There is no uncertainty, but he testifies with certainty that he has found the Messiah, to which John again adds the translation. Christ is the Greek translation of the Hebrew Messiah. Both names mean ‘Anointed’. The Lord Jesus as Messiah is mainly spoken of in connection with Israel. As Christ, He is since His ascension especially connected with the counsels of God for the church ( ; ). We see this clearly, for example, in Ephesians 1 where we find the highest blessings that are the part of the believer who belongs to the church. Several times we read there the expression “in Christ” to indicate how those blessings have become the part of the believer. The testimony of Andrew is not only a personal testimony. He says: “We have found the Messiah.” It is a testimony that is shared by others and therefore increases in strength. Andrew is a true evangelist. He testifies of Christ and leads his brother to Him. The Lord Jesus is the center around Whom people are gathered. Peter is not won over to the Lord by a wonder or by an impressive and convincing speech, but by a simple and real testimony of his brother. When Peter comes to the Lord, the Lord sees him. With His all-pervading eyes He sees through Peter completely. He knows who Peter is and knows his origins and his future. He knows his name is Simon and what his father’s name is. The Lord then gives him a new name. That proves His authority over Simon. Only persons who are above others can give or change names (cf. ; ). The Lord calls Simon “Cephas”, to which John again gives the translation. Cephas is the Aramaic word for “stone”. Furthermore John will call him Peter, the Greek word for “stone”. This name the Lord gives him indicates the service of Peter. Peter will be a stone in the building that God will build for His own honor and for the honor of His Son. That building is the church. In his first letter Peter speaks about the believers as living stones that will be built up as a spiritual house ( ).

‏ John 1:41-43

Andrew Brings Peter to the Lord

Andrew was a disciple of John the baptist, but through the testimony of John he went after the Lord. As a further description of Andrew, the evangelist tells us that he is “Simon Peter’s brother”. Andrew is so full of the Lord that he cannot keep it to himself. He has to talk about it with others. It is a general characteristic of someone who has found and follows Christ, that he seeks others to speak about Him.

Andrew starts at home. The first person he meets is his own brother Simon. It says so emphatically: “His own brother.” If anyone has come to know the Lord Jesus as His Savior, his first concern will be for His own family, that they too may come to know Him (cf. Lk 8:39).

Andrew gives a brief but powerful testimony of his ‘Finding’. There is no uncertainty, but he testifies with certainty that he has found the Messiah, to which John again adds the translation. Christ is the Greek translation of the Hebrew Messiah. Both names mean ‘Anointed’.

The Lord Jesus as Messiah is mainly spoken of in connection with Israel. As Christ, He is since His ascension especially connected with the counsels of God for the church (Acts 2:36; Eph 1:3). We see this clearly, for example, in Ephesians 1 where we find the highest blessings that are the part of the believer who belongs to the church. Several times we read there the expression “in Christ” to indicate how those blessings have become the part of the believer.

The testimony of Andrew is not only a personal testimony. He says: “We have found the Messiah.” It is a testimony that is shared by others and therefore increases in strength. Andrew is a true evangelist. He testifies of Christ and leads his brother to Him. The Lord Jesus is the center around Whom people are gathered. Peter is not won over to the Lord by a wonder or by an impressive and convincing speech, but by a simple and real testimony of his brother.

When Peter comes to the Lord, the Lord sees him. With His all-pervading eyes He sees through Peter completely. He knows who Peter is and knows his origins and his future. He knows his name is Simon and what his father’s name is. The Lord then gives him a new name. That proves His authority over Simon. Only persons who are above others can give or change names (cf. Gen 2:19; Dan 1:7).

The Lord calls Simon “Cephas”, to which John again gives the translation. Cephas is the Aramaic word for “stone”. Furthermore John will call him Peter, the Greek word for “stone”. This name the Lord gives him indicates the service of Peter. Peter will be a stone in the building that God will build for His own honor and for the honor of His Son. That building is the church. In his first letter Peter speaks about the believers as living stones that will be built up as a spiritual house (1Pet 2:4-5).

The Lord Jesus Finds Philip

Another day later, the Lord purposes to go into Galilee. Then He finds Philip. Here the initiative comes from the Lord. Andrew could testify that they had found Him, here the Lord finds someone. He is looking for people who want to follow Him. That is what He says to Philip who becomes a disciple of Him. John mentions that Philip comes from Bethsaida, the same city where Andrew and Peter come from.