John 1:35-42
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).
Today we meet Andrew and his brother Simon. Both are examples for our faith and good works.
As Andrew and the other, unnamed disciple of John were conversing with the Baptist, John points to Jesus walking by and says, “Behold the Lamb of God.” Andrew is so eager to learn from the Messiah that he asks where Jesus is staying. Although it is late in the day, Jesus answers, “Come and see.” Jesus is eager to teach the one who seeks Him in faith and humility. Andrew, in turn, brings His brother Simon to Jesus so that He, too, can learn from Him about the kingdom of God and true righteousness. Andrew shows us that faith in the Christ is eager to learn from Him and that Christ is eager to teach those who seek Him with an honest heart. Andrew also shows us that faith is eager to bring others to where they can learn from Christ.
Upon seeing Simon, Jesus immediately gives Simon a new name, Cephas, which is translated “a stone” (and is the Aramaic equivalent of the Greek name Peter). This is not the first time the Lord has given someone a new name. He changed Abram’s name to Abraham. He changed Jacob’s name to Israel. A new name shows a new status with God as believing students and confessors of the true God. This is true of Simon. Christ calls Him Cephas because of the rock solid confession of Christ he will make throughout his life.
Christ bestows a new name on all who come to Him in faith, humbly seeking to learn from Him. He says in Revelation 2:17 to the one who overcomes, “I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” He says in Revelation 3:12, “I will write on him My new name.” The new name is ‘son of God.’ As sons of God by faith, Christ calls us to learn from Him and make the rock-solid confession of Cephas, that Jesus is the Christ who takes away the sin of the world.
Let us pray: We give You thanks, O Lord, for the faith and good works of Andrew and Simon. Grant that we may learn from You and confess you before men as you give us opportunity. Amen.
