37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
38 And Jesus turned and saw them following, and said to them, “What do you seek?” They said to Him, “Rabbi (which translated means Teacher), where are You staying?”
39 He said to them, “Come, and you will see.” So they came and saw where He was staying; and they stayed with Him that day, for 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 found first his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which translated means Christ).
42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John; you shall be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).” John 1:35-42.
It is interesting, and even encouraging, to compare the two actions of “witnessing” in today’s Scripture. John made a spontaneous exclamation: “Behold, the Lamb of God!”, but there appears to be no follow-up. Andrew made a more intent and deliberate declaration: “We have found the Messiah”, and he followed it up by bringing his brother to Jesus.
There will be times in our lives when we will be like John and just make such an isolated and spontaneous exclamation about Jesus, but it will still bear fruit. There will be other times in our lives when we will be more intent and deliberative about witnessing and about following it up by bringing others to Jesus.
We may first think that Andrew was more intent and deliberate, because he had more concern and more opportunity to witness to his brother, but we certainly know that John was by no means shy or hesitant about witnessing to his disciples or even to strangers. Although I think that we may have more opportunities to witness to family members (and follow-up) than to strangers, and we should use these opportunities, the primary lesson for today’s Scripture is to recognize that both actions are “witnessing” and both actions did bear fruit.
Last Wednesday, September 22, 2010, we read Luke 24:48-49: “You are witnesses of these things. “And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” We know that we know have this power. Likewise, Acts 1:8 states: “but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”
We also read John 15:16: “You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.”
“for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:13.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 