John 1:29-42 (NRSV)
Read John 1:29-42 on biblegateway.com
Verse 29The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, "Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! Verse 30This is he of whom I said, 'After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.' Verse 31I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel." Verse 32And John testified, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. Verse 33I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' Verse 34And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God." Verse 35The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, Verse 36and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, "Look, here is the Lamb of God!"
Verse 37The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. Verse 38When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, "What are you looking for?" They said to him, "Rabbi" (which translated means Teacher), "where are you staying?" Verse 39He said to them, "Come and see." They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o'clock in the afternoon. Verse 40One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. Verse 41He first found his brother Simon and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated Anointed). Verse 42He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas" (which is translated Peter).
Devotion
Christian tradition calls this holy man “John the Baptist” or “John the baptizer.” The account in John 1 suggests we would just as appropriately name him “John the witness,” or “John the pointer.” The most important thing about John is that he points people to Jesus.
Who pointed you to Jesus? On most lists, parents would be near the top. That’s true for me. I am deeply grateful to God for my loving, wise, hard working and witty parents. But John’s gospel reminds me that one gift from them outshines all the others. They pointed me to Jesus! For them and others, I thank God.
How is it possible in a broken world to point another to Jesus? The text tells us that also. It is God who draws our attention to Jesus. Whoever points you to Jesus gives you a gift. It is a gift that God first gave them, the gift of faith.
Prayer
Faithful God, thank you for letting people in my life see your presence in Jesus of Nazareth so that they can be witnesses to me. Amen.