John 1:19-51

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33 And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”[

Note the sequence:- first JB comes baptizing with water, then Jesus would come and baptize with Holy Spirit, Then finally Jesus gives us the great commission: Matthew 28:16-28: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

John’s Disciples Follow Jesus

Let’s cross-refer to Matthew 4:18-22 for more information on the backdrop. From there we learn Jesus first called some local fishermen as his disciples. The King of the universe started his ministry by teaming with local fishermen - not the kings of the region, jewish leaders, people with so-called “top-tier” status (such as Nicodemus), celebrities, or the “seemingly” most religious men of town. Remember, God’s ways are different than man’s (1 Samuel 16:7: “The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."). Jesus was unconventional (wrt status-quo) from the beginning. Jesus remains unconventional even today.

35 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples.36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”

JB is the introducing Jesus to the world. Jesus needed someone to testify for Him ? : ) Anyways, JB was the first person to do so, and we are supposed to continue that today - that is point people to Jesus!

37 When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.38 Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?”They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” 39 “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon.40Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).

This is a very significant point, again. Recall, something that you have seen from the beginning:- name changes! Abraham was renamed as Abraham (Genesis 17:5: “No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations”). Sarai was renamed as Sarah. Jacob was renamed as Israel. Often God did that to indicate what is to come of Him or change of identity as well as destiny for a person (In Hebrew the meaning of the name Abraham is: Father of a multitude). With the name change (from Simon to Peter / ROCK), Jesus hints of His plans for Peter’s life. Latter, in Matthew 16:18, Jesus further reveals His plans for Simon/Peter’s life:- “you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”

Taking of change in identity, in a much broader sense, latter in John 3, Jesus calls all to be born again (specifically born of Spirit).

Update 21-Nov'15:-

Homework:- (1) Make a list of places in the Bible, where name changes occur (i.e., Saul to Paul) and try to understand the reasons/significance behind the name changes. (2) In your own life, do you have a clear sense of a new identity since you became a Christian? (3) As a Christian, our identity is now in Christ. From the New Testament books, try to pull out passages which describes some aspects of our new identity in Christ.

More words (on "identity"):- Struggle with one's identity is common in this world. In this world, a person can think that his/her identity comprises of what people think of him/her and what people want him/her to be. As Christians, we have peace in knowing that our identity is in Christ alone and even our real strength to fulfill our callings comes from the Holy Spirit.

Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael

44 Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida.45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46“Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked.