Peter Meets Jesus (John 1:33-42)

John gives us details about the life of Peter that are not mentioned in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke. The latter three don’t mention this incident described by John, which is the earliest recorded meeting between John and Jesus.

This incident took place somewhere in the south of the country. John was baptising at a place called Bethany across the Jordan (v. 28), described in this way in order to distinguish it from the more famous Bethany near Jerusalem where Mary and Martha lived. We can see also from verse 43 that Jesus was not in Galilee when he first met Peter.

It is the case that a conversion involves links in chains. In Peter’s case, several links are mentioned in the story. Some are more immediate in time as far as the conversion is concerned such as the role of John and the role of Andrew. A more distant link is stated in verse 44 when John says that Peter was from Bethsaida. This particular link was not one of Peter’s choice – it was where his family lived. The fact that he lived there was connected to divine providence, and while providence takes to do with everything in life we should not forget that in Peter’s case it placed him in a situation where it was easier for him to hear the gospel. And that is the case with us as well.

The role of John the Baptist

We can see from verse 33 that one of John’s disciples was Andrew. It is also very likely that Peter was a disciple of John’s as well, which would explain why the brothers were down in the south of the country, away from home. John’s ministry had stimulated interest in religious renewal, particularly his emphasis that the Messiah was about to appear.

No doubt, there was a sense of anticipation created in the minds of some of John’s listeners. Yet not all anticipation is correct, so I think John the author stresses for us here the kind of anticipation that John the Baptist wanted his followers to have. And the anticipation was that Jesus would be the Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world. This description was taken from the Jewish religious rituals in which frequently a lamb was offered as a sacrifice for sin in the sense of being a substitute for the offerer. So John was saying that when the Messiah came, he would be a substitute on behalf of sinners and that somehow he would become a sacrifice. He also indicated that, unlike the lambs offered in the temple which were selected by the worshipper, the Messiah was God’s choice. So we can see that John’s teaching in general about the Messiah was part of his role.

As far as Peter was concerned, although he may at the time been totally unaware of it, John played another important piece in the jigsaw when he pointed Andrew and a friend to Jesus as he was walking along. Immediately Andrew and his friend took the hint and started to walk along behind Jesus. So John had his part to play in a general and in a more specific way in the conversion of Peter. And it is possible for us to have both those ways as well.

The role of Andrew

Andrew, of course, was to have a more definite role than John as far as Peter was concerned in his coming to meet with Jesus. In addition to implementing John’s hint, he had the privilege of spending time with Jesus personally. How did Andrew manage to spend time with Jesus?

First, Andrew and his friend decided to put themselves close to Jesus. This was a fairly basis requirement, but what would have happened if they had not done so? On this simple action, from a human point of view, depended subsequent blessings in the life of Peter on the following day. How do we put ourselves near to Jesus? By reading the Bible is one way.

Second, their decision to put themselves near to Jesus resulted in Jesus speaking to them and asking him what they wanted. And we can say that something similar happens to us when we put ourselves close to Jesus in his Word. He will begin to speak to us through it. We should note the question that Jesus asked them, ‘What are you seeking?’ It was a testing question because it forced them to state their priorities. Sometimes the Bible does that to us when we read it.

Third, Jesus was delighted to answer their request to spend some time with him in a more private manner. The conversation was taking place about 4pm, which was a couple of hours before sunset. He took them to wherever he was staying, and we can only imagine the conversation that took place. But we can suspect that they would have spoken about Jesus as the Lamb of God. It would be correct to assume that they would not be talking about the future prospects of Andrew’s fishing business.

The outcome of the time spent with Jesus was that they were enthralled by him. We can see that was the case from the way that Andrew went and found his brother and told him about Jesus. It may have been the case that Andrew knew about Simon’s spiritual interests and went to share with him what he would have wanted to hear.

We can see from the account that Andrew’s message was short, straightforward and sure. Of course, he already knew what would Peter was interested in, so we cannot deduce from Andrew’s words an example to use in witnessing in every situation. For example, if Peter had not known what the term ‘Messiah’ signified, the words of Andrew would not have made sense to him. But since Peter did, then Andrew’s witness was very suitable. The point is, we have to know something about the person to whom we are speaking concerning Jesus.

A lot can be said in a few words. Andrew spoke of a great discovery that he had made. What did the word ‘Messiah’ mean? The Messiah was the promised deliverer, the One whom devout Jews had waited for to come. He had been promised to Abraham when he was told that through one of his descendants the world would be blessed.

No doubt, the grasp that Andrew had of what it meant for Jesus to be the Messiah would be limited to some extent in comparison to the detail that he would come to know about Jesus in coming days. Yet his little knowledge was not a reason for not speaking about Jesus, and he did. He had found what he was looking for, or who he was looking for.

Life for Andrew would never be the same again. No longer was he identified as a fisherman, although he went back to fishing for a while. No longer was he identified as a disciple of John; those days now were over. Instead he was a disciple of Jesus and a witness to Jesus. This was going to be his identity for the rest of his life.

The response of Jesus

Peter finds himself in the presence of Jesus. Perhaps surprisingly for those who know something of Peter’s later history he is not recorded as saying anything here. Usually Peter has a lot to say, but instead John has decided to tell his readers what Jesus has to say. In a sense, John in doing this is saying to his readers to remember that Jesus indicated something when he spoke to Peter.

Peter discovered important truths about Jesus at this time. First, he discovered that Jesus knew all about him. We see this in the way that Jesus addressed Peter and pointed out his family details. The fact that Jesus knows everything about everyone can be disconcerting or encouraging. It all depends on what we imagine he will do with his knowledge of us. Jesus would have known about Peter’s character, about his unpredictability and his impetuosity, as well as his willingness at times to do the unusual. Jesus would have known about Peter’s secret and public sins. It is the same with regard to us. We have to accept the fact that Jesus knows all about us, but in addition we have to accept that fact with encouragement rather than with fear. He knows us as the Saviour as well as the judge of all. If we only think about him from the latter point of view, we will be afraid or even hostile to him. But if recall he is the Saviour, then we will realise that he knows what he has to save us from.

The second lesson that Peter learned was that Jesus had a plan for Peter’s life. This divine intention is revealed in the new name that Peter received from Jesus. Jesus did not call Peter by an irrelevant name with no significance. Instead, he gave a name that revealed his intentions to Peter. Simon was going to become a rock, one who would be steady when the storms came, who would be reliable when things were crashing down around him.

I don’t think Jesus is indicating here that Peter would become one of the foundation stones of the church. Instead, he is saying that Peter will become a different person. And is that not what Jesus does with everyone who becomes a follower of his? Paul tells us that every believer is a new creation, that each one of them is made new. Of course, every one requires a process as the change does not happen immediately. But the change affects each part of us, and we are changed gradually to become like Jesus himself. 

Preached on 10/7/2016