“Andrew went to find his brother, Simon, and told him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (which means ‘Christ’).”
John 1:41 (NLT)
When John the Baptist declared, “Look, the Lamb of God,” two of his disciples left him to follow Jesus. They didn’t need an invitation—they were drawn. Jesus turned and asked His first recorded question: “What do you want?” Their answer, “Where are You staying?” wasn’t about location—it was about abiding. The same word appears later in John 15 when Jesus says, “Abide in Me.” Their question was spiritual: Where do You remain, and can we remain there too? Jesus’ reply—“Come and see”—was both invitation and revelation.
Andrew followed and was so changed by one encounter that he ran to find his brother Simon. He didn’t just talk about Jesus; he brought him to Jesus. Instantly, Jesus looked at Simon and declared his new identity—Peter, the rock. In that moment, Jesus revealed destiny before Peter had even followed.
Philip did the same with Nathanael. Though Nathanael doubted, Philip simply said, “Come and see.” When Nathanael came close, Jesus revealed that He had already seen him under the fig tree. Nathanael’s skepticism turned to faith as he confessed, “You are the Son of God.”
That’s what happens when people truly encounter Jesus. We don’t have to argue, persuade, or prove—just bring them near. Jesus does the convincing through the power of the Holy Spirit. He still looks at hearts, calls out identity, and reveals what’s hidden. And like Nathanael, when we believe even from a small sign, Jesus promises we will see far greater things—heaven opened, angels ascending and descending upon the Son of Man. He is the connection between Heaven and Earth, and when we abide in Him, we carry that connection wherever we go.