Follow me. I saw thee
John 1:43, 48
The Beginning of Changes
When a man has risen to great eminence, we are always interested in the
story of his childhood. We listen to any scrap of information about his
earliest days. And the deep interest that centers in these verses springs
from the fact that here are the beginnings of fellowships and friendships
that have changed the world. When we think of all that Christ was to be to
John and of all that John was to be to Christ; when we recall what the
future had in store for Peter, we feel what great issues lay in these first
meetings that are so simply and so quietly told. It is not often with any
stir or uproar that the great moments come to men or women. They are not
heralded with any sound of trumpet—the way of the Lord is not prepared like
that. Quietly and unobtrusively two men follow Jesus, or a friend gives a
word to a friend, or a brother goes and seeks out a brother—and from that
hour all things shall be changed.
Christ Appeals to Different Natures
Note first to what different natures Jesus appeals. Four or five men are
mentioned in our verses. And we know little about the character of each. We
know enough to convince us of the differences between the natures of these
first disciples. Peter was eager and enthusiastic. John had a perfect genius
for loving. Phillip was slow, deliberative, cautious. Nathaniel had a most
unworldly and gentle heart. Yet all were drawn to the one Lord and Master
and took their place in the ranks of the disciples. Some teachers appeal to
certain kinds of men, or they attracted to those who are educated to one
level; but it was one of the mysteries of Jesus that He drew to Himself such
distinct and diverse men. Let the teacher of a class remember that. Let the
mother lay it to heart among her children. Their natures are utterly
different one from the other, yet all may find their friend in the one Lord.
Christ Leads Men to Himself in Different Ways
Again, mark in what different ways men are led to Jesus. When Andrew and the
other disciples followed Jesus, they did so because of the Baptist’s word.
Their days of companionship with John had made them ready to enter into the
fellowship of Christ. Now John was the last and greatest of the prophets; he
closes and embodies the spirit of the Old Testament. These two, then, were
the first of the many thousands who have been led through Psalm and prophecy
to Christ. Then follows Peter and his was a different avenue. It was his own
brother who brought him to the Lord. So Peter is the first of that great
company who have been brought to Christ by influence of home. But it was not
even a brother who brought Phillip. It was the voice of Jesus saying,
“Follow me.” Phillip is the leader of all who have yielded and been obedient
to the Master because they have heard Him calling them. Last comes
Nathaniel, and it was Phillip who brought Nathaniel. There was old intimacy
between the two. Nathaniel is a type of everyone who is brought in by the
influence of a friend. Do you note the diverse roads into Christ’s presence?
There are a thousand paths converging to the spot. They used to say all
roads led to Rome; perhaps it is truer that all roads lead to Christ. One
highway rolls along through Psalm and prophecy. Another is built on prayer
and the peace of home. One path would not be known through the Shepherd’s
voice, and another lies through the meadowland of friendship. Of all these
we have God’s foreshadowing in the coming of the first disciples.
Christ Deals with Newcomers by Different Methods
Again remark, by what different methods Christ deals with newcomers. We can
never not too earnestly ore gratefully the value, in the eyes of Christ, of
one. It was for one coin the woman swept the house. It was for one sheep the
shepherd went seeking. It was for one son the father watched and prayed.
Christ preached to vast audiences on many occasions, and a great crowd moved
Him to compassion; but the woman of Samaria did not get poorer teaching
because she formed an audience of one. The same thing strikes us in Jesus’
dealing with newcomers. They are not dealt with on any scale of ten. Each
stands apart and has a separate treatment, for each was precious in the eyes
of Christ. One newcomer has his motives searched and sifted—that is the
meaning of the sharp” what seek ye?” (John 1:38). Another is convinced that
he is known—“ Behold an Isralite indeed, in whom is no guile “ (John 1:47).
Another is summoned and strengthened by a word of command, “ Follow me “
(John 1:43). Let us not dream, then, that the Lord’s way with us will be the
same way with other people. Let us not despise our own peculiar welcome
because no one else had ever quite the same. He knows us separately;
separately He loves us; and every newcomer has his separate dealing.
The Kingdom Begins in Personal Acquaintance
Lastly, the Kingdom begins in personal acquaintance. Do you know how other
societies are formed? They are formed by the drawing up of rules and
statutes, and men are solemnly enrolled as officers, and everything is
formal and exact. Here only, in quiet and simple ways, a Kingdom (though not
of this earth) is being founded, and it begins in acquaintance with the
King. As it began so it has continued. The mark of citizenship is personal
knowledge still. Strangers and aliens may say, “ I know about Him “ but the
true citizen can say, I know Him.
In Celebration of Life in Him,
Dr.Jim DeBruhl, gembeaux@bellsouth.net
