“Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.’”
John 6:68-69
When Jesus met Simon, he wasn’t the Peter we know, the saint after whom children and churches and cities are named. And Peter wasn’t exactly looking for Jesus. Instead, he was busy being a fisherman along the shores of Galilee with his brother Andrew and another set of brothers, James and John.
Just as God chose a humble place—Bethlehem—for the entrance of Jesus into the world, so the Master Craftsman chose to build His new movement from the raw and rugged people of Galilee. Christ often draws His disciples from out-of-the-way places. He seemed to pursue Peter patiently, in a series of fits and starts, much the same way He seems to come to all of us. It may involve a conversation here, an encounter there, a friend confronting you, or relative presenting the Jesus of the Bible to you.
It was Andrew who heard John point to the Lamb of God and then ran to his brother to tell him. I envision him grabbing Simon by the fishing vest and saying, “This is the one! I know it sounds crazy. But trust me, you’ve got to come hear Him and see Him.”
Just as God chose a humble place—Bethlehem—for the entrance of Jesus into the world, so the Master Craftsman chose to build His new movement from the raw and rugged people of Galilee. Christ often draws His disciples from out-of-the-way places. He seemed to pursue Peter patiently, in a series of fits and starts, much the same way He seems to come to all of us. It may involve a conversation here, an encounter there, a friend confronting you, or relative presenting the Jesus of the Bible to you.
It was Andrew who heard John point to the Lamb of God and then ran to his brother to tell him. I envision him grabbing Simon by the fishing vest and saying, “This is the one! I know it sounds crazy. But trust me, you’ve got to come hear Him and see Him.”
Scripture Focus
John 1:35-42
Insight
The “Hound of Heaven” (named by C.S. Lewisand poet Francis Thompson) pursued Peter, and He patiently seeks after your heart and mine, too!
Bible In A Year
- Numbers 3-4
- Psalm 62
- John 2-3
