Looking Back Over Jesus’ Life

The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon. One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Anointed). He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).

The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!” Nathanael asked him, “Where did you get to know me?” Jesus answered, “I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.” Nathanael replied, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” Jesus answered, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.” And he said to him, “Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”
John 1:35-51

Forming our faith is not just about the adults or children we encounter, it also has to do with the company we keep – our peers. In the story of the calling of the first disciples that we find here in John’s gospel, brother shares the faith with brother and friends tell their friends. I have been blessed in my life to watch my faith blossom in the fertile soil of friends and family.

My parents are both believers, and so my faith was nurtured at home. My Senior High Youth Group friends at church were some of my closest peers in my high school and college years. I have been close to many people in church as I have grown and found that many of my social contacts are also with people who follow Christ. Faith seems to flourish in the midst of faithful friends and family members.

Prayer

God, thank You for surrounding me with people with whom I am able to share my faith. Let me live in a manner that my friends and family might also find their faith enriched by the time we spend together. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.