Go tell (1)

Go tell (1)

He (Andrew) first found his own brother Simon (John 1:41).

Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph” (John 1:45). In these verses, the Lord Jesus teaches us about personal evangelism. Andrew and Peter were both fishermen by profession and Jesus called them to be fishers of men. Peter fished with a big net, so to speak, and drew thousands to the Lord. Andrew fished ‘with a single line’ and brought Peter and the boy with the loaves and fishes to Jesus. He also, with Philip, told Jesus about the Greeks who wanted to meet the Lord (John 12:20-22).

The Lord Jesus teaches us that the power to draw others to Christ comes from being in His presence. It is there we learn His love for us and His love for others. Sometimes as Christians we can talk a lot about what is wrong with the lives of other people and do not see what the Lord saw, people who are broken-hearted, blind, captive and lost. These were the people He came to save.

Andrew followed Jesus and spent the day with Him. Philip was found by Jesus with the words, “Follow me” (John 1:43). It is interesting that, in the final chapter of the Gospel of John, the Lord Jesus teaches us about fishing (evangelism), feeding (pastoral care) and following (discipleship). In the same chapter He finishes His conversation with Peter with the words, “You follow Me” (John 21:22). Peter’s letters unfold the majesty of grace in a man who spent his life following the Saviour who loved him. He wrote in his final chapter, “The Lord is … not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

When I became a Christian, I was encouraged to share my faith in Christ. So I decided I would give out some gospel tracts. I was so nervous that, after posting the first tract, I ran away! I sometimes wonder if the Lord blessed that single leaflet. After being in the Lord’s presence, it was the most natural thing for Andrew to tell his brother Peter and for Philip to tell his friend Nathaniel. Their witness was joyful, not fearful.

These friends also teach us to take the opportunities to witness first where we have the most influence. This is amongst our family and friends. This activity is not always easy. If Peter was ready to meet the Lord, Nathaniel was not! But Philip was not put off by Nathaniel’s sarcasm about Nazareth. He doesn’t enter into a theological debate with his friend. He says, “Come and see” (John 1:46). We often approach those we want to lead to Christ as if everything depended on our abilities to communicate and persuade. Salvation is God’s work. Our work is to present the Lord Jesus and our experience of Him. The spiritual ability to do this work is only learnt in the presence of the One who came “to seek and save the lost” (Luke 19:10).