Behold the Lamb: Andrew Brings Simon to Jesus

An exposition of John 1:29–42 unfolds the season of Epiphany as an unfolding revelation of who Jesus is and what he calls people to become. The narrative centers on John the Baptist’s bold identification of Jesus as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world,” tracing that title back into Israel’s sacrificial imagination—daily temple offerings and the Passover lamb—and showing how this single phrase compresses atonement, deliverance, and divine initiative. The preacher traces a compact three-day sequence in John’s Gospel: John’s witness, two disciples following Jesus at his word “Come and see,” and Andrew’s immediate impulse to bring his brother Simon to meet the Christ.

Attention shifts from cosmic identity to embodied encounter. The “come and see” moment is treated as theological pedagogy: discipleship begins in proximity, conversation, and shared time at the table rather than abstract assent. Andrew’s fidelity becomes the model for evangelistic urgency—he does not merely report an experience but brings another person into the encounter. That movement from eyewitness testimony to relational invitation demonstrates how revelation becomes vocation when a person’s encounter with Jesus is made accessible to others.

The sermon unpacks the significance of Jesus renaming Simon as Cephas/Peter, locating biblical name changes within God’s re-creating work. Names in Scripture signal vocation and destiny; the new name marks both commissioning and transformation. The preacher presses the congregation to consider reciprocal questions: who has been an Andrew in their life, and for whom will they now be an Andrew? The closing charge reframes evangelism as generational stewardship—planting seeds that can bear fruit “for a thousand generations”—and calls the gathered community to go forth as witnesses who bring others into the same life-changing proximity with Jesus.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Jesus as the Lamb of God John’s title summons the full sacrificial imagination of Israel—the daily temple lamb, the Passover deliverance, and the ultimate substitutionary suffering that brings forgiveness and liberation. Calling Jesus the lamb insists that reconciliation is enacted, costly, and God-initiated; it reframes salvation not as moral improvement but as divine reversal of bondage to sin. This image presses worshipers to see Christ’s work as both judicial and restorative: he stands in the place of the people and opens a way for them to pass from death to life. [38:48]
• 2. Come and see: a personal invitation “Come and see” models discipleship that begins with proximity, curiosity, and shared moments rather than doctrinal proof or public persuasion. The invitation honors human longing to know and be known; it asks for presence more than performance. Discipleship formed this way produces companions who stay, listen, and learn at the margins of Jesus’ life. [35:47]
• 3. Bring others: be someone’s Andrew Andrew’s immediate response—bringing Simon to Jesus—frames evangelism as relational urgency rather than ideological coercion. True witness moves from personal encounter to deliberate accompaniment, carrying others into experiences where faith can be seen, tasted, and tested. This ethic values patience and persistence: the inviter accompanies the seeker's questions and helps them inhabit a new identity over time. [53:22]
• 4. Names shape vocation and identity Jesus’ renaming of Simon to Cephas/Peter signals that divine encounters reconstitute identity and appoint purpose. Biblical name changes mark a before-and-after: God’s initiative creates a new capacity and a new call. Receiving a new name means being invited into a destiny that will both test and form character for communal service. [46:59]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [08:22] - Online Worship & Announcements
• [13:11] - Opening Prayer
• [13:45] - Nicene Creed
• [20:57] - Children's Time
• [21:47] - Offering & Thanksgiving
• [34:42] - Scripture: John 1:29–42
• [38:48] - "Lamb of God" Explained
• [45:03] - "Come and See" Invitation
• [46:59] - Simon Renamed Peter
• [53:22] - Andrew's Witnessing Role
• [60:16] - Reflection on Generational Faith
• [64:40] - Final Song and Sending
• [65:09] - Benediction

Bible Reading

John 1:29–42 (ESV)
The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”

The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter).

Observation questions

1. According to the sermon, John the Baptist’s declaration of Jesus as the "Lamb of God" would have immediately reminded the Jewish listeners of two specific types of sacrifices. What were those two sacrifices? [39:45]
2. When the two disciples started following Jesus and asked where he was staying, how did Jesus respond to them, and what did they end up doing for the rest of the day? [44:47]
3. The sermon points out a specific action Andrew took regarding his brother Simon. Andrew didn't just tell Simon about the Messiah; what else did he do? [46:29]
4. When Jesus met Simon, he gave him the new name "Cephas" (or Peter). What does this new name mean? [46:59]

Interpretation questions

1. The title "Lamb of God" was a "spine-stiffening" phrase for the original hearers because it connected Jesus to the history of sacrifice and the Passover. Why is it significant that Jesus is identified as the Lamb who takes away sin, rather than just a teacher or a king? What does this say about his primary mission? [39:27]
2. Jesus invites the disciples to "come and see" rather than giving them a lecture or a list of doctrines. What does this suggest about how discipleship works? Why is spending time with Jesus "at the table" often more effective than just learning facts about him? [45:03]
3. The sermon notes that in Scripture, a name change—like Jacob becoming Israel or Abram becoming Abraham—signifies that God is doing something new and significant in a person's life. Why do you think Jesus gave Simon a new name (Rock) before Simon had actually done anything to prove he was "rock-like"? [47:12]

Application questions

1. Andrew is a model of someone who didn't just share information but actually brought someone to Jesus. Who is the "Andrew" in your life—the person who took the time to bring you to faith or invested deeply in your spiritual walk? [53:59]
2. True witness moves from a personal encounter to a deliberate invitation. Who is the "Simon" in your life right now? Is there a neighbor, coworker, or family member God is calling you to pray for and eventually invite to "come and see" Jesus? [56:11]
3. Jesus’ invitation to "come and see" honors our human need to know and be known through relationship. In your own efforts to share your faith, do you tend to rely more on explaining facts or on inviting people into shared life and community? How could you practice the "come and see" approach this week? [44:47]
4. Jesus knows our name, but he also gives us a new identity—beloved, forgiven, and child of God. Sometimes we get stuck listening to old labels or names that the world has given us. What "old name" do you need to let go of today so you can fully embrace the new identity Jesus speaks over you? [59:28]
5. Our faith is meant to plant seeds that will last for a "thousand generations." How does viewing your faith as a legacy for future generations change the way you view your interactions with your family or the children in our church? [57:46]