{"id":21229,"date":"2023-09-15T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-09-15T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mailchi.mp\/urc\/urc-daily-devotion-friday-15th-september-2023"},"modified":"2023-09-15T06:00:00","modified_gmt":"2023-09-15T05:00:00","slug":"urc-daily-devotion-friday-15th-september-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.trinitywimbledon.org\/index.php\/urc-daily-devotion-friday-15th-september-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"URC Daily Devotion Friday 15th September 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"

Reading – John 1, 35 – 51<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, \u2018Look, here is the Lamb of God!\u2019 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, \u2018What are you looking for?\u2019 They said to him, \u2018Rabbi\u2019 (which translated means Teacher), \u2018where are you staying?\u2019 He said to them, \u2018Come and see.\u2019 They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o\u2019clock in the afternoon. One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter\u2019s brother. He first found his brother Simon and said to him, \u2018We have found the Messiah\u2019 (which is translated Anointed). He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, \u2018You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas\u2019 (which is translated Peter).<\/span><\/p>\n

The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, \u2018Follow me.\u2019 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, \u2018We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.\u2019 Nathanael said to him, \u2018Can anything good come out of Nazareth?\u2019 Philip said to him, \u2018Come and see.\u2019 When Jesus saw Nathanael coming towards him, he said of him, \u2018Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!\u2019 Nathanael asked him, \u2018Where did you come to know me?\u2019 Jesus answered, \u2018I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.\u2019 Nathanael replied, \u2018Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!\u2019 Jesus answered, \u2018Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.\u2019 And he said to him, \u2018Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

Reflection<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The story of how Jesus calls his first disciples is told differently in John\u2019s gospel.  Here we don\u2019t find Simon, Andrew, James and John attending to their nets on the shores of Lake Galilee with Jesus walking by and calling them to follow him and fish for people.  John\u2019s invitation to discipleship is different \u2013 it is to \u2018come and see\u2026\u2019.<\/span><\/p>\n

The story begins with John the Baptist and two of his disciples, Andrew and one unnamed.  When they see Jesus they leave John and follow Jesus instead.  Jesus asks them what they are looking for and their reply confirms that they recognise him as a Rabbi \u2013 a teacher of whom they will be followers.  \u2018Where are you staying?\u2019, they ask and Jesus then invites them to \u2018come and see\u2019; to remain with him and to learn from him.<\/span><\/p>\n

As the story continues Andrew seeks out his brother Simon and brings him to Jesus.  Jesus looks at Simon and immediately gives him the name Cephas \u2013 translated Peter, and with this new identity he too becomes a disciple.<\/span><\/p>\n

The next day Jesus finds Philip and calls him with the familiar words \u2018Follow me\u2019.  Philip then goes off to find Nathanael and invites him to \u2018come and see\u2019 Jesus.  When Jesus sees Nathanael he tells him that he\u2019s already noticed him sitting under the fig tree.  Nathanael then sees Jesus not just as a Rabbi, but as God\u2019s son, and follows him. <\/span><\/p>\n

The call to discipleship starts with an invitation \u2013 to \u2018come and see\u2019.  Jesus calls us to follow him, to abide with him, to be given a new identity and be transformed by him as we seek to learn from him and live out his life.  And he invites us to encourage others \u2013 to call them to \u2018come and see\u2019 who and what we have found in Jesus that they too might hear his call and join him in the way of faithful discipleship and loving service.<\/span><\/p>\n

Prayer<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Dear Lord Jesus, <\/span>
help us to respond to your invitation \u2018to come and see\u2019.  <\/span>
May there be a curiosity about what we might find, <\/span>
with new insights about you, ourselves and those we called to serve.<\/span>
Help us to see discipleship as a journey of learning and discovery,<\/span>
as you call us and send us out with the invitation to \u2018come and see\u2019 <\/span>
on our lips and in our hearts.<\/span>
For your name\u2019s sake,   Amen<\/span> <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Reading – John 1, 35 – 51 The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, \u2018Look, here is the Lamb of God!\u2019 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said … <\/p>\n

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