Bring Someone to Jesus 👣

John 1:35–46

Some of the most important moments in life begin with a simple invitation: “Come with me.”

Maybe you discovered your favorite restaurant because a friend took you there. Perhaps you met someone important because another person introduced you. You may even have walked into church for the first time because someone cared enough to invite you. 🤝

That’s what we find in John 1. Several ordinary people discover Jesus, and almost immediately, they think of someone else.

They don’t have all the answers. They haven’t attended a seminar on evangelism. They don’t offer polished presentations.

They simply believe Jesus is too important to keep to themselves.

Their example reminds us that one of the most loving things we can ever do is bring someone to Jesus.

1. Know and Follow Jesus Personally 👀

John the Baptist had been sent to prepare Israel for the promised Messiah. When he saw Jesus, he declared:

“Behold the Lamb of God!”

The word “behold” is a command to stop, look carefully, and give your full attention.

John wasn’t trying to build his own following. He pointed his disciples away from himself and toward Jesus. His actions reflected the words he would later speak:

“He must increase, but I must decrease.”
John 3:30

After hearing John’s testimony, two disciples followed Jesus.

In that culture, disciples didn’t simply attend a teacher’s lectures. They attached themselves to their teacher, traveled with him, learned his way of life, and tried to imitate him.

These men looked, listened, and followed. 👣

When Jesus noticed them, He asked, “What seek ye?”

Those are the first recorded words of Jesus in John’s Gospel. What a question! Jesus wasn’t merely asking where they were going. He was asking what they truly wanted.

What were they searching for? What did they hope Jesus could give them?

They called Him “Rabbi,” meaning Master or Teacher, and asked where He lived. Jesus replied:

“Come and see.”

They accepted His invitation and “abode with him that day.”

The word “abode” means to remain or stay. John later used the same language when Jesus said, “Abide in me, and I in you” (John 15:4).

The disciples began by recognizing Jesus as a teacher. After spending time with Him, Andrew announced that they had found the Messiah. Their understanding of Jesus grew through their fellowship with Jesus.

The same is true for us.

We can’t confidently introduce people to a Savior we don’t personally know and follow. A tour guide can lead others confidently because he has already traveled the route. In the same way, we’re best prepared to point people toward Jesus when we’re walking with Him ourselves.

So let me ask you: Are you following Jesus personally, or do you only know what other people have said about Him?

If you’re a Christian, take time this week to renew your fellowship with Christ. Open John’s Gospel, listen to His words, and ask Him to deepen your walk. 📖

If you don’t yet know Christ, His invitation is still open: “Come and see.”

You don’t have to pretend you have no doubts. You don’t need to understand everything before taking your first step. Jesus invites you to examine Him honestly and discover who He is.

Following Jesus should never end with us. Those who have found Him should begin looking for someone else.

2. Seek and Tell Someone You Know 📣

After spending time with Jesus, Andrew “first findeth his own brother Simon.”

One of Andrew’s first responses was to find someone he already knew and loved.

The same pattern appears with Philip. Verse 43 says Jesus “findeth Philip,” and verse 45 says Philip “findeth Nathanael.”

Jesus found Philip, and then Philip found someone else.

That order matters. Our search for others begins with Christ’s grace in seeking us. ❤️

Relational evangelism begins with the people God has already placed around us. Think about your family members, friends, classmates, coworkers, and neighbors. These relationships are opportunities to love people, pray for them, and point them toward Christ.

When something wonderful happens, most of us instinctively tell someone close to us. We reach for the phone when we get a new job, receive a healthy medical report, get engaged, or welcome a child into the family. 📱

Good news is difficult to keep to ourselves.

Andrew responded to Jesus in the same way. He found Simon and announced:

“We have found the Messias.”

The word “Messias” refers to God’s promised Anointed One. “Christ” is the Greek equivalent of that title.

Andrew wasn’t simply repeating what John had told him. He had encountered Jesus personally. Now he was convinced that Jesus was the promised Savior, and he wanted his brother to know Him too.

Philip’s witness was also personal, but it was grounded in Scripture:

“We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write.”

Jesus wasn’t simply someone Philip found interesting or impressive. He was the fulfillment of God’s promises.

After His resurrection, Jesus confirmed this truth by beginning with Moses and the prophets and explaining “in all the scriptures the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:27).

Our witness should include both truths:

This is what Jesus has done for me, and this is what God’s Word says about Him.

You don’t have to know everything about the Bible before you can tell someone about Christ. A witness is simply someone who honestly reports what he has seen, heard, and experienced.

If Jesus truly is the promised Savior, then this news is too important to keep to ourselves. Love compels us to begin with the people God has already placed within our reach.

So, who in your life has never heard you explain what Jesus means to you?

Choose one person. Within the next seven days, tell that person how you came to know Christ. You don’t need a speech. Just speak honestly about what you have discovered. 💬

If someone invited you to church or shared this article with you, consider this: their invitation may be one of the ways God is directing your attention toward Jesus.

Ask that person, “What difference has Jesus made in your life?”

Listen to the answer, and then examine Jesus for yourself.

Telling someone about Jesus is important, but love moves us from conversation to invitation.

3. Invite Them and Trust Jesus 🙏

Andrew told Simon about the Messiah, but he didn’t stop with words.

“And he brought him to Jesus.”

The word “brought” means to lead someone to another person. Andrew’s testimony became intentional action.

Philip did something similar. When he told Nathanael that he had found Jesus of Nazareth, Nathanael immediately objected:

“Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?”

Nazareth was an obscure Galilean village. It wasn’t the sort of place Nathanael associated with Israel’s promised Messiah. His question may have reflected prejudice, disappointed expectations, or honest skepticism.

Philip didn’t become defensive. He didn’t attempt to answer every possible objection.

He simply said:

“Come and see.”

Those were the same words Jesus had spoken to the first disciples. Philip learned to extend the invitation he had received.

That’s encouraging because many of us feel intimidated by evangelism. We worry that someone will ask a question we can’t answer. We’re afraid we’ll say the wrong thing or be rejected.

We should answer sincere questions when we can, but we don’t have to win every argument before inviting someone to consider Christ.

We can pray. We can begin a conversation. We can extend an invitation, provide transportation, answer questions, and help remove obstacles.

Then we must trust Jesus to do what only Jesus can do. 🌱

When Andrew brought Simon to Jesus, Jesus “beheld him.” This describes an intentional and penetrating look. Jesus saw Simon as he was, but He also saw what Simon would become.

Jesus told him:

“Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas.”

“Cephas” is the Aramaic equivalent of Peter and is interpreted in the passage as “A stone.”

Andrew brought Simon, but Jesus renamed him.

Andrew made the introduction, but Jesus produced the transformation.

That distinction should bring us freedom. We can invite people to Jesus, but we can’t change their hearts. Our responsibility is to bring them faithfully and trust Christ with the results.

As Paul wrote:

“I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.”
1 Corinthians 3:6

Are you withholding an invitation because you’re afraid of rejection or feel responsible for how the person might respond?

Choose one person and extend one sincere invitation. Invite that person to church, to read the Bible with you, or simply to talk about Jesus. Then leave the results with God.

Come and See ✝️

A sign can point someone in the right direction, but it can’t take the journey for them.

John pointed toward Jesus and said, “Behold the Lamb of God.” Andrew and Philip went a step further. They walked with people they cared about and helped bring them to Christ.

That’s still our calling.

We point people toward Jesus, and then we offer to walk beside them. We answer their questions, extend an invitation, and help remove obstacles.

But Jesus is the destination, and only Jesus can transform them.

Perhaps someone is pointing you toward Him today. Don’t stop at the sign. Come and see Jesus for yourself.

He is more than a teacher. He is the Lamb of God who gave His life on the cross for our sins and rose again. He offers forgiveness, peace with God, and new life to everyone who turns from sin and trusts Him.

Someone else can bring you to church, give you a Bible, or tell you what Christ has done. But no one else can respond to Jesus for you.

If you already know Him, think of one person who needs someone to point the way and walk beside them. 🤝

Bring someone to Jesus.

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