“The following day John was again standing with two of his disciples. As Jesus walked by, John looked at him and declared, “Look! There is the Lamb of God!” When John’s two disciples heard this, they followed Jesus. Jesus looked around and saw them following. “What do you want?” he asked them. They replied, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” “Come and see,” he said. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon when they went with him to the place where he was staying, and they remained with him the rest of the day. Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of these men who heard what John said and then followed Jesus. Andrew went to find his brother, Simon, and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means “Christ” ). Then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus. Looking intently at Simon, Jesus said, “Your name is Simon, son of John—but you will be called Cephas” (which means “Peter” ).”
John 1:35-42 NLT
http://bible.com/116/jhn.1.35-42.nlt
Andrew and his friend had heard John’s preaching. He was a strange one, that John. His was a booming voice crying out on the borders of the Jordan river. His attire of camel’s hair did nothing to impress the hierarchy of Israel’s society. He was crude but Andrew was drawn to him. John’s word’s of repentance spoke to him and pricked his conscience and his soul. He had come to John and became a follower. He had laid down his old life and habits of selfishness, and obeyed John’s urgings, “Repent!” Every chance he got when he wasn’t working with his brother at the family business, he went to hear what John might have to say. Today was no different. He was by the river Jordan watching as John’s strong arms lifted another repentant soul up out of the water. John saw his two disciples and came near to speak with Andrew and his friend. As he was talking to them, he got distracted. Andrew noticed John’s focus shift from their discussion and zero in on a stranger. Andrew could tell this man was a stranger to him maybe, but not to his teacher John. Andrew noticed John’s countenance visibly changed from passive to animated. Actually, could anyone described John as passive? He always seemed animated and on high voltage but when John’s gaze locked onto this man, Andrew visibly saw John’s heart start speeding up. Andrew felt as if he could visible see the words tumble out of John’s mouth. “Look, the Lamb of God!” John exclaimed. Those were John’s only words spoken to him and his friend, but they were the only words Andrew needed to follow this stranger. John spoke the words with such conviction, Andrew knew John had been an eyewitness to a spectacular sight that John’s validation was all he needed to follow Him and see for himself.
“The Lamb of God,” John had spoken these words to describe Him. The words conjured up visions of temple sacrifices in Andrews thoughts as he followed behind this unknown Rabbi.
“And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat and confess over him all the iniquities of the Israelites and all their transgressions, all their sins; and he shall put them upon the head of the goat [the sin-bearer], and send him away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who is timely (ready, fit).”
Leviticus 16:21 AMP
http://bible.com/8/lev.16.21.amp
All the teachings of Moses flowed through Andrew’s thoughts as he meditated on John’s description of this man. “Who is this Rabbi he had started following? What compelled him to believe John’s words?” Andrew thought to himself. He couldn’t recognize the origin of this call, but he also couldn’t ignore the desire to follow Him and see for himself. Then the Rabbi turned, “What are you looking for?” “His eyes and His stare penetrated to his soul,” Andrew thought to himself. It seemed the young Rabbi was asking more than just a shallow answer, but it also seemed as if He already knew the real reason he was following Him. It seemed to Andrew this Rabbi knew even more than himself what lay at the core of why he followed at the mere exclamation of John. The moment He asked him, “What are you looking for?” Andrew sensed at the end of this day he would receive more than He bargained for. This was no ordinary Rabbi. Andrew saw it in His eyes. Andrew heard it in His question. These were ancient eyes filled with knowledge and wisdom. His was a voice that commanded life. “Rabbi, where are you staying?” Andrew heard himself ask.
Again, just my thoughts about what might have taken in those few moments of introduction to Jesus, the Lamb of God. There had to have been conviction in John’s words to cause two of his own faithful disciples to leave him. John was good with that. He knew he must decrease so that Jesus would increase. It was his own excitement and exclamation that sent Andrew seeking the Lamb of God.
I have been called to point others to Jesus. So have you if you are a follower of Jesus. Am I speaking my testimony with conviction and such force that those I speak to will follow after Him also? That is what John did. He had seen the heavens open on the day he baptized Jesus. He had heard the testimony of God, “This is my son!” John’s eyewitness account of this event fortified his testimony. Do I have my own eyewitness account of Jesus’ magnificent works in my own life that I can’t help but speak life giving words to other people? Is my own testimony fortified by my personal account of Jesus working in my life?
“Look the Lamb of God!”