First meetings

The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, ‘Look, here is the Lamb of God!’ 

The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, ‘What are you looking for?’

They said to him, ‘Rabbi, where are you staying?’ 

He said to them, ‘Come and see.’

They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon. One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his brother Simon and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’. 

He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas’ (which is translated Peter, the Rock).

From John 1

I wonder if you have any memories of a first meeting  – the first time that you met someone who went on to be an important person in your life? When I arrived in Dundee as a student I found I was sharing a room with a guy called Iain. Iain was very Scottish, very young (17) and very trendy – unlike me! I remember the meeting well – and we are still very good friends, over 40 years later.

Maybe you have memories of meeting someone here at the university who has become an important person for you. In today’s reading we hear about the first meeting of Andrew and Simon with Jesus. I wonder if years later they sat around the table at home and talked about this day. I wonder if they realised what a significant meeting it would be – if they had any idea of all that it would lead to – for Jesus and for them.

We don’t know very much about Andrew’s story, but we may know quite a lot about Simon. For a start, we’re told that at this first meeting Jesus gave him a new name – Peter – meaning the Rock – although sometimes he was more rocky than rock solid. Peter becomes an enthusiastic follower of Jesus – although there were times when he gets carried away and speaks or acts before he engaging his brain.

Then when Jesus was arrested, and very alone, Peter denies that he  knew him three times – but later on the shores of Lake Galilee he meets Jesus – alive again – and is forgiven and given back his role as leader.

We’re told that Peter went on to be a courageous leader of the first Christians, including welcoming in Gentiles, non-Jews, for the first time. If Peter had been asked how all this began, he would have gone back to that very first meeting with Jesus, the turning point of his life.

I wonder if we can look back to a beginning in our spiritual life – a first meeting with Jesus, a first awareness of God? Someone told me recently of meeting the person who became their ‘Christian Mum’ and encouraged them to open their life to the Lord – and how when they were singing a hymn the next day – Dear Lord and Father of Mankind – they had an experience of God’s love which changed everything for them and started their Christian journey.

Some of us may remember something like that. For some of us it’s more like with our parents – we don’t remember meeting them because they have always been there – God has always been there for us. For some of us it may just all be very new.

But it’s interesting to look back over our journey. Have there been turning points in our relationship with God? Times when it has been difficult – times when it has changed – times when it has grown deeper…?

A few years ago I was on a silent retreat and my guide suggested that I use Psalm 23 to reflect on my life. It’s the psalm that begins ‘The Lord is my Shepherd.’ I wasn’t very keen – I thought I knew it too well. But as I read and reread the psalm, and looked back over my life, I became aware of the way God’s love and kindness really had been following me through it all. I had a sense of the golden thread of his grace being woven through my life, and I was very thankful.

You might want to try that. I will post a reflection you can use in the blog. It’s a good thing to do near the beginning of a new year – to look back with thankfulness. It can help us then as we look forward, helping us to put our trust in the God whose love has held us so far – both in the times we can remember, and before that – holding us even before we began our journey through this life.  

As we pray, you might like to imagine for a moment your life like a long piece of fabric – maybe a scarf patterned with beautiful colours. Now imagine the gold thread which represents God’s presence threaded through your life – sometimes visible, sometimes hidden, but still there…

Loving God, we thank you that in Jesus you have come to meet us – and as you met Andrew and Peter so you invite each of us to share your life, and you offer yourself to share in our live. We thank you for the ways in which we recognise your love and grace, woven through our days. As we have known you with us in the past, may we trust you for the future.

Lord Jesus, as we look into the coming year, help us to put our hand in yours, and to learn to walk in step with you. You know the things that lie ahead which make us anxious or unsure. Give us courage and faith, and lead us in your ways.

Loving Lord, as we reflect on our story with you, may we be ready to encourage others, when the time is right, to put their trust in you too, as Andrew did, so that they too can begin their journey with you…