July 23 Daily Devotional

John 1

Shortly after Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, he began his public ministry. He came again to the Jordan where John the Baptist preached. When John saw him coming, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me … And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.” Again the next day John and two of his disciples stood there. John looking upon Jesus as he walked, said, “Behold the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard it, and they followed Jesus. Jesus turned and said, “What seek ye?” They replied, “Rabbi … where abidest thou?” He said, “Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt and abode with him that day.” One of them was Andrew and the other was John. They became disciples of Jesus.

These two men each had a brother, and they were anxious that they should hear Jesus. Andrew’s brother was named Simon; the name of John’s brother was James. All four were fishermen by the sea of Galilee. Andrew found his brother Simon and said unto him, “We have found the Messiah.” And he brought him to Jesus. When Jesus saw him, he said, “Thou art Simon, the son of Jonah: thou shalt be called Cephas (a rock).”

The following day as he was going into Galilee, he met another man named Philip whose home was at Bethsaida. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” He followed immediately. Philip turned to Nathanael, no doubt one of his friends, and said to him. “We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth the son of Joseph.” Nathanael replied, “Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth.” Philip said unto him, “Come and see.” Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, “Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile.” Nathanael replied, “Whence knowest thou me?” Jesus answered and said unto him, “Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.” Nathanael was astonished, “Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.” Jesus answered and said unto him, “Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these … Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see the heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.” Jesus now had some followers; these men, and others who later joined him and listened to his words were called disciples.