Gathering Others to Follow Jesus, Part1

David W Palmer

(John 1:40 NKJV) One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. {41} He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated, the Christ). {42} And he brought him to Jesus.

John the Baptist released two of his disciples to follow Jesus. One of them was Andrew, “Simon Peter’s brother.” His first priority was to find his brother, and bring him to Jesus.

Reaching out to family can be risky; they don’t always react to Jesus the way we hope they will. Feeling protective of them, and/or fearful that we may become estranged from them, we can be tempted to water down the tough sayings of Jesus—trying to make it easy for them—or hide some of the true ramifications of following the Lord. But this is very unwise. What did Andrew do?

We note that Andrew didn’t try to explain Jesus, nor did he try to convert Peter by his own efforts. He simply “brought him to Jesus.” Then, instead of trying to be a go-between, explainer, or re-interpreter of Jesus for Peter, he simply allowed Jesus to relate to him directly:

(John 1: 42 NKJV) Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” (which is translated, A Stone).

When Andrew stepped aside, he risked things going very wrong and losing his brother. But when he got himself out of the way, Jesus stepped in. The Master knew exactly what to say to reach Peter; he spoke prophetically—deep into his destiny. In the way that only Jesus can, he spoke so simply and succinctly, but ever so profoundly and effectively, when he said: “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas.”

Most of us would take exception to a complete stranger trying to change our name, and we would certainly think it inappropriate to try this on someone we were meeting for the first time. This is why it is so important to bring our family and friends into direct contact with Jesus; only he knows exactly the right way to add them to himself (even though we may cringe inside when we hear what he is saying to them.)

In stating Peter’s original name, “Simon the son of Jonah,” Jesus was emphasizing his inherent—or God-intended—nature: Simon means “hearing with acceptance.” “Son of Jonah” implies a replica or imitator of Jonah, the dove. The new name that Jesus gave him, “Cepahs,” means rock. Jesus seemed to be saying that Peter had the potential to receive revelation from the Holy Spirit—if he would hear it with acceptance. This revelation would be rock solid for him if he received and believed it—making Peter firm in his faith and in his role in Jesus’s plans. Then, if he imitated what he saw and heard by revelation from the Holy Spirit, he would be like Jesus—an “able minister of the new testament” (2 Cor. 3:6 KJV).

This prophetic word went deep into Simon’s heart like a seed where it sprouted, took root, and began to grow. We see evidence of its continuing growth further along in their relationship when the same topic came up again:

(Matthew 16:15–17 NKJV) He (Jesus) said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” {16} Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” {17} Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.”

Again, Jesus calls him Simon bar-Jonah (Simon son of Jonah, or son of the dove), because he was starting to live in the reality of that name. Peter had received revelation from the Holy Spirit, and it caused him to be blessed. Jesus went on to say:

(Matthew 16:18–19 NKJV) “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. {19} And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Jesus said that the receiving of revelation directly from heaven gave Peter the ability to live up to his new name, Rock. Jesus further said that receiving and declaring revelation is the rock foundation upon which he would build his church. What’s more, it would be the means of getting keys to us that can bind anything that’s running wild or out of control, or of setting free what is wrongfully imprisoned, entangled, or restrictively tied down.

The outworking of Jesus’s initial prophetic statement to Peter took several years, and was watered throughout their time of walking together. But following Peter’s denial of Jesus, we don’t see this prophetic word ignite into full manifestation until the day of Pentecost. When filled and clothed by the Holy Spirit, Peter had such a powerful and foundational revelation that he stood up to Jesus’s killers; the Holy Spirit used him to convict them of murder. Under the power of the Spirit, he then preached the gospel of resurrection, forgiveness, and eternal life. Consequently, 3000 people received salvation. (See: Acts 2:14–41)

Jesus’s initial prophetic word had come to pass … fully. Simon the listening follower had become Peter the Rock. The Holy Spirit was leading him, revelation was flowing through him, and kingdom fruit was abounding from him. Peter’s destined role as a leader in the fledgling New Testament church was coming to pass. This only happened because his brother, Andrew, brought him into direct encounter with Jesus, and then got himself out from between them.

Jesus can do this for you; what’s more, he can do it for those you gather and introduce to Him.

Andrew must have watched in amazement that day; so glad that he had brought his brother to Jesus, and very grateful that he had the wisdom and grace from God to not get in between Jesus and Peter.

Today, I encourage you to be like Andrew. You’ve met Jesus; you know others dear to you who would benefit from meeting him too. Introduce them to him through prayer and invitation. Then allow Jesus to take over; don’t become fearful, try to soften the gospel, or re-interpret what Jesus says. Allow his Living Word—through the Bible and prophecy—to have his own impact on their hearts. Like Andrew, you may stand back one day in absolute awe of what Jesus can do in and through them. Remember, he can do it in ways you would never imagine possible, let alone ever think of.

(Ephesians 3:20 NKJV) Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.