I said[1]: ‘After me cometh a Man, who is preferred before me, because He was before me.’[2] I gave testimony that this is the Son of God.”
On the following day, when John was on the banks of the Jordan with two of his disciples[3], he beheld Jesus coming towards him, and he again said: ‘Behold the Lamb of God!” The two disciples, hearing this, left John and followed Jesus. And Jesus, turning, spoke to them: “What seek you?” They asked Him: “Master, where dwellest Thou”?[4] He said: “Come and see!” They came, and saw where He abode, and they remained with Him all that day.
These two disciples were John and Andrew. The latter had a brother named Simon, who was wishing to see the Messias. Andrew went to seek Simon[5] and said: “We have found the Messias.” And he conducted him to Jesus. When Jesus saw Simon, He looked upon him and said: “Thou art Simon, the son of Jona; thou shalt be called Cephas”, that is to say, Peter6, a rock.
The next day Jesus went forth into Galilee, and on the road He met a man named Philip[6], who also longed for the coming
- ↑ I said. Compare chapter XI.
- ↑ Before me. As Man, Jesus was half a year younger than John; nevertheless the latter said: “He was before me”, for Jesus, as God, is from all eternity.
- ↑ His disciples. The disciples, or pupils, of St. John were a certain number of Israelites who had attached themselves to the holy prophet, to be instructed by him in the religious life. According to Luke 5, 33 they led a severe life of penance, prayer and fasting. John looked upon it as his chief task to prepare these disciples for Jesus.
- ↑ Where dwellest Thou? Full of diffidence and reverence, they did not venture to make known to Him in public their desire to be His disciples, and therefore asked Him where He dwelt. Jesus at once invited them to go with Him, and they spent several precious hours in His company, from four o’clock in the afternoon till the evening. Their personal intercourse with Him completely confirmed their conviction that He was the promised Redeemer; and this belief was such a happiness to them, that they did their best to bring other Israelites of the same mind as themselves to Jesus; as we see in the case of Andrew, who went to fetch his brother, Simon.
- ↑ Peter. Jesus knew him at once, penetrated into his heart, and destined him to be the rock on which He would found His Church.
- ↑ Philip. He came from Bethsaida, a fishing district in Galilee, on the Lake of Genesareth, close to Capharnaum. Peter and Andrew were also born there (John 1, 44). Philip was likewise a disciple of the Baptist, and of the same mind as his fellow-countrymen, Peter and Andrew, and therefore joyfully accepted our Lord’s invitation.
