Jesus' First Disciples/Peter the Stone John 1:35-39

35 The next day (after the Spirit came down on Jesus) the *third day; John was there again (by the Jordan) with two of his disciples. 36 When John saw Jesus passing by, he said "look, the Lamb of God!"



37 When John's two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38 Turning around Jesus saw them following and asked, "what do you want?" They said, "Rabbi (Teacher), where are you staying?"



39 "Come," He replied, "and you will see." {Even today Jesus is saying to us- come and you will see where I live}. So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with Him. It was about the tenth hour. 40 Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. {who was the other one and what happened to him?}. 41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, "we have found the Messiah. 42 And he brought him to Jesus. {Andrew did this when he just met Jesus-how many of us run to tell our brothers and sisters, friends etc about Jesus even after knowing His goodness?} Jesus looked at him and said, you are Simon son of John or (Jona). You will be called Cephas (which when translated is Peter which means rock/stone). {Why did Jesus change Simon's name to Cephas/ Peter?}



Lets look at 1 Peter 2:4 and 5

4 As you come to Him, the living stone- rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to Him- 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For in scripture it says:

"See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone and the one who trusts in Him will never be put to shame."

7 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,

"the stone the builders rejected has become the capstone (main cornerstone)

and

"a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.

They stumble because they disobey the message- which is also what they were destined for.

9But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 11 Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.

Other supporting scriptures about the symbol of a stone

Psalm 118:22 The stone the builders (the Pharisees) rejected has become the capstone.

Isaiah 28:16 So this is what the Sovereign Lord says: "See I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed."

cornerstone
1 : a stone forming a part of a corner or angle in a wall; specifically : such a stone laid at a formal ceremony2 : a basic element: foundation

Amen- till next time