The Gospel of John opens not with a miracle or a command, but with a revelation. “In the beginning was the Word.” Before Jesus gathers followers, John tells us who this Master truly is. Discipleship, from the very start, is grounded not in instruction but in identity.
John 1 presents Jesus as eternal—existing before time, creation, and human striving. He does not discover truth; he embodies it. This immediately reframes discipleship. To follow Jesus is not to adopt a set of ideas, but to align one’s life with ultimate reality itself. The journey begins with awe.
Yet this eternal Word does something unexpected: “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” The Master moves close. He walks into human weakness, limitation, and ordinary life. Disciples are not asked to ascend to God through effort; instead, God descends to meet them. Authority and intimacy meet in Jesus.
John is clear that Jesus does not merely speak about God—he reveals God. To watch Jesus is to see the Father’s heart. This is why disciples follow him: knowing Jesus is the clearest way to know God.
When Jesus finally speaks to potential disciples, his first words are strikingly gentle: “What do you want?” and “Come and see.” There is no pressure, no demand—only invitation. Discipleship begins with honest desire and personal encounter. Before there are tasks, there is time spent with the Master.
Jesus also demonstrates that he sees his disciples deeply and prophetically. Simon is renamed Peter before he ever lives up to the name. Nathanael is known before he is introduced. The Master calls people not based on their present strength, but their future becoming.
Finally, John the Baptist names Jesus “the Lamb of God.” Before crowns and kingdoms, disciples are taught that this Master will lead through sacrifice. Power will be expressed as love laid down.
John 1 teaches us that disciples follow Jesus not because he offers comfort or clarity alone, but because he is God made known—inviting, seeing, and transforming those who come to him. Every discipleship journey still begins the same way: Come and see.
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