November 30, 2024

Today's Reading: John 1:35-42a

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 6:1-7:9; 1 Peter 2:13-25

He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). He brought him to Jesus. (John 1:41-42a)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

 Have you ever seen something so exciting that you had to tell someone about it as soon as possible? Maybe you saw a meteor dart across the sky or the northern lights for the first time, or maybe it was simply seeing someone you have been waiting for, like a child waiting for dad to come home from work. The first thing the child does when they see their dad drive up the driveway is run to the others and yell out, “Dad’s home!” This is good news, so it is news that must be shared. 

 Upon hearing that Jesus had come, Andrew couldn’t help but tell others about what he had seen and heard. This is the proper response to following Jesus, the Messiah. It is such good news that Jesus has come that it must be shared. Others must know. This is how the church works. Jesus sends His disciples to tell others about what they have seen and heard, and then those who hear tell others, and then those who hear tell others. There is a good chance that you are reading this because someone at some point in your life told you about Jesus. Maybe they invited you to church to see and hear. Maybe they simply told you of Jesus’ love for you. This is the most effective evangelism program ever, telling people about Jesus. 

 But Andrew didn’t stop there; he then brought them to Jesus. So, we continue this tradition of telling people about the Messiah, about Jesus who died for the sin of the world, for your sin and mine. This is remarkable news, and it must be shared. So, as people who believe in what we have heard, we, too, go and tell people, just as Andrew told Peter, but we do not simply stop there. We bring people to Jesus, to where He has promised to meet us, to His church, where He meets all of us in the preaching of His Word, in Holy Absolution, in Baptism, and in the Lord’s Supper. Jesus died for you. Isn’t that Good News? Go and tell it. 

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Almighty God, You have called Your Church to witness that in Christ You have reconciled us to Yourself. Grant that by Your Holy Spirit we may proclaim the Good News of Your salvation so that all who hear it may receive the Gift of salvation; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. 

-Rev. Caleb Weight, associate pastor of Peace In Christ Lutheran Church in Hermantown, MN.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.

Spend time reading and meditating on God’s Word throughout the Church Year with the Enduring Grace Journal. Includes scripture readings, prayers, prompts, and space for journaling. The Church Year Journal, Enduring Grace, now available from Concordia Publishing House.