John 1:29–42 - The next day he *saw Jesus coming to him and *said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 “This is He on behalf of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’ 31 “I did not recognize Him, but so that He might be manifested to Israel, I came baptizing in water.” 32 John testified saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him. 33 “I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’ 34 “I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.” 35 Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as He walked, and *said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38 And Jesus turned and saw them following, and *said to them, “What do you seek?” They said to Him, “Rabbi (which translated means Teacher), where are You staying?” 39 He *said to them, “Come, and you will see.” So they came and saw where He was staying; and they stayed with Him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He *found first his own brother Simon and *said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which translated means Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John; you shall be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).
John Receives Jesus (1:29-34). This passage begins an important sequence in the Gospel. “The next day” is the first in a series of days (vv. 29, 35, 43), which culminates “on the third day” (2:1), equaling a six–day sequence (e.g., creation week) with the wedding being the climax, just as in Genesis 1-2. John “witnessed to/testified to” Jesus as the Christ and here this witness takes the form of identifying the Christ’s chief role as a sacrificial lamb (Is. 53). John also confesses that He is higher in rank and existed before Him, pointing to John’s acknowledgement of the divinity of Jesus. The purpose of John’s baptism is also stated in a Christo-centric way, he baptized, “so that He might be manifested to Israel" (1:31).
John’s Disciples Receive Jesus (1:35-39). The calling of the disciples begins with a very understated incident. Two of John’s disciples believe John’s word about Jesus and begin to follow Him (literally walking behind him). Jesus then “turned and saw them following” (v38). Jesus asks an open ended question, “What do you seek”? The response is coded, “Where are you staying”? They certainly wanted to ask more, just imagine . . . But the question is classic Johanine code. “Stay” is meno or “abide” (E.g, 15:7). Where does Jesus abide? Now that’s a good question. Jesus bids them to see for themselves, “Come and see.”
Peter Receives Jesus (1:40-42). John’s Gospel shows Peter’s call, linking through Andrew and back to the Baptizer. The Gospel never mentions it, but John himself and Andrew, are the first to receive the Baptizer’s testimony and to “see” where Jesus “abides.”Now Andrew testifies to Simon (Peter). “We have found the Messiah.” Actually, Jesus finds them. So now the disciples are now leading others to “see” Jesus. As a result, Simon (Peter) comes to Jesus, just as did John and Andrew. Jesus “looks” (emblepo) “into him”(Lk. 22:61) and then names him, “Peter” (rock).