Rabbi. Teacher. Messiah.

The following day John was again standing with two of his disciples. As Jesus walked by, John looked at him and declared, "Look! There is the Lamb of God!" When John's two disciples heard this, they followed Jesus. Jesus looked around and saw them following. "What do you want?" he asked them. They replied, "Rabbi" (which means "Teacher"), "where are you staying?" "Come and see," he said. It was about four o'clock in the afternoon when they went with him to the place where he was staying, and they remained with him the rest of the day. Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of these men who heard what John said and then followed Jesus. Andrew went to find his brother, Simon, and told him, "We have found the Messiah" (which means "Christ"). Then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus. Looking intently at Simon, Jesus said, "Your name is Simon, son of John—but you will be called Cephas" (which means "Peter"). John 1:35-42

 Meditate on the Rabbi.

 

The Lamb of God         

The day after John baptized Jesus, a couple of John’s disciples began to follow Jesus after they heard Him called The Lamb of God. They called Him Rabbi. Already, Jesus had the reputation of being a Teacher. He must have exuded a charismatic nature—drawing people to Himself.

The Lamb of God was likely a reference to the Passover Lamb from Exodus 12:3 and Isaiah 53:3-8, which even fishermen were probably familiar with if they were taught as young boys in the synagogue.

 He was despised and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care. Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God's paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the sins of us all. He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. Unjustly condemned, he was led away. No one cared that he died without descendants, that his life was cut short in midstream. But he was struck down for the rebellion of my people. Isaiah 53:3-8

Jews of that era were watching for their savior and redeemer. The Lamb of God. Andrew recognized Jesus as the Messiah, so he brought his brother, Simon, to meet Him. Would you have done the same by taking your sibling to meet the Messiah? Would you believe instantly, like Andrew?

We don’t know where Jesus was staying, but at four in the afternoon, there wasn’t much daylight left, so they spent a couple of hours chatting and then getting supper…and talking some more. Do you think that Jesus enlightened them with the prophecies of the Old Testament, since that was the scripture that was available at that time? Rabbi. Teacher. Messiah.

Prayer – Lord Jesus, You are my Savior, my Messiah—the true Lamb of God who took away the sins of the world. Thank You. Help me to know You more day by day…and bring others to You to meet You as their Messiah. I praise You for all that You do and say. Rabbi.

Verse of Salvation ~ Once a religious leader asked Jesus this question: "Good Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?" "Why do you call me good?" Jesus asked him. "Only God is truly good. But to answer your question, you know the commandments: 'You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother.'" The man replied, "I've obeyed all these commandments since I was young." When Jesus heard his answer, he said, "There is still one thing you haven't done. Sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." But when the man heard this he became very sad, for he was very rich. Luke 18:18-23

© 2026 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted. 

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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