Happy Friday friends! I am so excited to dive in to week 1 of the Faithful Friday Series! If you are unfamiliar with the Faithful Friday Series – read more HERE!
I am blown away by the number of ladies that have signed up to be a part of this group. The idea came to me when I had my own need to stay accountable. Wanting to read the Bible more this year – yet fearing it would turn into another one of those things that I said I would do, but didn’t follow through with.
So selfishly I created this group for those in the same boat. To have a place where we can discuss the Gospel and share our thoughts with others.
Now before we start – I want to make something clear. I am NOT a theologian (shocker), I am NOT a youth minister, and I’ve NEVER led a bible study in my life. But this isn’t so much a study, as it is an accountability group.
This is a group for women that have yearned for a place to read and discuss the Bible together. Many of us, due to work, kids, etc. don’t have the time or ability to make it to a local group – so my hope is that the Faithful Friday Series will be that group for you!
With that said, let’s jump in!
The First Disciples
The next day John was there again with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, “Behold, the Lamb of God.” The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come, and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about four in the afternoon. Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus. He first found his own brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Anointed).Then he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John; you will be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).
I found it funny/providential that this was the first reading to start off this series. I am not one that likes to put myself into a vulnerable situation. I am not one that likes to push myself outside of my comfort zone. I am perfectly happy being in my little bubble. Yet here I am leading a group I never thought I’d be leading because to be perfectly honest – this is VERY uncomfortable. I am afraid of what others will think. I am afraid of being judged. Thinking I don’t know enough, and that I shouldn’t be leading such a group.
Then I ask myself – How often to we keep ourselves from doing something out of fear? How often do we doubt?
“Behold, the Lamb of God.” The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus.” JN 1:36-37
They simply followed Him. No questions asked. Blind faith. How many of us can say we would have done the same? I honestly don’t know if I can say I would have. Here are two men, that are in the psychical presence of Our Lord Jesus Christ, yet they hadn’t met Him before. The simply accepted it as truth because it WAS.
I feel like many of us struggle with doubt, and trust. We say, Jesus I trust in You. Yet, we then turn around and still worry. Still fear the worst. Still doubt. Now, part of that is human nature. We are flawed people. We sin. Yet absolute abandon is something we should strive for.
As I was mediating on the passage – drawing my lamb, the phrase, “open my eyes, Lord, so I can follow You more blindly” kept repeating itself in my mind.
Stop and just think of that imagery. We need to open our eyes and open our hearts, and let Him lead us. Give it ALL to Him.
I would love to hear your thoughts. Hear what you felt while reading this. What stuck out to you? How can we be like Andrew and Simon Peter and follow Him more blindly?
For me prayer is a BIG contributor to my being able to let go. To align my will with His. This Lent I am going to start the 
She Who Believed Journal & 
I worked on the Advent Journal before Christmas and it was such a wonderful way to focus on the meaning of the season – to prepare my heart for His coming on Christmas.
This year’s Lenten Journal is called the
The devotional will follow the stories of the women of scripture – our sister’s in faith. After all, Christ came to us through Mary, a woman. Her example is the perfect example of following blindly – saying yes.
As I’m writing this post – I see the prayer in the image above. One I hadn’t read until just now. “Lord, what would I say to You if You asked me face-to-face if I believe? Could I tell You yes? Or would I drop my head from Your gaze, afraid and ashamed? It’s so hard to believe, Lord.”
How perfect is that, with what we just read in the Gospel? God thank you for this gift of Your Love. Thank You for the gift of these women who come together today to read this beautiful scripture. To come together in fellowship. To grow in faith and love for You Lord. Help us to open our eyes and follow You more blindly. Help us to say, yes!
This is awesome! I love reading different perspectives on God’s word!
“What are you looking for?” spoke to my heart. These last… Years?… I have been hoping/praying/waiting for some big sign or maybe some overpowering sense of faith or maybe consolation? What drew the disciples to blindly follow? To drop everything and believe He was the messiah? What is a big sign? A physical reality? Or did Christ speak to their hearts?
What am I looking for? My answer needs to be Christ… But in whatever form He decides, not what I want and expect.
Okay so this spoke right to my heart! Tonight hubby and I got into a huge fight and part of the fight stems from trust issues I have with him. If I can’t trust my own husband how am I suppose to trust God and his will. I have always been one to think that I am a good Catholic and that I trust in God – but do I really, do I have blind faith? I think I have some really work to put in this year! This group is such a blessing!
Aw that is real hard! Trust is so hard and I think part of that is that it in ways goes against human nature. We want to protect ourselves. So who could possibly look out for our best interest than us? Obviously God can but while we may know that applying that is hard!!
So glad you’re in this group!!
What stood out to me in this passage was Jesus turning to them and asking “What are you looking for?”
If Jesus asked me that, what would my response be, what is my response to that question. And honestly, I don’t have an answer. Faith has sort of become a habit more than anything for me, at least it feels that way. It really has given me a lot to think about and makes me want to reclaim my faith and my following of Jesus. What am I looking for? I don’t know yet. But it’s my goal to try to figure it out.
Ahh! That’s so good! I have no idea what I would say either – sadly a huge blank comes to my mind. What are we looking for?…
The thing that struck me about the passage is the immediacy of it. The disciples just pick up and follow Christ, then and there. I thought a lot about what it was about Jesus that prompted that kind of immediate trust and faith. Was it the way he spoke, something about the way he looked? One of my favourite books is the Robe, and one thing I love about it is that while it’s set at the time of Christ, the main characters have to learn about him from the disciples and early Christians, who try to explain what he was like to know. This passage reminded me of that so much.
That’s a really good thought! What was it about Jesus in His physical presence that made them up and follow Him so immediately? Obviously He is God the Son but He was still man. It must have been something powerful!
We actually read that passage at school this week and I discussed that with my students! What could make you look at Him and just know on some level that he truly was the Messiah.
That’s awesome! I’d love to hear what your class came up with?
Their willingness to just go with him and not question it, is what also blew me away. Could I have done this? Probably not without asking a billion questions first. Again complete trust in Him is an issue for me. I’m doubtful but hope and pray to overcome this.
I am bad at following directions, I admit it. So I read more than just the assigned verses. I read that whole chunk. The also use the Ignatius Study Bible, so it has a slightly different translation. Instead of “Come and you will see,” it just simply says, “Come and see.” In those following verses. Jesus and his disciples use that phrase three times. This really resonated with me.
This year, I am trying to really live abandonment to the will of God. I’m trying to make my only prayer be, “Guide me and my family to do Your Holy Will.” For a control freak like me, this is not an easy prayer to pray. I think that these verses ( and the extra ones I read, too) were telling me to really step into that prayer and own my attempt at abondonment. I want to live God’s will every day? Great. Come and see how it’s done. Like you said in your blog post, Martina, I pray “Jesus I trust in You,” but still worry. I am praying for abndonment but not fully living it. I think that this first Faithful Friday assignment was perfect because it spoke to the prayer I have been praying in the New Year and encouraged me to step further into faithfulness.
COME AND SEE.
Haha love a girl rule breaker 🤣 bible rebel. I LOVE how your translation says “come and see” – it ties back in to the open my eyes to see blindly. It’s like Jesus’s answer to that. Come and see!
And you’re so right – we often want to control things, thinking we know what’s best. But there is so much we don’t know and sometimes saying Jesus I trust in You can be the most difficult prayer.
What strikes me is the deciples complete trust that Jesus is the messiah and their williness to follow him straight away. It’s as if they are drawn to him. They don’t have to think about or do a pros and cons list. They instinctively have this complete faith in Jesus to follow him. I’m not saying their faith will be unwavering but in the Gospel passage, they have faith and trust that they are making the right decision.
I love seeing the brotherly connection between Andrew and Simon Peter. Andrew brings his brother to Jesus, he wants to share with him the Messiah. I hope that my sons share their faith with each other.
Thanks Martina for setting up this bible group, it’s perfect!
I had that same thought. They didn’t debate it. They just DID. Like HOW?!
Love this so much. Thank you for your beautiful reflection, Martina!
Aw thank you Jenna! That means a lot coming from you!