A Kingdom Of Pointers Series

A Kingdom of Pointers

(John 1:19-51)

Question: What is the difference between a guilt-ridden person who is frantically trying to reform society and the serious Christian?

I. John the Baptist Was a Sort-of Reformer, but Not Frantic….

1. Day one: while Jesus, returned from the dessert, is lodging in Bethany, John is baptizing near Bethany…(he probably commuted)

(1) The authorities question him; his answers get shorter and shorter.

(2) Then they ask an open ended question: who are you?

(3) John knew exactly who he was, what his mission was; do we? Body

2. Day two: Jesus walks by

(1) Behold, the Lamb of God…

(2) he came after me but was before me

(3) I saw the Spirit descend upon Him like a dove…

II. The First Disciples Were Just Some Plain Fishermen

1. Now they were Jewish fisherman: literate, fluent in the OT

2. The first disciple (not named) is John himself (even knew the time—10th hour, or 4p.m.)

(1) first disciple was probably a TEENAGER--young people..be challenged

(2) second was Andrew---both had been disciples of John….

(3) Christ offers them accomodations at “His place” and spent the day

(4) apparently before this, Andrew found his brother, Simon ….said,”We have found the Messiah….” Jesus said, You shall be called “Cephas” (Rock)---Christ would take a weak reed & make him into a PILLAR

3. Next day, Jesus finds Philip on His way to Galilee….”Follow me…”

---probably another of John’s disciples

(1) Philip goes and gets his friend, Nathanael….We’ve found Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth….Nazareth…any good thing…

(2) Postulate: Nathanael had been reading/contemplating Jacob (guile) and his stairway to heaven vision while under the fig tree….

---Behold an Israelite in whom is NO guile

__Nathanael is impressed…How do you know me?

---I saw you under the fig tree…

---Rabbi, you are the Son of God….

(3) Then the beautiful verses, 50-51

Question: What is the difference between a guilt-ridden person who is frantically trying to reform society and the serious Christian?

III. It Is Our Task Not to Cure ALL Ills, But to Point Folks to the Lamb of God

1. John did this---strangers and the crowd

2. Andrew did this (and so did John w/James)—family

3. Philip did this---friends

4. God’s plan for evangelism is still this:

(1) some work with strangers—evangelists (a calling)

(2) all of us are not missionaries; all not evangelists; all WITNESSES

-----family

-----friends…

5. The Lesson of Palm Sunday is that the smaller crowd from the North (Galilee) who embraced Jesus were the minority; the crowd on Friday who cried “Crucify Him!” was greater; greatest yet was the crowd who did neither.

6. But we can aim for the Nathanaels of vs. 49 who declare, “You are the King of Israel.” God is still building His Kingdom, and it is our job to invite others in.

(1) service next week/church (around Christians)

(2) tracts

(3) Left Behind Books

(4) Corresspondence study

(5) Subscribe to a good magazine

(6) Simply share your testimony

CONCLUSION

1. Have you experienced Jesus as the Lamb of God? In OT, when a sacrifice offered….