Come And See Jesus

Come and See Jesus

John 1:35-51

Introduction

John’s Gospel states a very clear goal.

John 20:30-31 “Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you my believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

John’s Gospel, then, is an invitation to come and see Jesus. In today’s text we are introduced to some of the people Jesus influenced in the beginning of his ministry … people who carried out his mission after he resurrected and went to the Father.

John 1:35-39

35 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples.

36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”

37 When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.

38 Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?” They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”

39 “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon.

Jesus had twelve apostles (one sent on a mission). If you were on the Apostle Selection Committee, what qualities would you look for? Being an apostle is an important task. They would nurture the infant church. They would inform the church of God's will through their speaking and writing. But the men Jesus chose to be his Apostles were unexpected. They did not have what it takes to do the job! John begins his gospel telling us of these unlikely choices.

1. Four Unlikely Choices

Andrew the Bringer (John 1:40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. )

We do not know much about Andrew. He is a quiet servant, the one you wouldn’t notice. Andrew is always bringing someone to Jesus (6:8; 12:22). This is his great example to us. Friendship continues to be the primary means by which people are brought to Christ.

Simon the Talker (John 1:41-42 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter). ?

We know a lot more about Simon Peter -mostly because he is the first one to speak up in brash pronouncements! Here, he doesn’t say anything. But Jesus took one look at Simon and gave him a new name: Simon is now Cephas. Simon - his Jewish given name. Cephas - Aramaic for stone. Peter - a Greek name - the Man of Rock. Simon Peter appears as anything but a rock. He is impulsive, volatile, and unreliable. What Jesus sees in us is so much more important than what we can see in ourselves. Jesus sees in Peter what no one else could see - the solid leader he would become.

Philip the Hesitant (1:43-44 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.” Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida.)

Jesus seeks out Philip and calls him. Only John tells us anything about Phillip. Leon Morris’s tongue-in-cheek comment that in these texts Philip seems “a little out of his depth.” Bob Deffenbaugh says, “He may have lacked the confidence and initiative to assert himself in following Christ without invitation.” Philip is hesitant in most situations. When faced with feeding 5000, he is hesitant to believe Jesus could make it happen. His only thought is that even with a lot of money they could not feed the multitude. When the Greeks came to him asking to see Jesus he did not know what to do and he hesitates, asking Andrew before bringing them to Jesus (12:21-22). It was Philip in the upper room asking to be shown the Father - and that is all we ask! (14:8-9) Philip, Andrew and Peter were from Bethsaida. Not much is told us in the Gospels about the city. Jesus denounced it as one of the cities where he did most of his miracles, without resulting in faith (Mt 11:20-24; Lk 10:13).

Nathanael the Skeptic (1:45-51 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip. When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.” Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.” Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.” 51 He then added, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man.)