Call to the Transformation
John 1:29-50
March 13, 2011
INTRODUCTION
* Who are you?
* What makes you who you are?
* The Job you do?
* The clothes you wear?
* Who are you?
* What defines you?
* Where you live?
* Your Family?
* Your Ethnicity?
* Your skin color?
* Or Mix of it all?
* What defines you?
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF ALL THAT DEFINED US WAS HOW WE ARE BEING CHANGED BY A RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS?
It is just such a call to transformation that is chronicled for us in John's Gospel. Turn with me this morning and let's look at the Call to Transformation.
Transformaiton--the ever present reality of being changed in to a Child of God for those who believe.
I. Transformation begins and ends with the Savior
John 1:29-34
John Gospel begins with a mystical introduction of who Jesus is and is immediately followed by the testimony of John the Baptist that he wasn't the Messiah. He is the loudest clearest voice of God in the day. The biggest news the author of the best selling sermon series, repent the kingdom is at hand. And he is the first to declare It's not me, It's about Jesus.
John Testifies About Jesus
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one I meant when I said, 'A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' 31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel."
32 Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33 And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' 34 I have seen and I testify that this is God's Chosen One."
A. Identifying and following Him.
B. Not trying harder or working harder
Repentance is not the same thing as Repentance. But Repentance will likely be involved.
Too often good followers assume that transformation is about trying harder or working harder. In John's Gospel, all about the belief that leads to the right of the ever present reality of being changed simple points to Jesus.
II. Transformation is the byproduct of spending more time with Him
John 1:35-39
John's Disciples Follow Jesus
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.
So you have two of the devoted disciples of John, (Andrew is named) who have no idea where it will lead, but know that they want more. So if John's message isn't it. And it's to be found in Jesus, then that's who they will find. If there is more than they are willing to seek it. So they take off in search of Jesus.
So as Jesus is just passing by he hears these two guys yell "Look, the Lamb of God." What goes through his mind. Does he marvel at that their faith or their naivety. Jesus knows the secret of their hearts. They have no idea what it means, "Look, the Lamb of God." But he doesn't reject them, doesn't quiz them, doesn't grade their answer pass or fail. He simply asks them one question. "What do you want?"
Their response reveals more of what they don't know, than what they do know. "Rabbi" (which means "Teacher"), "where are you staying?" If they really understood what they called him would this be the question. They know he has something to teach them (Rabbi) but what? Swo they want to make sure they know where to come to find him.
Jesus response, come and find out.
Our journeys of transformation start in similar ways. We don't understand what's ahead, but we've heard that He is the answer. So we cry out, Jesus, Lord and Savior, Forgiver Leader of my life. And he responds what do you want, the Answer, more. What is that we need, what is it that God has in store we don't know but we know where to find. In his presence.
A. Intimate Experience
B. Individual Experience
III. Transformation will be character changing
John 1:40-42
Okay so Andrew spends a day with Jesus. Andrew who was one of John's disciples, heads off to find his brother, a fisherman. Andrew has already been changed enough by his encounter with Jesus that he is taking action. We don't know a lot about their relationship prior to this. Had Peter rejected John's Message. Had he been to busy. Was Andrew ineffective at reaching out to his brother, we don't know. But after spending just one day Andres goes seeking his brother.
Andrew knows more now than he did before. This man Jesus, He's the Messiah, the Christ. This ithe first use of the Word Messiah in John. It is the Jewish understanding of the greek idea of Christos (Christ) the anointed one. Andrew had greater understanding and it's a big deal. He goes to his brother tells him and brings him to Jesus. I wonder what that conversation was like. Does Peter go reluctantly, inquisitively, eagerly. We don't know. But he ends up in Jesus presence and his first encounter with Jesus is totally different than Andrew's.
40 Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 41 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[ ]).
Wow what an encounter. Imagine me doing this. Hi. You're Wayne Mushett, "wagon builder" "Driver" from now on you will be called Wenceslaus, "greater glory."
That is exactly what Jesus does. And with it understand more about what happens when we come to him.
It's a how, who and what.
-How you are known changes,
-Who you are changes.
-What defines who you are changes
We don't know anything else about Peter's journey it all lays ahead. But we know he's about to undergo major change.
IV. Transformation will be limited only by how we limit Jesus
John 1:43-50
These first stories reveal one last truth about transformation. One more gem to be discovered about this ever present reality of becoming a Child of God. It's found in the next day story.
Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael
43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, "Follow me."
44 Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. 45 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."
Philip has an invitation follow, to join the journey, to discover his new becoming. Phillip finds Nathanael and tells him what he has discovered. (note the greater understanding) But Nathanael nearly misses out. Why? Because his preconceptions limited what he expected.
46 "Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" Nathanael asked.
"Come and see," said Philip.
Jesus can he have an answer for my family. Jesus can he heal my sorrows, Jesus, can he give me purpose. Jesus!
Nathanael get's past it. He allows his encounter with Jesus to take him past his unbelief. For many of us the key to our transformation will be allowing Jesus to take us past our un belief.
47 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, "Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit."
48 "How do you know me?" Nathanael asked.
Jesus answered, "I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you."
49 Then Nathanael declared, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel."
50 Jesus said, "You believe[ ] because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that."
Summary
What does Transformation Look Like?
Transformation begins and ends with the Savior
Transformation is the byproduct of spending more time with Him
Transformation will be character changing
Transformation will be limited only by how we limit Jesus
Application
Figure a way to spend some more time with Jesus.
WWPF
Word, Worship, Prayer, Fellowship
Journey Inward. Transformation is about the inside stuff of our lives. Ask different Questions
What do you want of me?
What do you require?
What should I take up?
What should I lay down?
Share your journey. Read of other's journey.
