COME AND SEE: “One-for-One”
Jn 5:31-51 [ Jn 1:41]
Jn 1:41. He [Andrew] first found his own brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah!” (which is translated Christ).
I. OBJECTIVE
For us to do likewise just as John, Our Lord, Andrew and Philip did
− “Come and See”.
− One-for-One [Jn 1:41] is another phrase that help us remember our aim for today.
− There is one for everyone…
I am conflicted in what to title this passage:
− Come and See
− One-for-One [taken from Jn 1:41]
Both seem applicable as our take away.
II. “LOOK THE LAMB OF GOD”
− Jn 1:29-34
− Jn 1:36.
Three instances previously John the Baptist witnesses of the Lamb of God
− Jn 1:20-21; Jn 1:23; Jn 1:26-27.
− Now, two other times [ Jn 1:29; Jn 1:36].
“Look the Lamb of God”
Did you know that John is the only Gospel writer who presents Jesus Christ as the Lamb?
− In fact in the whole of the NT the two other writers who make mention are Paul [1 Cor 5:7] and Peter [1Peter 1:19].
− John in the Gospel narrative and in Revelation makes reference to the Lamb and sometimes Lamb and Lion together over 30 times.
− John is presenting Jesus as the Son of God and is also the only one who presents Jesus as the Lamb in the Gospels – that’s something to praise about.
Application:
− John the Baptist has a singular focus and that must become ours.
− Nothing we do is of any importance if we do not call attention to the Lamb of God. Christ must be the centre and the laser focus of our lives, our conversation, our story, our template.
III. JESUS SAID, “COME AND SEE”
Jn 1:39. Jesus answered, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. Now it was about four o’clock in the afternoon.
He who came is now asking us to come:
− The one of whom the Prophets predicted and John was talking about is now the one who is calling.
− In fact, God has been calling men and women since the fall. And it comes almost to a scream [a shout for sure] in Jesus Christ. That is the command of the king before He “went off to a far off country”.
Application:
1. For those of us who have not accepted His invitation please do not reject the invitation.
2. For those who have a personal and living relationship with Jesus, take every opportunity share to all this open invitation.
− Heb 12:25. Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking. For if the people of Israel did not escape when they refused to listen to Moses, the earthly messenger, we will certainly not escape if we reject the One who speaks to us from heaven!
− Heb 4:1. God's promise of entering his rest still stands, so we ought to tremble with fear that some of you might fail to experience it.
IV. ANDREW BROUGHT PETER TO, “COME AND SEE”
Jn 1:41-42
− We read, “He first found his own brother”
− I love the desperate urgency with which Andrew seeks out his brother, Peter.
Application:
1. If we haven’t caught that urgency the fear of loss of friendship, relationship, and selfish awkwardness will silence us.
2. Those who have been impacted by Jesus cannot be silenced. Especially when they understand how terrible it is if they do not know the Lord.
Welcome them to come to Jesus.
The work is His but the privilege of calling them to Him is ours.
V. PHILIP ASKS NATHANIEL TO, “COME AND SEE”
Jn 1:46
Jesus found Philip and Philip in turn finds Nate.
However, there is a slight problem.
Nate has a great question. I would sound something like this:
“Philip, you and I know the Messiah is supposed to come from Bethlehem. Now you are saying the Messiah is from Nazareth. What good has ever come out from Nazareth?
Philip doesn’t say:
− How dare you question the Messiah?
− Don’t ask stupid questions.
Philip has the humility to acknowledge that he didn’t know.
Philip says, “I don’t know. Let’s go and find out.”
Application:
1. We don’t speak because it will be awkward when we are asked questions we don’t know.
2. There will be people who will ask genuine questions.
3. Our response should be, “Come and See”.
VI. JESUS REVEALS HIMSELF TO NATHANIEL
Jn 1:48.
There is something about that fig tree that we don’t know. Something that clicked in Nate’s head and heart that affirmed that Jesus was indeed the Messiah.
Jesus then reveals something wonderful to Nate.
Nate’s immediate response:
Jn 1:49. Nathanael answered him, Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!
Jesus responds:
Jn 1:51. And he said to him, Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.
Nate would know that Jesus is referring to Jacob’s dream.
Gen 28:12. And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it!
Yet there are at least two major differences between the two:
− In John, heaven is open, and
− The angels are ascending and descending TO the Son of Man in heaven; but ON the Son of Man.
− The Son of Man is now at the bottom of the ladder. He is on this cursed earth.
That is the good news of Jesus Christ.
− That is what Jesus told Nate that day, and
− That is what we can tell our friends, colleagues and family today.
Application:
1. Will you call at any cost?
2. Embarrassment, ignorance, desperation, notwithstanding.
VII. GOD USES RELATIONSHIPS TO BUILD A RELATIONSHIP
Not the only way but often the main way. God uses you and I to reach the lost.
Tim Keller: If Christianity were a philosophy we can read books and imbibe teachings and become a Christian; but it is about a relationship with a person and so God most times uses human relationships.
Here are some statistics that tells us the same thing:
1. The Inviting Church [Quotes an earlier study]
People came to church through the following forms of contact:
− 2% by Advertisement
− 6% by the Pastoral Invitation
− 6% by organized evangelism campaign
− 86% by friends or relatives
2. 2003 Study. (Johnson, p. 91, citing a 2003 study)
− 37% of Christians linked their conversion to being invited to church.
3. Martha Grace Reese.
− 40% who joined a church for the first time came because a friend invited.
4. Thom Ranier. 2003.
− Only 2% of church people invite an unchurched person to church.
VIII. TWO STRATEGIES
1. GENERAL: BE MISSIONAL
− Keep a tract. Exchange a tract for whatever you are buying.
− Leave a tip and a tract after a meal. Remember to pray for the server. Ask them if there is something you would like for you to pray about.
− Hum a hymn or a Christian song, when you are shopping or browsing.
− Play Christian music on your car radio especially in summer when you have windows down.
− Set all the FM and AM stations on the car rental to the local Christian radio before you return them.
− Make your Wi-Fi identifier a Gospel message. Ours is “Jesus can save you today”.
Any means and by all means that are legal, moral and authentic.
2. SPECIFIC: OPERATION ANDREW
Billy Graham Evangelistic Association provides a simple plan. They call it Operation Andrew.
This is an adapted plan.
1. PRAYER
− Where you live, work, or go to school—this is your mission field.
− Write names of ten friends, family, or neighbors who are lost.
− Commit to pray for the people on your list regularly.
− God changes people through prayer.
− Pray both individually and collectively for those people
“Open my eyes. Open their hearts. Open my mouth.”
2. CARE
− Cultivate friendships with each person on your list.
− Spend time with them.
− An invitation to dinner or a sporting event will build friendships, which can open the way to talk about Christ.
− Listen and be a good friend.
3. SHARE
− Ask God for opportunities to invite people.
− Choose a specific date, pray, and invite them.
− Talk with each person on your list.
o Watch a Jesus movie together and talk.
o Do 30 days through John book and discuss.
o Do a Q&A dinner.
o Organize a musical night.
4. TAKE ‘EM THERE
− Invite them to come to church.
− Those who respond to Christ or even begin to show interest in the Gospel.
− Follow-up for continued discipleship.
− Continue to love and pray for those who do not respond.
IX. CONCLUSION
This is a desperate call and prayer for all of us to become intentional about being missional.
− That we will be “one for one” – Like Andrew first found his own brother…
− That we will join in global chorus that is singing “Come and see”.
− You can be sure that Jesus will never disappoint.
X. FURTHER LEARNING
1. Discuss how we can tear down barriers that prevents us from sharing the gospel.
2. Discuss how in small manageable groups we can put the “Prayer-Care-Share-Get ‘em there” to practice.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. http://www.evangelismcoach.org/2010/pray-for-inviting-visitors-to-church/
