What are we here for? What is the purpose of the church? Let’s understand how important pointing to Jesus is. Let’s look at John the Baptist’s example of pointing to the Lamb of God in John 1:29-42.
The Lamb of God
John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
John the Baptist’s words are profound, “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” The Lamb stands at God’s throne (5:6-13), opens the seven seals (6:1-16; 8:1), is shepherd of the nations (7:9-17), and men triumphed in his blood (12:11).
It’s His book of life (13:8), standing with the pure (14:1-10), singing Moses’ song (15:3), His victory (17:14), His wedding (19:7-9; 21:9), His city (21:22-27), His river (22:1-3). It’s Jesus, the Passover lamb of God (Exodus 12:1-28; 1 Corinthians 5:6-8).
Plummer, Alfred. The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges. John. Cambridge University Press. 1902.
He it Is
John 1:30 He is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘A man is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’
This is He. John had no Messiah complex, no delusions of grandeur, no inflated sense of self-importance. We are all appointed missionaries, sent by God to tell the story of Jesus and His love. John the Baptist was six months older than Jesus. Yet, Jesus, as God, was before him.
Look, the Lamb of God
John 1:31-37 I did not recognize him as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 Then John testified, “I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him. 33 I didn’t know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Chosen One of God.” 35 The following day John was again standing with two of his disciples. 36 As Jesus walked by, John looked at him and declared, “Look! There is the Lamb of God!” 37 When John’s two disciples heard this, they followed Jesus.
Apparently John had not recognized Jesus as the Messiah. The next day he pointed his own disciples to Jesus. From other passages, we deduce that these two disciples were probably Andrew and John. Every Christian is called to be so selfless and point others away from themselves and to Jesus?
Come and See
John 1:38-39 Jesus looked around and saw them following. “What do you want?” he asked them. They replied, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” 39 “Come and see,” he said. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon when they went with him to the place where he was staying, and they remained with him the rest of the day.
Jesus asked John’s disciples what they were looking for. Do we see Jesus and His Spirit at work in our faulty churches? This event was so important to John, that he even remembered the time of day it occurred. If we begin to follow Jesus, we will eventually truly see?
Christ
John 1:40-41 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of these men who heard what John said and then followed Jesus. 41 Andrew went to find his brother, Simon, and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means “Christ”).
Messiah is Hebrew for Christ, the anointed one, a male anointed by divine command as king, high priest or patriarch.[1] Andrew simply announced to his brother. It was up to Simon to choose what to do. We too, just need to go, and tell others what we have found.
[1] Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon, Unabridged, Electronic Database. Copyright © 2002, 2003, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission. BibleSoft.com
Peter
John 1:42 Then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus. Looking intently at Simon, Jesus said, “Your name is Simon, son of John—but you will be called Cephas” (which means “Peter”).
Simon means doubtful,[2] would be changed to Peter, a rock,[3] a person of rock solid character. An ancient Christian custom was to give a new name at baptism. These leaders of the church, without visible support, only faith and Jesus as their teacher, pioneered what we enjoy today.
[2] Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon, Unabridged, Electronic Database. Copyright © 2002, 2003, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission. BibleSoft.com
[3] THAYER'S GREEK LEXICON, Electronic Database. Copyright © 2002, 2003, 2006, 2011 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission. BibleSoft.com
Let’s continue pointing to Jesus, because only there will we and others find the answers to life.
Readings
1) Isaiah 49:1-7
1 Listen to me, all you in distant lands! Pay attention, you who are far away! The Lord called me before my birth; from within the womb he called me by name. 2 He made my words of judgment as sharp as a sword. He has hidden me in the shadow of his hand. I am like a sharp arrow in his quiver. 3 He said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, and you will bring me glory.” 4 I replied, “But my work seems so useless! I have spent my strength for nothing and to no purpose. Yet I leave it all in the Lord’s hand; I will trust God for my reward.” 5 And now the Lord speaks—the one who formed me in my mother’s womb to be his servant, who commissioned me to bring Israel back to him. The Lord has honored me, and my God has given me strength. 6 He says, “You will do more than restore the people of Israel to me. I will make you a light to the Gentiles, and you will bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.” 7 The Lord, the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel, says to the one who is despised and rejected by the nations, to the one who is the servant of rulers: “Kings will stand at attention when you pass by. Princes will also bow low because of the Lord, the faithful one, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”
The word of the Lord.
In Isaiah 49 a servant is called who will not fail God. Though Israel failed God this servant is given the symbolic title Israel. This is Jesus, who will do more than restore Israel to God, but also all other nations.
2) Psalm 40:1-11
For the choir director: A psalm of David. 1 I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. 3 He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord. 4 Oh, the joys of those who trust the Lord, who have no confidence in the proud or in those who worship idols. 5 O Lord my God, you have performed many wonders for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list. You have no equal.
If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them. 6 You take no delight in sacrifices or offerings. Now that you have made me listen, I finally understand—you don’t require burnt offerings or sin offerings. 7 Then I said, “Look, I have come. As is written about me in the Scriptures: 8 I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your instructions are written on my heart.” 9 I have told all your people about your justice. I have not been afraid to speak out, as you, O Lord, well know. 10 I have not kept the good news of your justice hidden in my heart; I have talked about your faithfulness and saving power. I have told everyone in the great assembly of your unfailing love and faithfulness. 11 Lord, don’t hold back your tender mercies from me. Let your unfailing love and faithfulness always protect me.
Thus ends the reading from the Psalms.
Psalm 40 is about answered prayer in distress. It is about trusting the Lord, not the proud. It is about telling others about God’s faithfulness.
3) 1 Corinthians 1:1-9
1 This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and from our brother Sosthenes. 2 I am writing to God’s church in Corinth, to you who have been called by God to be his own holy people. He made you holy by means of Christ Jesus, just as he did for all people everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours. 3 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.
4 I always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts he has given you, now that you belong to Christ Jesus. 5 Through him, God has enriched your church in every way—with all of your eloquent words and all of your knowledge. 6 This confirms that what I told you about Christ is true. 7 Now you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. 8 He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be free from all blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns. 9 God will do this, for he is faithful to do what he says, and he has invited you into partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
The word of God for the people of God.
Notice the grace and courtesy in Paul’s greeting! It is not fake politeness, but from a sincere heart. It’s not a short greeting either, but filled with gratitude, encouragement and makes Jesus central. This is quite the opposite of some insincere greetings today. We may think we are funny when we tease each other with so-called “friendly insults”, but they do nothing to build the other person up. Let’s learn from Paul and lift each other up in all sincerity.
[Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.]
John 1:29-42 in Rhyme
John said as Jesus came to him
“The Lamb of God who removes sin
He’s the next one successively
Who existed long before me
With water I’ve been baptizing
For in Israel His revealing”
The Holy Spirit like a dove
Resting on Him from up above
Just like God said, and I was awed
As I looked at the Son of God
And John said Jesus was the Lamb
And two disciples followed Him
He invited them to come and stay
So they stayed with Him all that day
And Andrew, he was one of them
And he told His brother Simon
When Simon went to say hello
The Lord said, your name’s Peter though
