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.)
Nothing is recorded of Nathanael other than this incident and his presence among the fishermen in John 21:2. Some suggest that Nathanael is to be identified with Bartholomew, an apostle who is never mentioned by name in John, just as Nathanael is not mentioned by name in the Synoptics. Jesus offered a high regard for him. Jesus salutes him as a straightforward person. Nathanael's response: "Rabbi" - which he did not use at first. "King of Israel" - Nathanael is speaking in the highest terms available to him. He has just been called an Israelite. He is acknowledging Jesus as his king. Though Nathanael was a skeptic at first, he came to have faith.
Perhaps in the world's eyes these are unlikely disciples. That’s good news - because aren’t we all, unlikely disciples? God’s concern is not what we bring to the table, His concern is how much we will allow Him to make us into the people we can be.
1 Corinthians 1:26-31 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. ... 31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”
2. Five Discipleship Principles to Lead Us into 2022
Use your TIME to focus on seeing Jesus. This has to be purposeful. How will you do that in the coming year?
Use your GIFTS to reach others. Andrew brought his family, friends. How can you use your gifts to reach others?
Use your INFLUENCE to grow disciples. God can capitalize on our strengths. (Peter)
Use your FAITH to lead you to follow Jesus. Every person is valuable in the eyes of the Father. (Phillip)
Use your QUESTIONS to move you to seek Him more. Nathanael was a skeptic at first, but he became a believer! Don’t be content with your questions… be a seeker!
These men had no idea what was ahead but they knew who led them into their new journey. We may not know what’s ahead, but we know who leads the way!
Conclusion
Mostly, start off your year as a devoted disciple of Jesus. That may start with Repentance and Baptism. What are some new steps of following Jesus for your life? You might think you are an unlikely disciple, you’re in good company.
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Video of this message will be available on the YouTube channel of Forysthe Church of Christ!
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Discussion Questions
1. John the Baptist said, “Look! There is the Lamb of God.” If not for that, John and Andrew might have missed him. Who in your life pointed you to Jesus? As we enter a new year, we should pray that God would help us to point to Jesus in the lives of others.
2. The first words of Jesus in John's Gospel are "What do you want?" (NIV) "What are you Looking for?" (NRSV).
Commentator Bruner observes that this question is ‘the simplest and yet perhaps the most profound question persons can ever be asked: “What are you looking for?” How would you answer Jesus' question for yourself? What are you looking for from Him?
3. The sermon refers to the four named disciples in John 1 as "unlikely"... what makes them 'unlikely'? In what way are all disciples 'unlikely'? (Does this include you?)
4. Andrew is known for bringing people to Jesus. In this text he brings Peter to Jesus. Also Philip tells Nathanael about Jesus. What are some ways we can bring people to Jesus today that can help turn their lives around?
5. Jesus takes one look at Simon Peter and gives him a new name. In what way is it encouraging to you that Jesus sees what Peter could become and gives him a name to reflect that?
6. Author Henri Nouwen wrote, "Following Jesus is focusing on the One who calls and gradually trusting that we can let go of our familiar world and that something new will come." These four disciples were about to let go of the world they knew to follow Jesus. Why is it hard to let go and become a disciple of Jesus?
7. As we enter 2022, what are your thoughts about making some changes to...
How you use your time?
How you use your gifts?
How you use your influence?
How you are led by your faith?
How you can use your questions to move you to seek him more?
Which one of these is an area you want to work more on in the coming year? Which one is the biggest challenge?
