John 1:38-42 - First Disciple(maker)s

Two guys have begun to follow Jesus.   John the Witness points them to Jesus.  Behold, the Lamb of God.  The Messiah.  The Son of God.  They defect, abandon John entirely and begin following Jesus, Who asks them, what are you seeking? [38]  What do you want?  Jesus’ first recorded words in John’s book.  What ARE you seeking?

They answer, where are You staying?  [39 He says to them, “Come, and you will see.” So they came and saw where He was staying; and they stayed with Him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.]  This is present tense.  Be coming.  Be constantly coming, coming to see where Jesus is.  It’s open invitation, to join up WITH Him and what He’s doing.  Pretty much He's giving them (and us!) a permanent open door.  There is no interrupting Jesus.  He’s NEVER too busy for us.  NEVER scrolling thru Twitter or Insta… You and I are never an interruption.  Come, and you will see.  Come whenever you’re ready.  Be coming.  Daily bread, remember?  Come right now in fact - what are you waiting for?  Come and you WILL see...

Note what time it is.  John tells us it was the tenth hour when Jesus invited them to come to the place where He was actually staying - we’re not sure where that was - but 10th hour means 4pm.  I.e. it was late in the day, so He basically invited them to stay with Him the rest of the day.  They came, didn’t know where He was staying exactly, probably camped out with Him that night.  Dinner and a sleepover - at the last minute!  You and I can never impose on Jesus.  “Well I don’t want to impose.”  You and I are never an imposition.  He came for you! [Matt. 11:28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.]  C’mon over!  Come and you will see.

[Heb. 11:1  Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.] Come first and THEN you see is not unusual when it comes to faith. [Heb. 11:8  By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going.]  Go - I WILL show you when you get there.  What kind of sign or proof had these two seen at this point?  Nada.  All they had was the witness of John the Witness.  

Now, ONE of these first two disciples of Jesus was Andrew.  [40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.]. Andrew is one of the Bar-Jonas brothers [Simon bar-Jonas].  Andrew’s brother Simon-Peter is better known to John’s readers, so John identifies Andrew as Simon-Peter’s brother.  My lovely wife is called Coach Bug by the swim team - and since they know her much better than they know me, they get to calling me "Mr. Bug."  Comes with the territory, right?  Peter's brother.  

What else do we know about Andrew?  Well he really only appears two other times after this - once when some Greeks ask to see Jesus, and then at the feeding of the 5000: Andrew is the one who brings forward the boy with the 5 loaves and the 2 fishes (chapter 6!).  But a few things here:

First, what about the second guy who leaves John the Witness to follow Jesus [40]?  Author John never tells us who he is.  Most commentators suggest that the 2nd guy is actually author John himself.  I agree.  John shows up unnamed in his book repeatedly.

But Andrew should be noted for one thing: [41 He finds first his own brother Simon and says to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which translated means Christ).  He brought him to Jesus…] - he went and told his brother Peter, hey, we (John & I) found The Messiah.  What does that tell us about Andrew?  Andrew is a God•send.  He points his brother to Jesus. He is the first disciple-making disciple of Jesus!  In fact, if we each just found one other disciple for Jesus each year, we could actually disciple the whole world in 33yrs!

And these guys are all in as disciple(makers) cuz they’re convinced that they found the Messiah.  How are Andrew (and John) SO persuaded that Jesus is The One?  How much proof do they have?  Not one sign.  And to this point, Jesus has only spoken 5 words (in the Greek).  Andrew and John believed the Witness… John the Witness told what HE knew about Jesus.  He didn’t know everything, he didn’t have all the answers.  He just told what he knew - and that was enough.  He told what he knew, and people believed that.  We are to tell what we know - and that is enough.  Yes we keep learning, but we don’t wait to be a God•send!  Blessed to be a blessing! 

John tells us that Andrew went FIRST and told his brother.  First before John, or first thing?  NOTE: He didn’t even need the Great Commission…!  John’s brother James does begin to follow Jesus, but for some reason John never tells us when or how that happens.  Probably John did go and tell James, brought his brother to Jesus.  Then in Acts James winds up being the first martyr.  He’s the first one who is killed because they’re following Jesus.  Do you think John has any regrets about being the one responsible? [no regrets, Phil 1.22-24]  Probably John - who doesn’t like the limelight - is not likely to want to take credit for going and telling his brother about Jesus.

Now, look what happens when Andrew brings his brother to Jesus: [42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John; you shall be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).]  Simon gets a new name!  [The Rock]  What is Jesus saying? 

Simon you are rash and impulsive.  There is a form of strength associated with that - but it’s not under My control.  I am going to take this raw strength I’ve given you and refine it, transform it - into firmness and steadiness.  IF you let Me.  I’m going to make you [like a rock].  Like a piece of [granite].  Someone people can count on/look to.  Simon-now-Peter will in fact become the de-facto leader and spokesperson for the disciples after Jesus ascends back to heaven.  Now we may not all get a new name when we believe in Jesus, but with Jesus, we all get a new heart, a new start [2Cor. 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.]. 

One thing that stands out for me with Peter is that He will be the one who breaks the race barrier.  He will be the one God uses, the first Jew to bring the Good News to the filthy Gentiles.  Jews were supposed to bless the nations, but they had twisted their religion to where they avoided the nations.  Peter becomes the first cross-cultural missionary! (altho the Lord DID have to twist his arm quite a bit?)  Talk about a God•send!  And talk about being a rock.  He’s the one w “the stones” to cross the street to the other side of the tracks, to go to someone very different.  [Granted God maybe didn’t give him much choice.  But he could have done a Jonah…]

The Lord wants to do something similar with each one of us.  He has given every one of us unique and special gifts.  Strengths.  And apart from Him, apart from His power and guidance, those strengths can be liabilities.  Our strengths tempt us to trust in ourselves.  To be self-sufficient.  They can actually hold us back, get us into trouble.  But in the hands of the Potter, we are molded into something heavenly.  Someone He can use.  [Metamorphosis].  Transformation.  Someone through whom He can display His glory.  His breathtaking goodness.  God’s also given you a story, and like He did for Peter-the-piece-of-the-Rock, He will give you the stones to tell it.  You & I tell what we know, and that will be enough.  The Lord can and will and wants to use your unique God-given story and gifts to show His glory in and thru you in ways that help point people to Jesus - and others through them.  He wants to make us each a disciple-maker!  A God•send.  Like Jesus.  It’s hard work - but not for Jesus!  Will you let Him do that…?

Relevant verses:

Luke 19:10 “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Rev. 2:17 ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.’

John 1:35-39 - First words: What are you SEEKING?

Last time we caught our first glimpse of Jesus.  And we saw “the Defection”.  John the Witness has been clearing the way for Jesus, pointing people to Jesus.  And on Day 3 of John’s account, he’s with two of his disciples, he points them to Jesus - and they defect.  They leave him, right on the spot!  They leave John and follow Jesus.  Because they understand from John that this Man, this Rabbi/Teacher - He was (is) the [Lamb of God.  Messiah.  The Son of God] Himself.  They believe this, and begin following Jesus instead.

[38]  Here we get Jesus’ very first words [post-temptation]: What are you seeking?  That surely is His question to us this morning.  Easter Sunday.  Why are you here?  What are you seeking?  Seeking = you are trying to find or acquire something.  What are you looking for, hoping to find?  We’re all looking for something.  And not just this morning, but what are you seeking in life?  What is that thing you’ve always wanted?  Maybe you’ve already found it?  Maybe it’s eluded you all your life?  Like a splinter in your mind?

This is one of the great questions in life, isn’t it?  Life being this great journey of [discovery].  We don’t think about this so much when we’re kids.  Life is all about playing and having fun.  We’re like [baby birds].  Our parents/guardians hatch us, (hopefully) bring us [worms] (take care of the bare necessities - and often much more than that, esp in the west).  As we grow up our parents and teachers (hopefully) help us learn to fly.  And (hopefully) we fly out of the nest to make our way in the great wide world.  [Watch out for the cat]!  But off we fly into our own journey of [discovery], of making/finding our way in the world.  A life of seeking.  The question is, what ARE we seeking?  For people, it’s far more than just worms and birdseed and laying eggs…

What does happen as we grow older and embark on this journey of seeking, we learn that life in this world can tend to be disappointing.  When we’re alone, and honest, we have this awareness that life is not all it’s cracked up to be.  It’s [NEVER enough].  The baubles and trinkets we used to love so much as a kid no longer seem to satisfy.  And grown up toys aren’t enough either.  Life is harder than I expected.  Work is hard.  Routine gets old and stale.  And we wind up living for weekends.  And vacations.  But even those don’t fill the abyss in our heart.  They’re simultaneously too short and too long and always too few.  For all our seeking, we find that the finding is wanting.  Never enough.  Peace is elusive.  This may drive us on, or it might deter us, drive us to escape it all.  What do you [seek]?

Jesus tells us that the world eagerly seeks two things: 1) [Matt. 6:26, 31-32 “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’  For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.”].  These are the [bare necessities].  Much of the two thirds world spends much of their time every day trying to find and acquire just these basic needs.  Our daily bread.  The Lord knows that we need these things.  He tells us to look to Him for these - to seek these from His hand, every day.  [Matt. 6:9,11  “Pray, then, in this way: ‘Give us this day our daily bread.’”] And the Lord gives us this awesome promise: [Phil. 4:19 And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.].

From a physical standpoint, this ought to be enough.  Daily bread.  For those of us who don’t live at the level of ultra-poverty, we have all we need - but curiously it’s not enough, is it?  Our wish-lists are endless - [Tesla, Sonos, PS5, oreos, degrees, career, romance, kids, money] —> [never enough]  What are you seeking?  Why does Jesus even ask this question?  Think about it: doesn’t He already know the answer?  Doesn’t Jesus know our every thought, every word we speak before we speak it?  So why the question?  What are you seeking?  [Look at their answer]: “Where are you staying?”  They answer with a question.  They are seeking SOME thing.  But could it be that they - like most people - don’t know what they’re seeking?  Or why?  Sure, on the surface maybe these are seeking the Messiah - but WHY?  

[39] Now look at Jesus’ answer to their answer-question: “Come and you will see”.  Come with Me.  Come to Me - and you will not only see where I am, but you will see what you are seeking.  Cuz even though you may not fully realize it yet, you ARE seeking Me. 

What ARE we seeking?  That surely is something we need to figure out - and the answer SHOULD drive us to Jesus.  Cuz WHATEVER we’re seeking, it’ll be found in Him.  [Col. 2:3 in [Him] are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.][Lam. 3:25  The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him.][Matt. 6:32-33 “For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”] [Heb. 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.][Matt. 7:7-8  “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”]  Come - and see…

[Mt. 11:28-29  “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.]  That is what we’re all looking for: soul rest.  But come and see is no simple undertaking [Mt. 16:24  Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.].  Come and see means, we’re all in [Mark 10:21 Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”]  Come and see means we need to make a decisive choice.  Intentionality [Rom. 12:1   Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.].  And come and see means every day.  Jesus literally says, be coming.  It’s present tense.  This is ongoing.  Every day.  Be coming.

Some are disinclined to come and see. [Jer. 6:16  Thus says the LORD, “Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; and you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’]  Some are unwilling to come and see.  [Matt. 22:3 “And he sent out his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding feast, and they were unwilling to come.]  John has already told us, the world did not know him.  Even His own did not receive Him.  There are various reasons for that.  But Jesus tells us 2x there IS one other specific thing that the world eagerly seeks.  The world also eagerly seeks for a sign [Matt. 16.4 “An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign…”].  Some miracle, some kind of proof that Jesus is Who He says He is.  That Jesus IS the One for Whom we are all seeking.

Well, how about a [Resurrection]?  How ‘bout you totally reject Me, you KILL Me, and I’ll rise from the dead on the third day?  How about that for a sign? [the tomb is empty.  Still empty - it changed everything…!]  The resurrection is The Sign for which the world is eagerly seeking…

What are YOU seeking?  Why do you seek for life among that which is dead/dying? [Jn 11.25 “I am the Resurrection and the Life.  Whoever believes in Me will live, even if he dies.”]  Come, and you will see.  Come to Jesus this morning - and keep coming back to Him, every day.

Words from others who have sought:

Neil Armstrong, "That's one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind." (moon landing)

Alexander Graham Bell, "Mr Watson--Come here--I want to see you." (first words spoken over a telephone)

William Clark, "Ocean in view! O! the joy!" (written in his diary the day he and Lewis reached the Pacific)

Reginald Fessenden, 

Famous first words:

The first words ever spoken on the radio were from Luke 2:14,” Glory to God in the highest on earth peace, goodwill toward men.”

"I am an invisible man."— Ralph Ellison, Invisible Man (1952)

“Where’s Papa going with that ax?” said Fern to her mother as they were setting the table for breakfast.— E. B. White, Charlotte’s Web (1952)

"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.” From Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

"This is my favorite book in all the world, though I have never read it.” From The Princess Bride by William Goldman

"If you are interested in stories with happy endings, you would be better off reading some other book. In this book, not only is there no happy ending, there is no happy beginning and very few happy things in the middle.” From The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket

"It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.” From 1984 by George Orwell

"Call me Ishmael." - Moby-Dick, Herman Melville (1851)

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." - A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens (1859)

 

John 1.34-37 - First Contact Pt 2: “Son of God”

Last time we finally saw Jesus.  A [delegation] from the Pharisees came to interrogate John the Witness, and the next day Jesus shows up on the scene.  I’m NOT The One, John says.  This One IS The One.  He is The Word Who WAS, Who was WITH God and Who WAS God.  Jesus.  And as Jesus appears, John the Witness gives us three titles, telling us three significant things about this One Who IS The One.  

First John says, behold the [Lamb of God].  We looked at this last time.  Jesus is the Substitute Sacrifice, the Sacrificial Lamb Who picks up and removes the sin of the whole world.  Then John says, He’s the [Baptizer in the Spirit].  This is not just a splash of water to clean you on the outside.  This is not just a profession of belief (altho that is important).  This is a whole new you.  The Ultimate Extreme Makeover.  Remade from the inside out as the Spirit of Jesus comes into our heart, into our life and begins to change our heart and our life to look [increasingly] like Him.

John the Witness next gives us a third title for Jesus here.  [34 “I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.”]  This is my eye-witness testimony: this One is the [Son of God], he says.  John is repeating what God the Father Himself declared as John was baptizing Jesus: [Mk 1:10-11 Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him; and a voice came out of the heavens: “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.”]  [18 No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.] Jesus is God’s only begotten Son.

Now the Hebrew expression “son of” can mean, of the same nature and character.  Son of disobedience.  Son of perdition.  Son of Man.  But to the Jews, “Son of God” meant one thing… And this title - Son of God - is only ever applied to Jesus.  In this book of John, believers are God’s [tekna] (children) - but only Jesus is God’s [huios].  We’re in God’s family, but only Jesus is begotten, out of the Father.  Somehow - the conception and birth are deep divine mysteries, to be sure.  But Jesus is the eternal only-begotten Son of God.  David prophesies this:

[Ps. 2:1  Why are the nations in an uproar and the peoples devising a vain thing? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers take counsel together against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, “Let us tear their fetters apart and cast away their cords from us!”  He who sits in the heavens laughs, the Lord scoffs at them.  Then He will speak to them in His anger and terrify them in His fury, saying, “But as for Me, I have installed My King upon Zion, My holy mountain. I will surely tell of the decree of the LORD: He said to Me, ‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, and the very ends of the earth as Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron, You shall shatter them like earthenware.’” Now therefore, O kings, show discernment; take warning, O judges of the earth.  Worship the LORD with reverence and rejoice with trembling.  Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way, for His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!]

And there's a world of difference between being called the Son of God as opposed to just the Lamb of God.  “Son of God” is why the Jews ultimately kill Jesus…  There is no mistaking what this phrase meant for the Jews: [Mt 26.63-66 And the high priest said to Jesus, “I adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God.”  Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself…Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? Behold, you have now heard the blasphemy; what do you think?” They answered, “He deserves death!” John 19:7 The Jews answered, “We have a law, and by that law He ought to die because He made Himself out to be the Son of God.” Matt. 27:38-43  …those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking Him and saying, “He saved others; He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in Him.  HE TRUSTS IN GOD; LET GOD RESCUE Him now, IF HE DELIGHTS IN HIM; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”].  This is the Son of God.  God the Son.  Messiah and King and Lord God Almighty.  [Son of God = God].  The very suggestion is blasphemy.  

Why are these priests and passer-bys accusing Him of blasphemy?  Why are they mocking Him with such sarcasm?  Is it because they don’t believe the Scriptures?  Did they not understand the prophecy?  God’s promise to send this Messiah Who would be His begotten Son?  Partially.  But they seem to feel like they are lacking proof.  Come down from the cross.  Save yourself.  Let’s see God rescue you.  Prove it to us.  Let’s see if God can get you out of this one.  They’re not yet convinced.  King Herod - [Luke 23:8  Now Herod was very glad when he saw Jesus; for he had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he had been hearing about Him and was hoping to see some sign performed by Him.]  Show me a sign.  Prove it to me. 

To which, it is as if God has said, I'll give you proof.  How about if God were to bring Jesus back to life?  Raise Him from the dead, perhaps?  [Acts 17:31 (God) has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.”][Rom. 1:1  …the gospel of God, 2 which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, 4 who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord,]. That's our proof, people.  The Resurrection is THE sign. [next week]

[34] John testifies, I have seen, and I am telling you - Jesus is the Son of God.  John didn’t need ANY more proof - here in ch 1 he had already seen enough.  And he’s testifying to us all - THIS is the One you’ve been waiting for.  He’s God’s Messiah.  AND He is God.

But many people are like Herod, looking for a personal miracle.  Prove it to me.  What’s in it for me? Sometimes God does that, works a wonderful impossible for someone, even before they believe.  But what John is saying is, Jesus IS the Miracle.  THE Wonderful Impossible.  The Word Who became flesh.  And for us, fast forward and WE know that He died for us, and then God raised Him back to life.  Talk about a miracle!  What more do you need?  That tomb is empty…! For us, Faith = Recognize + Surrender.  Recognize that He is God the Son, and surrender to Him. And Recognize = Revere.  This is not mere intellectual assent.  This is worship.

So.  Day 1: the Interrogation - who Are You, John?  Day 2: the Recognition - Behold the Lamb of God!  Son of God!  Look what happens on Day 3: [35-37  Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as He walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.]  Did you ever know a preacher whose goal was to have people follow someone else?  I’m going to do my level best to help you wind up at this other church.  Following this other teacher.  Well that’s what John is doing.  Day 3 is the Defection.  The ministry of Subtraction.  Not spiritual multiplication.  Spiritual subtraction - which sounds like unhealthy ministry.  But this is exactly what is supposed to happen for John.  Helping people recognize Jesus.  [Luke 19:41-44 When He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes.  For the days will come upon you when your enemies …will level you to the ground and your children within you…because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.”]  How about you and me?  Do we recognize Him, the Son of God?  With surrender and reverence?

Others who recognized Jesus: Peter, the Centurion, demons, Martha. 

Matt. 16:16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Matt. 27:54 Now the centurion, and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were happening, became very frightened and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”

Mark 3:11 Whenever the unclean spirits saw Him, they would fall down before Him and shout, “You are the Son of God!”

Mark 5:6 Seeing Jesus from a distance, he ran up and bowed down before Him; 7 and shouting with a loud voice, he *said, “What business do we have with each other, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God, do not torment me!” 

John 11:27 She *said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world.”