THE GOSPEL OF JOHN – Part 14 – Whitestone Fellowship

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN– Part 14

John 1:35-42, says, “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!” And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. And Jesus turned and saw them following, and said to them, “What are you seeking?” They said to Him, “Rabbi (which translated means Teacher), where are You staying?” He said to them, “Come, and you will see.” So they came and saw where He was staying, and they stayed with Him that day; it was about the tenth hour. One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which translated means Christ). 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).”

Everything recorded in scriptures is there for a purpose. 2 Timothy 3:16-17, tells us that, “All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man or woman of God may be fully capable, equipped for every good work.” Nothing in scripture is solely for information or for casual reading. This is true in this passage from the Book of John.

It would seem that John 1:35-42 is simply a narrative of an event. Granted, it is a grand event, and although it is a narrative, it is much more.

These verses, (1), teach and describe who is able to recognize the Living God; (2), describe what our response and reaction to encountering Jesus reveals, and defines our inescapable responsibility and response once we have encountered Jesus. This is our model.

First, notice that although John was preoccupied with his disciples, the moment he saw Jesus, his attention was immediately turned to Him, and he exclaimed, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” And when John’s two disciples heard John speak of Jesus, they left him, ‘and they followed Jesus’.

It is never enough to just recognize Jesus and then to mentally or emotionally acknowledge Him. Everything routine, stops. Jesus is the focus. This is more than our model to follow, it is the supernatural response for every believer and follower of Jesus: Confess and Follow.

“And Jesus turned and saw them following, and said to them, “What are you seeking?” They said to Him, “Rabbi (which translated means Teacher), where are You staying?” He said to them, “Come, and you will see.” So they came and saw where He was staying, and they stayed with Him that day;

Please take careful note of this process:

When you begin to follow Jesus, He always engages you. Jesus asks these two disciples of John, “What are you seeking?”.

Imagine with me, for a minute, that Jesus would ask you, “What are you seeking?”. Notice, Jesus does not say, “WHO are you seeking”. How would you answer Him? (Please answer this before you go any further).

These two disciples answer, “Rabbi (which translated means Teacher), where are You staying?” Why would they ask this?

The answer becomes clear in the next words, ”He said to them, “Come, and you will see.” So they came and saw where He was staying, and they stayed with Him that day.”

They already know WHO He is, they wanted to spend time with Him – and they did.

Acts 4:13 tells us that when the rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem, and Annas the high priest, as well as Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, who were of high-priestly descent had gathered to ask John and Peter by what power, or in what name, have they done certain miracles. As they observed Peter and John and saw their confidence, they understood that Peter and John were uneducated and untrained men, and they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.

Spending time with Jesus is the only way you can come to truly know Him. So, if you are to call yourself a Christian, a disciple and a follower of Jesus, you must spend time with Him.

Let me ask you, how do you spend time with Jesus? And, how much time do you spend together? What do you talk about?

We next see that “one of the two who heard John speak, and followed Jesus, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which translated means Christ). He brought him to Jesus.

Again, we see that the response to truly having found Jesus is to bring others to Him, beginning with your friends and relatives. This is not a burden to be carried, but a joyful response to having found the Living Christ! Has this been your experience, too?

Finally, we see Jesus’ response, “Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John; you shall be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).” Jesus knows His own, and He calls you by name.

What does it mean that Jesus will call you by your name? How can you actually ‘hear Jesus’?

Pastor and author Henry Blackaby points out, in his study “The 7 Realities For Experiencing God”, what we should know about God’s ways, His plans and His purposes. It illustrates how we can follow Him:

God is always at work around you.
God pursues a continuing love relationship with you that is real and personal.
God invites you to become involved with Him in His work.
God speaks by the Holy Spirit through the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and the church to reveal Himself, His purposes, and His ways.
God’s invitation for you to work with Him always leads you to a crisis of belief that requires faith and action.
You must make major adjustments in your life to join God in what He is doing.
You come to know God by experience as you obey Him, and He accomplishes His work through you.

JESUS’ MINISTRY BECOMES OUR MINISTRY

Our relationship with Jesus is more than ‘Just Knowing About Him’; it requires Knowing, Believing and Doing. Jesus has

(a) The plan for us to follow,

(b) The purpose which becomes our purpose, and

You see, having become a believer in Jesus and having accepted His magnificent gift of salvation (sozo), you and I have entered into a Salvation Covenant with Him. We will have agreed to certain terms.

If you have met Jesus, then He is calling you by name. Spend time with Him, starting now, and from Him gain knowledge for wisdom and wisdom for action. Let’s experience God and desire to do His Will.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Please bookmark this page and continue with me on this exciting journey in God’s Word.

Previous chapter: The Gospel of John – part-13