An Evening with Jesus
The Gospel of John • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 1 viewJesus doesn't have to use us, He chooses to use us. Each of us have a different story, but our stories should all point to one central focus, Jesus.
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Introduction
Focus Passage: John 1:35-42
35 Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as He walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37 And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38 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?”39 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.40 One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which translated means Christ). 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).
Outline
Faithful to witness (vv. 35-36)
John the Baptist understood the importance of decreasing. He was not worried about his own kingdom. He was focused on advancing the kingdom of God. As John the Baptist would plainly state later, He must increase, but I must decrease (Jn 3:30). John the Baptist knew that his life had a purpose and was to prepare the way of the Lord. As we read previously within this chapter.
23 He said, “I am the voice of one calling Out in the wilderness, ‘Make the way of the Lord straight,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.”
With this truth guiding his heart and ministry, he declared to two of his disciples, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” These two disciples of John the Baptist were John, the author of this Gospel and Andrew.
Faithful to follow (v. 37)
Upon hearing this was the Lamb of God, the promised Messiah, they, John and Andrew, instantly turned and followed. They did not hesitate. We should have the same heart and passion when the Lord calls. We should be faithful to follow. As we find within our text, John the Baptist said, Behold the Lamb of God and instantly, they followed Jesus. As we look at their example to follow, we find a few truths that do not need to be overlooked within our text.
They followed blindly
They followed without question
They followed Jesus
Faithful motive (v. 38a)
As they followed Jesus, Jesus saw them following Him. He turns and asks them a question, “What are you seeking?” Let not this question be overlooked. Jesus was seeking their motive for following Him. The coming of the Messiah, the Anointed One, was of mixed review and thought within the Jewish faith.
Some saw Jesus as a suffering servant (Isa 53)
Some saw Jesus as a splendid king (Isa 9, 11)
If John and Andrew were looking for the Messiah to come and overthrow Roman occupation and establish his thrown in that moment, they would need to go and be a zealot. However, this was not what John and Andrew thought. Nor was Jesus coming to just that. They wanted to know Jesus’ plan. They wanted to know Jesus, the Messiah.
Jesus was the suffering servant of Isa 53 and he truly was the splendid king of Isa 9, 11, but before the crown of God comes there had to be the crown of thorns. Before the seat of exaltation, there had to be the seat of humiliation. Jesus was prophet, priest, and king. He came at this time as the suffering lamb of God but will return as the roaring Lion of Judah as some point.
Faithful meeting (v. 38b-39)
Upon hearing Jesus’ question, there response was one of simplicity. They responded, “Rabbi (which is translated means Teacher), where are You staying?” Jesus invited them to stay the night and spend some time with them. We find that they came to Jesus about 4p.m. (tenth hour) and spent the rest of the day with them. Whatever was said during time. Whatever questions were answered, an evening with Jesus made all the difference. This is true for us today. Spending an evening with Jesus can and does make the difference. It is Jesus who shows us who we are. It is Jesus who calms our storms. It is Jesus who ushers in peace into our lives. Jesus makes all the difference. Whatever transpired during that visit assured John and Andrew that Jesus was the Messiah. He was the chosen One of God. They did not keep this truth to themselves but went became a...
Faithful witnesses (vv. 40-42)
No matter where we see Andrew mentioned within the Gospel of John he is always bringing people to Jesus. Within our text, he begins with his family in bringing them to Jesus, 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. When the feeding of the five thousand takes place, it was Andrew bringing a lad with two fishes and five loaves of bread to Jesus (Jn 6:8). It was Andrew who brought the Greeks to Jesus in Jn 12. No, we do not have any powerful sermons recorded from Andrew’s ministry but what we do have is a faithful witness and soul winner that was about bringing others to Jesus. May we be faithful witnesses.
Faithful Savior (v. 42)
When Peter came to Jesus, he was named Simon. Simon was a hot headed, smart mouth fisherman who a huge chip on his shoulder. Jesus told Simon, I will save you from yourself. I will make into someone different. Jesus states, You are Simon the son of John; you shall be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter). Jesus was going to change Peter into a rock of our faith. He was going to use him boldly. Aren’t we thankful God does not give up on us and will finish the work he has begun in us. As Paul writes to the church at Philippi:
6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work among you will complete it by the day of Christ Jesus.
Just as Peter started out as Simon and through the working of the Holy Spirit in his life truly became Peter, Petros, a rock, God still works through us today. For us to change though, we must have a personal encounter with Christ Jesus.
Conclusion
Let us learn to be faithful…Let us be faithful witnesses advancing God’s kingdom rather than our own kingdoms. Let us be faithful followers of Christ no matter the cost or where it may lead. Let us have faithful motives as we follow and seek our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Let us be about faithful and intimate meetings with our Lord that will help us continue to faithful witnesses of our faithful Savior.
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