The Book of John - 11

Introduction - In these first several chapters, we are introduced to some of the first followers of the Lord. They are witnesses recorded in God’s Word.

The Bible has presented to us John the Baptist. Following John the Baptist we were introduced to Andrew and John.

Verses 39 and 40 of chapter 1 tell us of the day that Andrew and John spent with the Savior.

Though the conversation is not recorded for us, we see in verse 41 that these two came to understand that Jesus is the Christ.

Let’s begin by reading verses 40 -51.

II. The Chosen Witnesses of the Word 1:19-4:54

A. John the Baptist

B. Andrew and the other disciple.

As we finish up with these two disciples, i would like of us to notice just few more things.

The penman John, gives us some unique detail concerning this day.

Notice with me in verse 39, “He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.”

When we think back to John penning this Gospel record, we realize that he did so later in his life. And yet he remembers the day he met the Savior.

Whether John is using Roman time (which would be 12pm) or Jewish time (which would be 4pm), he makes special note of when this event occured.

This day, was a day that was remembered.

Andrew and John were excited about this meeting they had with the Lord Jesus Christ.

And I believe you and I too should look back and remember when we met the Lord.

I believe also that we should not allow ourselves to think of our time with the Lord as not being something exceptional.

There is nothing we can compare to the moment in which we first met the Lord.

And we should move into maturity in our relationship with the Lord, but I believe sometimes we can take for granted the preciousness of His presence and fellowship.

Notice, also that we discover that Andrew is Simon Peter’s brother.

The Bible tells us in verse 40, “One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.”

This verse gives us a smooth transition into meeting the next of the witnesses.

C. Simon Peter

Notice with me in verse 41, the action taken by Andrew.

The Bible says, “He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.”

Andrew, immediately after his meeting and discover of the Lord Jesus Christ, found his brother and was a witness for the Lord.

We see once again, the testimony of another bringing one to the Lord.

I am reminded of the man with the unclean spirit in the country of the Gaderenes.

It was after the Lord had cast out that multitude of devils that the Bible tells us he desired to be with the Lord.

In Mark 5:19 the Bible states, “19 Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.”

I believe the principle is this, that you and I are to be a witness first to those closest to us.

We see this in the life of Andrew. And this will again be displayed in the life of Philip as the Bible tells us that upon meeting the Lord he went and found Nathanael.

Notice with me also verse 42.

John 1:42 “42 And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.”

This is such a marvelous statement.

When we think of the ministries of Sharon Baptist Church, I believe our desire would be to bring people to the Lord Jesus Christ.

I do not want it to be said, that we are just bringing people to a good place for fellowship.

I do not want it to be said, that we are just bringing people into a good way to live.

I want it to be said that we are bringing people to the Lord Jesus Christ.

When we look at the meetings of the local church, it should be centered around the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is interesting to note once again the language of Scripture because it tells us that Jesus beheld him.

We think about the way we behold each other, but we see here something different.

We look at each other bound in time and our present circumstances.

Sometimes for the bad and sometimes for the good.

I think about my wife and I, we get to see each other when we first wake up.

But it is interesting to me and comforting to me to realize that the Lord Jesus Christ sees everything about me.

He sees the past, the present, and the future.

We progressively learn about Peter as we read the Scriptures, however the Lord saw Peter as Cephas.

We, as looking backward in time call Simon, Simon Peter.

Simon would have been identified by his father’s name. His father ‘s name is given to us here in verse 42.

Simon is the son of Jona which is a form of John.

Simon is a shortened form of Simeon.

When we think about Simeon, we remember that Simeon along with Levi were the ones who acted in anger and in selfwill according to Genesis 49:6 because of the situation that arose with the defiling of the sister Dinah.

And we can kind of see selfwill in the life of Simon Peter.

Peter is impulsive in his decisions and outspoken.

But the Lord looks at Peter, and looks to the time when Peter will be a stable man.

He will be a foundational man.

He will a godly leader.

When the Lord dealt with the nation of Israel, He dealt with them pretty severely.

We think about all that took place in the nations history and we even look out today and see all that has gone on with that nation today it is amazing to see such prophesies of what will take place among the jewish people.

In Jeremiah 29 the Lord has such a powerful word to give to the people to comfort them, not about their current state, but about their future state.

Jeremiah 29:10-14 “10 For thus saith the Lord, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place. 11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. 14 And I will be found of you, saith the Lord: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the Lord; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.”

And so it was in the life of Peter. The Lord could see through all the bitter trials, the failures, the hardships how it is that Simon would be a rock. He would not remain unstable, but would become a solid Christian.

This is very comforting to know that the Lord has us on a projected path. And he will complete the work that he is doing in us, for His honor and glory.

He has an expected end for us.

One of the most comforting passages we can turn to in the Bible is found in Ephesians chapter 1.

Ephesians 1:3-6 “3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.”

Ephesians 1:11-14 “11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: 12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”

God did a marvelous work in the life of Peter. God is doing a marvelous work in your life as well.

And I am so thankful for that, as much as I fail the Lord.

I am thankful that He is working in my life to conform me to the image of Christ.

Like Peter, we can look at ourselves in the mirror and maybe call ourselves in the present---unstable.

But also, like Peter, as we walk with Him and submit ourselves to Him we may be found having the mind of Christ looking like our Savior who is The Rock.