Jesus is the Teacher

Jesus is the Teacher

John 1:35-42

ILL- News Chopper following the wrong car.

In May 2018 a news helicopter in California was following a high speed chase.

At one point during the pursuit the car went under an underpass and the news crew started following the wrong car.

They made an ordinary citizen driving the speed limit sound exciting until it drove into a gas station and got out.

They then began to speculate why the driver didn’t look like the same person until they realized they made a mistake.

ILL- I’ve found myself following the wrong truck when we’ve taken two cars home.

John the Baptist’s disciples had left a lot to follow him.

They then hear him declare Jesus to be the Messiah.

A couple realized that they really needed to be following Jesus.

John points to Jesus and lets his followers follow Jesus.

John 1:35–42 ESV

35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which 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, for it was about the tenth hour. 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which 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 means Peter).

SET-UP

The word "Christian" is only used 3 times in the Bible.

The word "Disciple" is used over 250 times in the Bible.

-More than just sitting under the teaching.

-A disciple works to be like the teacher.

4 Characteristics of a Disciple

1. Disciples Follow Jesus (35-37)

John 1:35–37 ESV

35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.

We do not follow man.

It was about Jesus, not John the Baptist.

It is hard to have people in church surrender to ministry and leave to follow Jesus. But it’s the goal.

ILL- We raise children to become independent and leave.

Jordan to OBU/ Jonathan to Midwestern.

Disciples leave to follow Jesus.

It’s not the way we usually measure success in the church.

One summer in Oklahoma we lost 7 seminary degrees from our church.

Paul’s goal was to create Jesus followers, not Paul followers

1 Corinthians 1:11–17 ESV

11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. 12 What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. 16 (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

2. Disciples Abide With Jesus (38-39)

John 1:38–39 ESV

38 Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which 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, for it was about the tenth hour.

They were seeking the Messiah. - Notice they don’t answer him. They already found what they were seeking.

Now they desire to stay with him.

They aren’t asking for Jesus’s address.

“Staying”= abiding

They are asking to be with him. They want to be his disciples.

This was culturally what it meant to be a disciple of a Rabi.

It was boarding school.

Desire to abide with Jesus.

John 15:4–7 ESV

4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

Being a disciple is not something that just happens one or two times a week.

Disciples continually abide in Jesus.

“Come and see”

“come and you will see”= It wasn’t about the current place but the place that is to come.

Current place

Luke 9:58 ESV

58 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”

Future place

John 14:1–6 ESV

1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

“Come and Experience”

3. Disciples Bring Others to Jesus (40-41)

John 1:40–41 ESV

40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ).

Those abiding in Jesus will produce fruit.

John 15:8 ESV

8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

Fruit of Spirit= a changed life- The life of a disciple

Galatians 5:22–24 ESV

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Fruit of the Gospel= making disciples

Matthew 28:19–20 ESV

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

2 Timothy 2:2 ESV

2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.

We can do a lot help people but unless we help them find the Messiah their lives will never change.

"We found the Messiah"

Church, friendship, small group, religion can help people. But if they find the Messiah it will change their life forever.

Saul- on Road to Damascus- Life before and life after.

He already had community and religion. He was a religious man.

Nicodemus- He was a man very similar to Saul. Jesus told him unless he was born again he would not experience eternal life. Story ends with John 3:16

Inviting to church or Sunday morning Bible Study is a great first step. However, it is not the ultimate goal. Invite people to experience our Savior.

4. Disciples Change Through Jesus (42)

John 1:42 ESV

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 means Peter).

When we get Jesus we get a new identity.

2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

James the brother of Jesus.

James 1:1 ESV

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings.

1 Peter 2:9 ESV

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

ILL-- When I received my doctorate. I received a new title. (Master)

Our identity in Christ is so much greater. We are disciples of the Messiah.

CONCLUSION

What are you seeking?

Come and see. Come and experience new life in Jesus.