Following Jesus (John 1:35-51)

Other people's stories will be way better to convince people to follow Jesus. I was not saved from a drug addiction or abuse. I was not saved from a life of crime or violence. I was not saved from death's door or a terminal illness.

But I have been saved.

from sin and death

and I must be reminded that my story is not about me.

Maybe there's some of you here who can identify with me. Maybe you're struggling with me like like me with unnecessary shame. Maybe there's others here who don't necessarily relate to this because you have an interesting story.

Maybe you're struggling with pride because your story so interesting. Maybe they're still others in the room who haven't yet started to follow Jesus.

You just waiting for the right time.

Well, regardless of your story circumstances, we all need to be reminded that it's not about how you began. It's about who you're following. Hey, man, we're going to walk 3 John 1:35 through 51 where Jesus calls for different disciples to follow him in four different ways. We're going to look at them two at a time to see how the first pair sought out Jesus and the second pair were sought out by him. Now we're going to look at the differences and similarities of these four accounts to be to be reminded that Jesus is the only one worth following. And the circumstances don't really matter compared to the glory of the one that we follow.

Your testimony is not about you. It's about Jesus that's hurting your Bibles with me. We're going to start and John 1:35. Where was he the first pair of disciples who sought out Jesus Mountain two days prior to this John the Baptist. I just told the religious leaders that he was only the 4Runner. Of the one who had the authority to turn their religious system upside down. Only a day ago. He saw Jesus and Proclaim to everyone who was there that he was the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. And John the Baptist declaration proof that Jesus is the one to look to rather than him because Jesus has always existed as God and he is the only one worthy to be followed. Now becomes day 3 of John's narrative and it opens again with John the Baptist.

Does the next day again, John was standing with two of his disciples and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said Behold the Lamb of God. The two disciples heard him say this and they followed Jesus Jesus turned and saw them following and and said to them. What are you seeking? They said to him Rabbi which 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 for it was about the tenth hour. One of the two who heard John speak and follow Jesus was Andrew Simon Peter's brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him we have found the Messiah which means price you 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

So first among those who sought out Jesus is Andrew who was counseled to follow the Lamb of God. Now John John the Baptist here. He says the exact same thing that he said the previous day sees Jesus and he says Behold the Lamb of God.

But the story kind of shifts to these two disciples. They were following John. I hear him say this and they start following Jesus. The command behold I think was taken by them to say. Oh we should follow him. Okay.

The disciples are curious right in verse 37. The two disciples her that this man with the Lamb of God, so they decide to go and check him out. Cuz if he really is the Lamb of God, then they've got to follow him.

And Jesus has compassion on them. He turns and sees them following him. And yes, that's interesting question. He says. What are you seeking? You think he would he would ask? Why are you following me? We were walking down the streets of Vallejo couple of guys start following us, maybe walk a little faster right and follow me man.

But I love Jesus looked at them and says, what are you seeking? This is a probing question. It's just like throughout scripture when God and His omniscience asks a question. You know that he already knows the answer. Just like that. Jesus already knows the answer to this question. Jesus knows that they were counseled by John to follow him. I mean, he probably heard John call him the Lamb of God both times. And now he asking this question that's designed to get them thinking about their own Hearts about why they're actually following him the real reason.

They were seeking the Lamb of God the Savior from sin and death.

Now these two disciples. One of them in verse 40 years is identified as Andrew. the brother of Simon Peter I don't know if you've ever been introduced as like your relation to somebody else. I can still remember. The first time that I was introduced as Caden's dad.

That was that was shocking. I've never liked I'm Caden City. I mean, that's right. But like he's my son like the Andrew here. He's not really as well known to John's audience as his brother. Simon. Peter was His brother was very prominent in the early Church in the culture of John's original audience. He was also a prominent figure in the other gospel accounts that were written. Well before this one and Peter's reputation, it preceded him not so much Andrews. So Andrews introduced here as Simon Peter's brother, you know, Simon Peter. Oh, yeah. This is his brother. Okay. And the other disciples there's two disciples. It was likely the author John throughout his gospel. He talks about himself because he was there he can't just remove himself from the story, but he refuses to identify himself.

And so since he was so adamant to not focus on himself will also not focus on him. We're focusing on Andrew here. the both of them begin following Jesus because I spiritual leader counseled them. Perhaps some of you can identify with that. And that's how I came to know the Lord. the pastor Actually, it was a Sunday school teacher gave me the the gospel and I believed it. For those who began following Jesus because a pastor or teacher counseled them you can identify with Andrew here. This is those of us who grew up in the church, and maybe we can't even remember the exact moment that we were born again.

One of the things that a seemingly unremarkable story like this does is it shows Jesus his glory and mercy. I'm preserving us from some of the horrors of living life without the influence of God's word.

And Andrew story like many of ours per claims that Jesus is Worthy to be followed. Because he is the Lamb of God. He's the sacrificial savior who died in our place and experienced God's Wrath so we wouldn't have to.

And the next disciple who sought Jesus was Peter who is compelled to follow the Messiah the Christ. Verse 41. We see Andrews excitement. We see it in the word first. It might not look very interesting in our English translation here, but first shows that He had something important. He needed to do Jesus. I want to follow you, but first I got to go do something.

As soon as Andrew figured out who Jesus was he realized that he had something important to do.

And I think this is before Andrew stayed the night with Jesus. He made a pit stop.

He went and found his own brother. He couldn't help but rushed to his brother and relay the good news. They found him. The Messiah the Christ God's anointed one. The search is finally over.

Not only did Andrew tell his brother the good news that their search was finally over but then he brought his brother along to follow Jesus as well.

In verse 42 Jesus doesn't even wait to hear of Andrew's brother wants to follow him. Soon as the season he gives them a new name a new identity no longer would he be called Simon? Flat nose. That's what Simon means his new name in Aramaic is cephas or in Greek Peter The Rock.

So those who began following Jesus because a family member compelled you to identify compelled you you can identify with Peter perhaps you came to follow Jesus because your mom told you the gospel or your brother told you the gospel or your dad. or grandparents or maybe like Peter you had a severe identity shift. After encountering Jesus in the gospel.

ultimately, all of us have an identity shift when we come to Jesus, but some people it's a little bit more pronounced.

And Peter story like many of ours per claims that Jesus is Worthy to be followed because he's the Christ. He's the anointed one. Specially chosen to work out God's glorious Plan of Salvation.

The next we're going to see the two disciples who didn't necessarily seek Jesus instead. They were sought by him.

Does John 1:43 251 does the next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee? He found Philip and said to him follow me now. Philip was from beseda the city of Andrew and Peter Philip found Nathanael who said to him. We have found him of whom Moses in the law. And also the prophets wrote Jesus of Nazareth the son of Joseph. Nathaniel said to him can anything good come out of Nazareth? Philip said to him come and see? Jesus on Nathaniel coming toward him instead of him behold an Israelite indeed in whom there is no deceit Nathaniel said to him, how do you know me? Jesus answered them before Philip called you when you were under the Fig Tree I saw you. Nathaniel answered him Rabbi you are the Son of God. You are the king of Israel and Jesus answered him because I said to you I saw you under the Fig Tree. Do you believe you will see greater things than these? He said to him truly truly. I say to you you will see Heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the son of man.

The day after Andrew and Peter. Jesus Jesus speaks out Philip. Who is called to follow the Fulfillment of Prophecy?

The Jesus is getting ready to go to Galilee. Any fees Philip? This is follow me.

Follow me.

That's a remarkably simple command, isn't it? Just 2 words follow me? Now I Think Jesus had fostered a reputation of being a teacher someone worthy to be followed. Cuz the first two disciples the previous day and called him rabbi. Other than that, we don't really get to know yet why Philip decided to obey the simple command? Follow me?

Who is this? Random Phillip guy?

I mean we went from John the Baptist who is the prophesied Forerunner of the Messiah and then we went to two of his disciples. Then we went to the brother of one of those disciples. But now there's this guy named Philip. Who seemingly doesn't have any connection with any of the other people we have been introduced to up to this point and the author John gives us that connection in a side note and verse 44. Philip is from the same town as Andrew and Peter. Now we've got the connection. They're all from the Theta. They probably like wrestled each other in high school or something.

But why does Philip decided to follow Jesus when he just says follow me?

Well, he goes and tells his friend what's happening?

And he went when he tells his friend was happening. He Reveals His understanding of who this is. Why he decided to follow him? 3 goes and tells his friend but wait a second. We've seen something like this before haven't we? That's the same thing that Andrew did. The weight of Jesus I got to go get my brother Phillip doesn't hold on Jesus. I got to go get Nathaniel. Each of them as soon as they figured out who Jesus was they went and brought someone else.

And what Philip tells his friend reveals exactly what he understood about who would called him to follow. This is the one who Moses and the prophets wrote about. He's the focal point of all of scripture. This Man from Nazareth is the Fulfillment of all the Messianic prophecies

those who began following Jesus because he found them or complete stranger LED them. Can identify with Philip? Sometimes people are led to Jesus because He providentially makes himself known. through Anonymous strangers or circumstances I'm talking about God's word getting into people's hands in miraculous ways.

People who aren't led to Jesus by a specific person.

But Jesus finds them through his word nonetheless. I can't tell you how many testimonies I've heard from The Gideons the fall into this category. People who come to the end of themselves in a hotel room. Find a Bible in the side table and open it and find Jesus. Perfect answer to their sin and suffering. A Philips story like some of ours for claims that Jesus is Worthy to be followed because he is the Fulfillment of Prophecy. He finally came. To save all mankind from their greatest enemies sin and death. And then Jesus speaks out Phillips friend Nathaniel who is convinced to follow the king of Israel. I feel like I just told his friend Nathaniel that this man named Jesus was the Fulfillment of Prophecy.

But Nathaniel doubts. He doubts the truth of this claim because he focuses on the fact that Jesus was from Nazareth.

Hello, Jesus. Things aren't going so smoothly anymore. I've got a naysayer on her hands. Nathaniel clearly has doubts about this Jesus guy making the claim to be the Fulfillment of Prophecy Me Maybe Nathaniel thought that the one to fulfill those prophecies would be from a prominent City like Jerusalem, or maybe you thought he would be some mystical Divine being who had no earthly origin. But certainly not a guy from Nazareth of all places.

I mean Nazareth was the hood. You don't expect a long-awaited fulfillment of all your hopes and dreams from scripture to come from the wrong side of the tracks.

That's why he doubts Phillips report and rhetorically asked can anything good come out of Nazareth? I think we all know places like Nazareth. Can anything good come out of those places?

I feel it like a good friend says come and see.

There's no convincing that kind of doubt without seeing it for yourself.

Remember how Phillips actions were so similar to Andrews? Restocked went and got his friend. Well now Jesus has an initial interaction with a Nathaniel is similar to his initial interaction with Peter.

As soon as he saw Peter he identified him by name and give him a new name. And now as soon as he sees Nathaniel he identifies him by his reputation. behold an Israelite indeed in whom there is no deceit.

What do reputation?

Meet you can't pull the wool over. This guy's eyes. He's sharp. He's on it. No false Messiah on his watch.

A Jesus is Introduction to Nathaniel did not have the same effect as it did with the previous three disciples the other seem to follow Jesus as soon as they saw him. but not Nathaniel

Nathaniel's still doubtful and on guard. I imagine he said this in a standoffish way. He says how do you know me?

Jesus answered before Philip called you when you were under the Fig Tree I saw you. At first glance Jesus's answer doesn't seem very remarkable.

Maybe just gives a Time reference before Philip called you a location while you're under the Fig Tree and action. I saw you super basic.

I mean Jesus may have seen him when he was walking along the way just to talk to Philip or something like that. But Jesus's answer actually reveals something very interesting it reveals that he had been seeking Nathaniel. Even before Nathaniel knew he existed.

And we don't get to know exactly what Nathaniel understood by Jesus is answer or all the nuances of exactly what it means. All we get to know is that Jesus was seeking the Faneuil. Before Nathaniel could even think about seeking Jesus.

numbers 49 an amazing thing happens

all of Nathaniel's doubts about Jesus vanish instantly

We can't understand exactly what went through and it's in his head when he heard Jesus's answer, but the result was a complete change complete change of heart from doubt to belief. Nathaniel understood at once that this Man from Nazareth actually God In the Flesh the king of Israel. Apparently something good can come out of Nazareth.

Are those of us who began following Jesus because of friend loved us? And I doubts were demolished we can identify with Nathaniel. Maybe you came to Jesus because of a friend as well or maybe like Nathaniel you resisted believing in Jesus because you had doubts about the truth of who Jesus is and what he did on the cross for you. Nathaniel testimony like some of ours for claims that Jesus is Worthy to be followed because he is the king of Israel the almighty ruler to whom we all owe our Allegiance and he is the Son of God God In the Flesh. Who made Heaven and Earth? New made you and me.

in the last two verses

Jesus makes two more statements to put a frame of reference for us around these events as he called his first disciples to follow him. The first statement is a comparison.

He compares the circumstances that led to the belief that Nathaniel just experienced and the future experiences that will confirm Jesus's Divinity and lordship in an even greater way. Just because I said to you I saw you under the Fig Tree. Do you believe those are the circumstances?

You will see greater things than these.

The second statement is an example of one of those glorious experiences that the disciples will have.

Sing Heaven opened Angels ascending and descending on the son of man.

And the point that Jesus is making is that the circumstances that caused belief are nothing compared to the glory of Jesus himself.

It's not about how you come to believe about who you believe in.

The circumstances are not the point. Jesus is

glorious as our circumstances might seem or is boring as they might seem. Jesus is greater.

There's a number of differences between these four accounts.

mostly in how One begins following May ultimately God seeks us first but some of us may feel like we're the ones who were seeking God.

And others may feel like we weren't seeking God at all. But Jesus chased us down anyway. some became following or B began following because a pastor or teacher counseled you like Andrew

some began following because a family member compelled you like Peter. Some began following because Jesus called you through and anonymously placed Bible.

kind of like Philip some began following because you were convinced to turn from your doubt to belief like Nathaniel.

Do there are as many different ways to begin following Jesus as there are people in God's Kingdom. The differences can be interesting for sure.

But the real glory comes in the one similarity.

the similarity of who We all began following.

These four disciples saw four different aspects of the same glorious person of Jesus Christ. He is the Lamb of God. The Messiah the Christ the Fulfillment of Prophecy and the king of Israel the son of God. All four of these disciples proved by their testimony that Jesus is Worthy to be followed.

That's what your testimony is meant to do as well. To prove that Jesus is Worthy to be followed.

It's not about how you begin following. It's about who you are following. So don't worry about your story.

Weather is spectacular or not.

The one who you follow is infinitely more glorious than the circumstances by which you began following your story is dynamic interesting. That's all well and good. Jesus is better.

Your story is Bland and boring like mine. Don't disparage your story because Jesus is better.

Your story is more about Jesus than it is about you. And he's infinitely glorious. No. If you haven't yet began following Jesus.

Open right now. It is actually about how you begin following.

How you begin as Ryan read in Romans by believing?

believe in your heart

that if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart. God raised him from the dead you will be saved. The whole point of John's gospel is to prove that Jesus is the Christ. So that you would believe that because by believing that you have life in his name.

You're still trusting your own Merit. To be right with God. Rather than trusting the Lamb of God.

You're still believing in your own understanding of the world rather than believing the Messiah the Christ. If you're still trying to fulfill your own self made Destiny instead of relying on the Fulfillment of Prophecy. You're still trying to be the king of your life rather than bowing to the king of Israel the Son of God then I implore you to stop. And turn to Jesus.

Believe in him and submit to him because he is the only way to be right with God. He is the only way to be saved from your sin and the wrath of God because of your sin. He's the only way to truly have eternal life.

You don't know when you will be called to give an account of your life. It could be today.

What will you say in your defense?

Ultimately, nothing you could say will justify you. Before the father only faith in Jesus can do that.

Not all of us. Who? Have followed Jesus. We must not focus. on us you must focus on him. because the glory of Christ in our story Is lost when we get out of focus.

And all who are not your following Jesus, you must follow him instead of rebelling against him because there is no eternal life without following Christ. And remember it's not about how you begin following. It's about who you follow. And the testimonies of these four disciples and all of our testimonies prove that Jesus is the only one worth following.

Father you have exalted your son. Before I seen your word. He is the one we must follow. She is the one we must believe in.

She is the one through whom you made all things.

He's the one who died in our place so we could be reconciled to you. He's the one who rules and rain that your right hand.

He's the one who's interceding for us right now.

He's the one who perfectly answers all of our sins and sorrows.

He's the one who's coming back to make all things new.

father I pray

I pray that we would have faith. But he is sufficient to save us from sin and death. I pray that we would be transformed into his likeness. I pray that we would love each other like he loved us.

I pray that we would have hope. That he's coming back.

Thank you and praise you in Jesus name. Hey, man.

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