Invitation: Come and See
Notes
Transcript
Tim Burgess is a man that most of you have never heard of but he’s a man who is responsible for a lot of the fruit you see in my life. Now, I’ve got a ton of flaws as a pastor but whatever good things there are—there are primarily two men who are responsible—my dad and Tim Burgess. Tim was my boss and my pastor at New Sandy Creek Baptist Church in Henderson, NC back from 2007—2011.
I learned how to study and prepare sermons in seminary—I learned how to pastor from Tim Burgess.
We ate dinner in their home more nights out of the week than we ate at our own house.
TIM INVITED ME. HE DISCIPLED ME.
You’ve probably had people in your life who have done the same thing.
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 said to them, “What are you seeking?” And 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 followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.
Recap:
What is a disciple? A fully devoted follower of Jesus who is developing into Christlikeness and who lives sent on Jesus’ mission to make more disciples.
John testified about Jesus. He witnessed to everyone around him about who Jesus was—the Lamb of God—and what Jesus came to do—take away the sins of the world.
This is the first invitation. Andrew saw and heard and believed—he made the decision to follow Jesus. But, this isn’t the “ending point.” This is the beginning. This is the first step of discipleship. Repent and believe.
Jesus extends this invitation. The second step is our response to Jesus’ invitation— “Come and see.”
The second invitation of discipleship is the invitation (from Jesus) into a deep relationship with Jesus…
Remember last week—there were two groups of people that were typically around Jesus: crowds & disciples. What group are you in?
In fact, Jesus asks these new followers a very important question—one that we all need to answer today. You can almost feel his piercing gaze. They’re following Jesus at a safe distance and he stops dead in his tracks…they’re not yet fully bought in…not yet fully devoted.
“What are you seeking?” It would be well if every now and again we were to ask ourselves: ‘What am I looking for? What’s my aim and goal? What am I really trying to get out of life?’
William Barclay, The Gospel of John, Rev. and updated., vol. 1, The New Daily Study Bible (Edinburgh: Saint Andrew Press, 2001), 101.
What are you looking to get out of this? Why are you here today? What kind of relationship do you have with Jesus? Why? What are you “in it” for?
They had to answer this question before Jesus would extend the invitation.
Jesus isn’t interested in casual followers. He’s looking for disciples.
What is their response? “Where are you staying?” They’re answering a question with a question. But it’s an important response. They’re desiring more. They’re not just wanting to be casual acquaintances that pass on the road. They’re not content with just seeing Jesus every once in a while.
Too many Christians are content just visiting with Jesus once a week (or maybe not as often as that). They want to know where Jesus is staying. They want to be with him. But to be a disciple of Jesus means that we respond to His invitation into a deep and abiding relationship with Him.
To learn from Him.
“Disciple” essentially means “learner.”
The Greek word for “disciple” is mathetes which, when directly translated, means “learner.” Being a disciple means that we are orienting our lives around becoming lifelong learners of Jesus. It is liberating to think that, with God’s Spirit, over time, we can learn the ways of Jesus, doing the things that he did while becoming the same type of person.
{Mike Breen}
Traditional Jewish disciple/rabbi relationship
And, this is exactly what Jesus did with his disciples for 3.5 years. They were enrolled in the School of Christ.
A) Jesus taught his disciples how to pray
B) Jesus taught his disciples how to read and interpret and apply God’s word (Luke 24 // Jesus CONSTANTLY repeated the OT as being fulfilled in himself — Moses & the bronze serpent, other examples).
C) Jesus taught his disciples about fasting
D) Jesus taught his disciples how to do ministry (he sent them out in pairs/he modeled kingdom ministry)
E) Jesus taught his disciples what a life pleasing to God is all about.
What life in God’s kingdom looks like (sermon on the Mt., etc)
Spiritual disciplines…
How have you grown spiritually in the last year?
To abide in Him.
I want you to look again at verses 38 & 39. John subtly hints at something that is going to be a common theme in his gospel.Andrew and John ask Jesus—“Where are you staying?” Jesus invites them to come and see…come see for yourself. Then…John says they came and saw where he was staying (there’s the word again), and they stayed (AGAIN) with him that day.
The Greek word is “μένω” — means to “stay” or “abide.”
Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,
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. 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.
If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.
This is Jesus’ invitation to receive LIFE from Him. “I am the way, the truth, and the LIFE.” The disciple is invited into the life and love of God.
Rivers of Living Water (John 7:38) // Abundant Life (John 10:10)
There’s a very unfortunate misunderstanding that happens in a lot of Christians’ minds when we hear the words “eternal life” as if it’s something that only starts one day when we die and go to heaven. That’s certainly part of it but eternal life begins HERE AND NOW.
We’re not just simply invited to learn from Jesus—we’re invited to receive life from Him. This is greater than any relationship a disciple/rabbi could have had.
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
To become like Him.
The “end” of discipleship is Christlikeness. This is the purpose/the end goal. Spiritual formation.
Paul prays this for the believers in Galatia in Galatians 4:19
my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you!
John Wesley believed the goal of discipleship is to become like Jesus; "to have the mind of Christ and to walk just as he walked." The means to the goal is to act upon what Jesus told his disciples to do.
For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.
Going to really dive deep into this next week…
APPLICATION
1) We become disciples (we learn, abide & become) as the Holy Spirit grows us through the spiritual disciplines (time alone with Jesus).
2) We become disciples (we learn, abide, and become) as we live life around and with other disciples (church).