Come and See!
Come and See!
John 1:35 – 51
FPBC December 11, 2005 [AM]
“You’ve got to see this!” What comes to your mind when you hear that phrase? Fear? Curiosity? Dread?
[Share details of the car’s tire]
There are times when seeing something with your own eyes provides information that could not be gained any other way. This morning we consider 5 men – and especially what they saw!
Come and see the Savior of men 1:35 – 37
Personal Invitation
· John makes a statement about Jesus
o Not a repeated declaration, but a personal directive to the disciples standing by him.
o His public message was also his private instruction – no duplicity – he practiced what he preached!
· John points out the difference in their ministries
o John recognizes and continues to highlight that Jesus is what John could never be – the Savior!
o The “voice” could never be The Lamb
Persuasive Instruction
· The disciples’ response
o The 2 disciples did not abandon John, they followed his teaching!
o Events described are not “the calling of the disciples”; but the events preparing them to abandon everything when they are called!
· John’s response
o Continued pointing to Jesus
3:25 – 36; Luke 7:17 – 23
o Last of the OT prophets continued pointing to the Coming Messiah!
Come and see the source of ministry 1:38 – 42
Personal Invitation
· “What do you seek?”
o Jesus asks WHAT not WHOM they sought!
§ Jesus confronts those beginning to follow Him and demands they articulate what they really want in life.
§ “Are you looking for what I can give?”
o Their response is to ask for a prolonged discussion.
§ “Where are You staying?” more than inquiry about lodging.
§ Asks the source of His teaching and ministry.
§ Desire to know Him better
· “Come and see”
o Jesus invites them to participate with Him
§ Accepts them into the fellowship of His life and teaching.
o Invitation to discover God’s mind and purpose.
o What the disciples learned from Jesus that night convinced them!
Perceptive Introduction
· Andrew’s introduction of Jesus
o “We have found the Messiah!”
§ Not a sudden discovery, but a careful encounter and identification of the One John had been announcing as present among them!
§ This clues us to the conversation 1:40
o Messiah = anointed One; used of…
§ King 1 Sam 16:6
§ High Priest Lev. 4:3
§ Prophets Ps 105:15
o The most common effective Christian testimony is private witness of friend to friend, brother to brother!
· Simon’s introduction to Jesus
o A name changed from Simon to Cephas - stone
§ Indicated a future change in character (Rocky)
§ Predicts the changes possible by Jesus.
§ Jesus calls Simon “Peter” once; to remind him he is not living to his potential.
Come and see the Son of Man 1:43 – 51
Personal Invitation
· Jesus’ invitation to Philip
o “Follow Me” – a formal authoritative command
o In this account, Jesus only ‘calls’ Philip. The other 80% come due to the influence of others.
§ Jesus eventually calls them all
§ But how important is it that we be faithful, too?
· Philip’s invitation to Nathaniel
o “Come and see the one who fulfills the OT”
o Parallel to “Taste and see” Ps 34:8
· Nathaniel’s response
o Skepticism and prejudice
o He was from Cana, another Galilean town looked down upon by the rest of the nation.
o Sets aside his pre-conceived ideas to come and see
§ Blunt but willing to examine for himself!
· Jesus’ response
o “An Israelite with no deceit”
§ A son of Jacob with no trace of Jacob’s nature.
§ No hidden motives, an honest searcher.
§ Displays knowledge of Nathaniel’s character.
Positive Identification
· Jesus as the Son of God
o Response to Jesus’ “knowing” Nathaniel
§ Intimate knowledge of location and activity.
§ “Under the fig tree” refer to Torah meditation?
§ Perhaps Jesus was saying “Nathaniel, I saw you when you were seeking Me.”
o “Son of God”
§ Links son-ship and royalty together
1 Sam 26:17, 21, 25; 2 Sam 7:14; Ps. 2:7
· Jesus as the Son of Man
o Self-identification
o Jesus promises verification of Who He is
§ Heaven-sent confirmation will come
o Uses the previous reference to Jacob
§ Jacob saw a ladder between heaven and earth
§ A way for God’s message and plan to be carried to earth
o Jesus changes the illustration
§ He is the ladder
§ The means of communication b/w God and man.
§ The meeting place b/w heaven and earth.
o “Son of Man”
§ The One Who receives kingdom from the Ancient of Days Dan 7:13, 14
John proclaimed “Come and see that Jesus is the One revealing God.” Andrew told his brother “Come and see Jesus, the Messiah.” Philip invited Nathaniel to “Come and see the One Who fulfills the prophecies of the OT.” Nathaniel himself says “I came and saw that You, Jesus, are the Son of God, the King of Israel.”
Jesus’ invitation remains the same today: “Come and see.” “Come and see” is an invitation to make the most of an opportunity. The opportunity you face today is to respond to the One calling “Follow Me” and “Come and see.”
Won’t you make the most of the opportunity facing you this morning?
