Becoming A Disciple

What Are You Looking For?

John the Baptist once again proclaims Jesus to be the Lamb of God. This time He does it in front of two of his disciples. John is beginning the process of decreasing himself and increasing Christ. This is something that we should dedicate our lives to. We should not seek fame and recognition for our accomplishments in life, but instead should seek to point people to Jesus. As a result of John’s proclamation, his two disciples (James & John) begin to follow Jesus.

Jesus recognizes that they are following Him and asks a very important question. What do you seek? This question is deep and needs to be thought out. In the context of Jesus day, Barclay points out this question was very important for this reason:

The Gospel of John, Volume 1 The First Disciples (John 1:35–9)

Jesus began by asking these two men the most fundamental question in life. ‘What are you looking for?’ he asked them. It was very relevant to ask that question in Palestine in the time of Jesus. Were they legalists, looking only for subtle and recondite conversations about the little details of the law, like the scribes and Pharisees? Were they ambitious time-servers looking for position and power, like the Sadducees? Were they nationalists looking for a political demagogue and a military commander who would smash the occupying power of Rome, like the Zealots? Were they humble men of prayer looking for God and for his will, like the Quiet in the Land? Or were they simply puzzled, bewildered, sinful men looking for light on the road of life and forgiveness from God?

Jesus knew the answer to the question because He is omniscient, but wanted them to realize what is really important in life. It is not about self and worldly success. Life is about following Jesus in relationship and making disciples that follow Jesus.

What are you looking for?

American Dream

Many people are looking for the american dream. They want to get to a place in life where they don’t have to worry about money. They want enough to make like comfortable while they work and save enough up to do what they want to do when they retire. They don’t want to have to worry about paying for material things.

Although, this is not a bad thing to accomplish, it is typically unrealistic and unsatisfying. It is unrealistic because life happens. What I mean by this is you may think you have enough and then you have a huge medical crisis that puts you in situation where you don’t have enough. Or you could have litigation against you that depletes your “nest egg”. Don’t forget someone is going to have to pay for all these tax packages! I’m just saying that our trust should not be in what we save or accumulate. I goal should be to seek and advance the kingdom of God.

31 Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ 32 For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

34 “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matt. 6:31-34

Power and Fame

Some people want to excel in their careers so they can be in positions of authority and power. They feel as if they can get into a position where others will be subordinate to them they will be satisfied. They feel that it will get them the respect that they deserve. Unfortunately positional authority and power do not bring the respect that they feel they will get. Jesus shares how to be a good leader:

24 And hearing this, the ten became indignant with the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. 26 It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, 27 and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Matt. 20:24-28

Respect from others comes from serving others, not lording position over them.

Some people desire to be popular. They want the fame. They believe the more people that they can get to like them the more important they will be. Let me give you an example. May people engage on social media and their mood is determined by how many likes they get on social media. They want more and more followers. Paul writes:

But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more, 11 and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you, 12 so that you will behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need. 1 Thess. 4:10-12

We should live quiet lives and attend to our own business. We should not get our worth from what others think about us.

Peace

Some people are looking for peace for their soul. They are looking for a solution for their animosity towards God. They are looking for peace in their relationships with others. The only way a person will ever find true peace in in a relationship with Christ. Jesus put best when he said:

Behold, an hour is coming, and has already come, for you to be scattered, each to his own home, and to leave Me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” John 16:32-33

When we seek peace in Christ we will find what we are looking for. Notice how Jesus responds to Andrew and John

Come and See

After Jesus asked what they were looking for, he saw an opportunity to give it to them. You see they did not give a direct answer to Jesus question. They responded, “Rabbi, where are you staying?” They were telling Jesus that they did not want just a passing experience with him on the road. They wanted to get to know Him, and share their lives with Him.

Jesus knew their hearts and knew that He would give them exactly what they wanted. They wanted forgiveness of their sins and a restored relationship with the Father. This is evidenced by the words that got them to follow Jesus. “Behold the Lamb of God!”

Jesus invites us to come and see!

We must be seeking for the right thing in order for the invitation. If we are seeking Christ for any other reason other than peace, He will not invite. If you are trying to enter into a relationship for how Christ will bless you on earth, then you will not be satisfied. Jesus gives us the reason to come and see.

57 As they were going along the road, someone said to Him, “I will follow You wherever You go.” 58 And Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” 59 And He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.” 60 But He said to him, “Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God.” 61 Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home.” 62 But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:57-62

The first guy thought Jesus would give him the easy life if he followed him. Jesus told him that he didn’t even have a place to lay his head. The second guy wanted to go back and get his inheritance so he could get the things of this world. Jesus told him to let the dead bury the dead. The third guy wanted to make sure that if things didn’t work out with Jesus that he could come back home. Jesus told him that you don’t look back. The only way to follow Jesus is to foresake everything else.

Cortez’ Story

According to legend, Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés issued a rather interesting order to his men as they began their conquest of the Aztec empire in 1519.

The order was simple: Burn the boats.

He wanted his men to realize that they had no opportunity to retreat, so they had to give this fight everything they had. Failure was no longer an option and winning this battle just became that much more important.

He was about to send his armies against a powerful foe, whose men outnumbered his own. He loaded his soldiers into boats, sailed to the enemy’s country, unloaded soldiers and equipment, then gave the order to burn the ships that had carried them. Addressing his men before the first battle, he said, “You see the boats going up in smoke. That means that we cannot leave these shores alive unless we win!

We now have no choice—we win, or we perish! They won.

We must be willing to burn the ships of our lives that keep us from following Jesus. I can promise you, when you do this you will find victory in your life and peace for your soul!

When you discover Christ as your source of peace, you must go and tell others

Go and Tell

After spending the time with Jesus, Andrew went first to tell his brother Simon. He told Simon that they had found the Messiah. Whatever happened during Andrews time with Jesus convinced him that Jesus was the Messiah.

When a person finds out who Jesus is they will come to the same conclusion.

Andrew went and brought Simon to Jesus. This is what followers of Jesus Christ do. They take people to Jesus. Andrew was notorious for doing this :

The Gospel of John, Volume 1 Sharing the Glory (John 1:40–2)

Andrew is characteristically the man who was always introducing others to Jesus. There are only three times in the gospel story when Andrew is brought into the centre of the stage. There is this incident here, in which he brings Peter to Jesus. There is the incident in John 6:8–9 when he brings to Jesus the boy with the five loaves and two small fishes. And there is the incident in John 12:22 when he brings the inquiring Greeks into the presence of Jesus. It was Andrew’s great joy to bring others to Jesus. He stands out as the man whose one desire was to share the glory. He is the man with the missionary heart. Having himself found the friendship of Jesus, he spent all his life in introducing others to that friendship. Andrew is our great example in that he could not keep Jesus to himself.

We are to share our experiences with Christ with others. This is how we make Christ known. It is one thing to share Jesus by doctrine and theology, but it is also important to share Jesus with others experientially. People tend to relate to our experience with Christ and then open up to the doctrine behind it.

Change of name

When Simon came to Jesus , the word of God says that Jesus looked at him. This is more than a mere glance at the appearance of some one. Jesus gazed into the soul of Simon and saw his potential and changed his name to fit his potential. He changed his name to Peter which means rock. Peter would eventually be the rock on which Jesus would carry His mission forward. Peter was the one God revealed the gospel to.

15 He *said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are [a]the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon [b]Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 I also say to you that you are [c]Peter, and upon this [d]rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. Matt. 16:15-18

When make Jesus our Lord and Savior, He changes our name to fit our potential. He changes our entire personhood. You are no longer the person you once were. You are now a child of God.