We Have Found the Messiah

Introduction

Last week we discussed John the Baptist pointing the way to Christ. This week we find John pointing his own disciples to Christ, knowing they will leave him for the one who is greater than he. Though John pointing others to Christ is surprising what is even more amazing is that those same disciples upon having a discussion with Christ immediately go and get others to come to Jesus. Look with me at John 1:35-51

John 1:35–51 ESV

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. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). 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). The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and 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.” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” 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.” And 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.”

Andrew gets Peter

John 1:35–42 ESV

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. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). 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).

John says behold the Lamb of God for the second time and this time two of his disciples leave to follow Jesus and learn more

Jesus asks them what are you seeking - what are you after - a seemingly innocent question but one that cause one to consider why follow Jesus and one that will be asked in various ways over and over again. Why do you follow Jesus

Disciples call Jesus Rabbi - a Jewish word for Teacher of the Law and a term of respect

Disciples ask where are you staying - effectively saying we have questions and its gonna take some time to discuss

they spend the day with him

The next day Andrew goes to his brother Peter exclaiming we have found the Messiah and brings him to Jesus

Messiah - promised Redeemer King of Israel - Israel is looking for a physical king like David as well as a prophet like moses

Yet Jesus is actually the sacrificial Lamb restoring men back to right relationship with God We will see this conflict again and again throughout the Gospels.

Notice what has happened here John points Andrew to Jesus, Andrew has encounter with Jesus and comes to faith, then Andrew invites Peter to come to Jesus. Here we see discipleship at work. Notice that it is not come to faith, spend years learning all the right answers then go and bring others to Christ but it is immediate. The first thing Andrew does after finding Christ is to tell Peter. He doesn’t try to answer all the questions he simply tells Peter what he knows We have found the Messiah come and see. Knowledge is important and beneficial but everyone can point to Christ.

Phillip gets Nathanael

John 1:43–49 ESV

The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and 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.” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”

Jesus tells Phillip - Follow Me

Phillip obeys and believes that Jesus is the Messiah and goes to invite Nathanael

We have found the one promised by Moses and the prophets

Nathanael is skeptical - can anything good come out of Nazareth

Phillip responds come and see for yourself

Jesus knows Nathanael

Character - Israelite in whom there is no deceit

Location - sitting under the fig tree

One commentary I read claimed that “To sit under one’s own fig tree was a sign of prosperity. Jewish scholars sat under fig trees to study the Law.”

Kruse, C. G. (2003). John: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 4, p. 89). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

If Nathanael spent his time studying and praying under the fig tree then Jesus knowledge of that would have surely have gotten his attention and been something only God would have known. Thus Nathanael’s exlamation that Jesus is the Son of God and king of Israel makes sense.

Jesus is the way to heaven

John 1:50–51 ESV

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.” And 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.”

Yet Jesus responds to Nathanael negatively with a promise of greater things to come

John 1:50–51 ESV

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.” And 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.”

This idea of angels ascending and descending brings to mind Jacobs dream in Genesis 28:12

Genesis 28:12 ESV

And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it!

Jesus is claiming to be the ladder the angels are ascending and descending upon. He is the way to God, the connection between God and man remember his words No man comes to the Father but by me. This is exactly what he is telling the disciples now. Jesus says I am the way to God and to heaven. Do not follow me because I know you but because I know God and am the way for you to know Him.

Invitation

My first question is do you know Jesus Christ, not as the Lord and Savior of the world, but as your personal Lord and Savior. Have you admitted your sin to God and your own inability to fix it? Will you accept Jesus death on the cross as payment for your sins? Will you accept Him today as your Lord and Savior, giving your life in service to Him? If you have not done so you can do so right where you are and I just ask that when we sing the song of invitation you come forward and let me know so I can pray with you and encourage you. For those of you who know Christ as your Lord and Savior I ask you who are you sharing the Good News of Jesus with, who is it that God is laying on your heart right now? Will you say yes to your Master and go this week to share the Gospel with them?