First Disciples - Pt. 1
So that you may believe - Gospel of John • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 56:08
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Come and see!
Come and see!
What a journey we have been on just in the first chapter of Gospel of John. And the excitement does not end, there is still more to come. Like the first apostles. We will take a couple of weeks to look at them.
Our passage before us tonight is so rich. You will see John the Baptist pointing to Jesus, we can learn from that example.
John the Baptist points beyond himself to point people to Jesus, the Lamb of God (Jn1:29, 36)
John had many disciples who were following him. He proclaimed the coming of the One. John knew when the Spirit descended that everything was going to change and he was good with that. He knew his purpose to be the forerunner.
John had no jealousy. He was not concerned from going from number one to number two, he knew that was going to happen. He knew his disciples would come to know the truth of who Jesus was and would leave him and follow Jesus. As it should be.
Things to ponder on, consider as we work our way through this passage tonight.
John knew he was not to be the focus, that Jesus was. John pointed to Jesus. Do I draw attention to myself and my words or point to Jesus through God’s Word?
John, Andrew, Jesus all invite others to come and see, do I invite others to come and see God through His word, His people, His love in His people?
(Transition) Tonight I want to spend time in looking at the passage and the characters (John, Andrew and Peter)
John the Baptist
John the Baptist
Attention seeker, that would not be an appropriate way to look at John the Baptist. He was an attention getter, but not seeker.
He came to bear witness of the Light, that others might believe (Jn1:6-8)
6 There came a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.
This is a great reminder to us as we looked at this a few weeks ago, but look, remember from it, his job was not to point to self, but to bear witness of the Light. So that, all might believe through him.
People can come to believe through your witness of a transformed life. Through the Light that shines through you! Not drawing attention to you, but inviting others to come and see the one who works in you and through you!
Came to bear witness of the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (Jn1:29)
29 The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
The One who works in you and through you in the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
Came to bear witness of the Son of God who baptizes with the Holy Spirit (Jn1:32-34)
32 John testified saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him. 33 “I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’ 34 “I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.”
The one who baptizes in the Holy Spirit. The one who forgives your sins and gives you more, the gift of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit Himself to dwell in you and to transform you, so that you can be a witness of a transformed life in Christ Jesus, who can testify of the Light.
(Transition) this now brings us to what more John the Baptist said, did and the results.
35 Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as He walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!”
37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38 And Jesus turned and saw them following, and said to them, “What do you seek?” They said to Him, “Rabbi (which translated means Teacher), where are You staying?”
39 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.
OK now, what did you see, what did you notice, what sticks out to you?
Gleaning from the scripture (Jn1:35-39)
Ask of the scripture who are the players involved in this passage (vv.35-37)?
What were they doing (35-37)?
What was John saying (v.36)?
What was Jesus saying, and what was the results (v.38-39)?
Once Jesus came on the scene and it was shown who He was John only wanted to point to Him. And in doing such some of his disciples left him to follow Jesus.
Notice that it said they “followed” were they keeping a distance, did they ask questions? They followed. One commentator thought they were too timid to come up to Jesus and speak directly to Him, but notice what Jesus did.
Look at (v.38), what did Jesus do ?
There is some great significance here and I don’t want us to miss out.
Jesus turned to them, invited them. Jesus took the initiative. Jesus was on mission (Lk19:10 “10 “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.””)
This is a symbol of divine initiative. It is always God who takes the first step.
44 “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.
(Other scriptures used, referenced Lk19:10, Jn6:44)
Augustine said “We could not even have begun to seek for God unless he had already found us. When we go to God we do not go to one who hides himself and keeps us at a distance; we go to the one who stands waiting for us, and who even takes the initiative by coming to meet us on the road.”
More significance to the words of Jesus here. He asks a question and gives direction.
(insert come and see PowerPoint here)
What do you seek, in some versions it says “what are you looking for?” - In the time, in a time they were looking for the coming Messiah in Palestine this questions could come several ways from them.
Were they legalists about the law seeking to see where Jesus stood?
Were they as Barclay put it “time servers” who like the Sadducees were looking for position and power?
Maybe they were nationalists looking for the political power, military power that would come with the Messiah?
Or, maybe, just maybe they were true seekers, humble men, men of prayer seeking God and his will for them?
Finally, were they simply puzzled, inquisitive sinners looking for the light on the road of life that lead to forgiveness of their sins who John had just proclaimed?
It would be a good thing if we ask ourselves that question sometimes, what are we seeking, what am I looking for? What am I trying to get out of life.
Some seek security - want to be comfortable physically and financially
Some seek career - power, prominence , prestige
Some seeking peace - an inner peace with themselves, with others, and yes maybe even with God.
For the two who were listening, who left John to follow they simply wanted to know where Jesus was staying.
Oh course there is more behind that. They wanted to be where He was. To spend time with Him. If He was the Messiah they wanted to be with Him and talk through life and walk with Him.
Jesus answered their question with “come and see”
Jesus was not just inviting them to come and talk, but to come and find out what they were looking for, what they were seeking.
Before moving on to the two who left John and followed one more quick thing, look at (v.39) when did this transpire?
39 He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon.
some versions say the tenth hour, which is about 4pm.
OK, more significance here, why would this minor detail be listed? It could be because John the Apostle was one of the two who followed, we will develop this more as we go on, just some food for thought for now (well, it will further developed next week).
Andrew
Andrew
Some people like the spot light, to be the center of attention. Andrew is not one of those people. We can learn a lot about Andrews character in these few short verses.
40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He found first his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which translated means Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John; you shall be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).
Gleaning from the text:
What do you learn about Andrew from (v.40)?
He was one of the two who heard John speaking.
We learn he is the brother of Simon Peter.
What was the first thing acknowledged (v.41) and who did he acknowledge it to?
We have found the Messiah
He went and found his brother Peter
What did Andrew do (v.42)?
Brought Peter to Jesus.
While there are not a lot of things said here, let me give a little background on Andrew then we can see two great things about his character in our passage and we will come back to that.
Background on Andrew
He was from Bethsaida of Galilee (Jn1:44)
He was Simon Peters brother, son of John (Jonah) (1:42)
He was a fisherman (Mt4:18)
18 Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.
He was a disciple of John the Baptist (1:40)
He was called later to be a disciple of Jesus (Mt4:18-20)
19 And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.
Question: Is there a time element in these verses?
Question: Why do you think they would leave immediately?
He had already met, followed, stayed with Jesus, brought his brother to Jesus. They already believed in Jesus, so when He called them, they did not hesitate they activated!
He was content just pointing people to Jesus (1:41)
He Pointed Peter his brother to Jesus, saying he had found the Messiah
Bringing people to Jesus (Jn6:8-9)
8 One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, 9 “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these for so many people?”
And, introducing people to Jesus (Jn12:20-22)
20 Now there were some Greeks among those who were going up to worship at the feast; 21 these then came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and began to ask him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip came and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip came and told Jesus.
Remember where we started Andrew heard John, then followed Jesus, Jesus turned to Andrew and invited Andrew. Jesus saw what Andrew would become. Now we get to Simon Peter
42 Then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus. Looking intently at Simon, Jesus said, “Your name is Simon, son of John—but you will be called Cephas” (which means “Peter”).
That brings us to the other brother. Peter.
Peter
Peter
Peter, Simon Peter, Simon, called by a few names, this evening we will look at just the start of Peter.
42 He immediately led him to Jesus. Jesus took one look up and said, “You’re John’s son, Simon? From now on your name is Cephas” (or Peter, which means “Rock”).
Some background on Peter:
He too is from Bethsaida of Galilee (1:44)
Brother of Andrew, son of Jonah (John) (1:42)
He too was a fisherman (Mt4:18)
He was introduced to Jesus by brother Andrew (1:40-42)
Called as a disciple while fishing, right along with fishing partners James and John (Lk5:1-11)
Summarize it
lk5:1-6 “1 Now it happened that while the crowd was pressing around Him and listening to the word of God, He was standing by the lake of Gennesaret; 2 and He saw two boats lying at the edge of the lake; but the fishermen had gotten out of them and were washing their nets. 3 And He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little way from the land. And He sat down and began teaching the people from the boat. 4 When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 Simon answered and said, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets.” 6 When they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish, and their nets began to break;”
Lk5:7-9 “7 so they signaled to their partners in the other boat for them to come and help them. And they came and filled both of the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 But when Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus’ feet, saying, “Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!” 9 For amazement had seized him and all his companions because of the catch of fish which they had taken;”
lk5:10-11 “10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men.” 11 When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him.”
Selected as an Apostle (Lk6:13-14)
13 And when day came, He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also named as apostles: 14 Simon, whom He also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; and James and John; and Philip and Bartholomew;
Part of the inner circle of three (Mt17:1-2, 26:37)
Was at the mount of transfiguration
Was in the garden
Well known for his denial of Christ; and his restoration (Jn18:25, 21:15)
Denied Jesus in the courtyard
Restored by Jesus on the beach
He was a central figure in the early books of Acts
It is historically believed that he was crucified under the orders of Nero upside down in Rome in AD67
Peter is written of and wrote much about the life of a transformed man.
One thing we can truly learn from these two brothers and Jesus is
Jesus looks at men, Jesus seeks us, desires us to come to Him, follow Him
Jesus sees more than the sinner he sees the saint, beyond who you are to see what you can be.
Did you learn anything from this passage that can be applied to your life? Don’t just think about it, apply it and let’s build the kingdom together by being engaged together
(Prayer) (Exit)