Sermon Tone Analysis

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

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)

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)

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)

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.

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.

(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?

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

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.

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)