I FOUND JESUS, COME AND SEE John 1:35-50

 

I FOUND JESUS, COME AND SEE

John 1:40-50

THE TEXT

John 1:40-50

40 Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of these men who heard what John said and then followed Jesus. 41 Andrew went to find his brother, Simon, and told him, "We have found the Messiah" (which means "Christ").

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").

43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Come, follow me." 44 Philip was from Bethsaida, Andrew and Peter's hometown.

45 Philip went to look for Nathanael and told him, "We have found the very person Moses and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth."

46 "Nazareth!" exclaimed Nathanael. "Can anything good come from Nazareth?"

"Come and see for yourself," Philip replied.

47 As they approached, Jesus said, "Now here is a genuine son of Israel—a man of complete integrity." 

48 "How do you know about me?" Nathanael asked.

Jesus replied, "I could see you under the fig tree before Philip found you." 

49 Then Nathanael exclaimed, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God—the King of Israel!"

50 Jesus asked him, "Do you believe this just because I told you I had seen you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this." 51 Then he said, "I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of Man, the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth." Holy Bible, New Living Translation 

INTRODUCTION

We are all unique in the way God made us. By God’s divine design we all different in body size, growth and development, in the the way we think,

Process information and make decisions. 

This text show us different ways people come to Jesus. Some believe

Because someone they trust believe. Some hear the Word but don’t accept it until they have a life changing event in their life. Some hear the Word,

Meditate until they get more information. It is not how you come to Jesus, when you come, but the fact that you come that matters. 

In the beginning of Jesus ministry, He chose 12 disciples who were all different. It is the mix that makes life interesting and exciting. We are all in the stage where we are commanded to share the Word with others.  

It is important to understand that people receive and understand the Word in different ways and different times in their lives.

THE BEGINNING OF JESUS PUBLIC MINISTRY

This text describes the choosing of the first five disciples of Jesus. They may all have been followers of John the Baptist. The story begins when John the Baptist witness a dove from heaven sitting on Jesus after he baptized Him. 

TRAIN UP A CHILD IN THE WAY HE SHOULD GOD

John 1:32-33

 And John bare witness, saying, I have beheld the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven; and it abode upon him. 

33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize in water, he said unto me, Upon whomsoever thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and abiding upon him, the same is he that baptizeth in the Holy Spirit.

From birth John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit and commission to be the fore runner of Jesus Christ. He was trained by his parents in the way he should go by the divine guidance of the Holy Spirit. Some disciples are trained at an early age for a particular job in the ministry. 

When I think about my son, I recognized that God prepared him for a ministry in Japan when he was in elementary school. I didn’t know it then but he made friends with Japanese students in his school. In college he met and then married a Japanese girl. After college, the mission began. He has been in Japan for 20 years and now teaches the Bible in churches there.

EVERY EVENT I LIFE IS ALLOWED BY GOD

John 1:35 Again on the morrow John was standing, and two of his disciples; 36 and he looked upon Jesus as he walked, and saith, Behold, the Lamb of God!

Two of John’s disciples heard and followed Jesus ( V.37).

Some disciples come to Christ because they heard the Word from a preacher/teacher then followed Jesus.  They were convinced by what they

Heard by the power of the Holy Spirit, accepted it as the truth and their life with Jesus began.

Notice Jesus was involved, because He showed up at the right time in the right place for the two disciples to see Him. John had preached the coming of the Messiah clear enough for them to believe in Jesus the moment they saw Him

JESUS KNOWS THE MOMENT YOU BEGIN TO FOLLOW HIM

John 1:38 Jesus looked around and saw them following. "What do you want?" he asked them. They replied, "Rabbi" (which means "Teacher"), "where are you staying?"

39 "Come and see," he said. It was about four o'clock in the afternoon when they went with him to the place where he was staying, and they remained with him the rest of the day.

Jesus teaches us that new disciples need the attention of the shepherd. Fellowship is important in the growth and development of new believers.

Jesus is always aware that you are following Him and knows what questions to place in  your thoughts  to develop your education in the Word. 

Sometimes people need your time to get comfortable with you. Fellowship is a relationship of trust. To get to know Jesus you need to spend some quality time with Him, The two disciples made it their business to get to know the Savior in His space.  

Every believer needs some alone time with Jesus. There may be things that you may want to talk to Jesus about that you don't want to share with others. Meditation time with Jesus is important. 

SPEND QUALITY TIME WITH JESUS

V.39 "Come and see," he said. It was about four o'clock in the afternoon when they went with him to the place where he was staying, and they remained with him the rest of the day.

You have to come to Jesus for yourself. We are far removed from the time, the culture and the environment that Jesus lived in. We cannot assume that our environment, language and culture is anything like the time of Jesus. 

What was common to them is unknown to us. Your research into the culture

Of ancient times will help you gain a deeper insight into the meaning of the illustrations Jesus uses to explain spiritual truths. 

For example when Jesus said my sheep know me and will not follow anyone else. This  tells you that sheep are not dumb animals. Sheep remember the voice of their shepherd . They know his smell. They have poor frontal vision, but excellent side vision. They see the shepherd when he approaches them from behind. I suggest they know what their shepherd looks like.

You and I should know the voice of Jesus.  We know His voice if we know his Word. We ought to be as smart as sheep and not follow another voice. 

YOUR TESTIMONY IS IMPORTANT TO OTHERS

John 1:40 Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of these men who heard what John said and then followed Jesus. 41 Andrew went to find his brother, Simon, and told him, "We have found the Messiah" (which means "Christ").

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").

Evangelism should start at home. We need to be sure our family members

Know of Jesus. Andrew had spent the day with Jesus. He now knew Jesus was a man like him but was the Messiah. Andrew made himself a friend to Jesus. 

We become friends with Jesus when we study His Word and invite others to join us in Bible Study. The text tells us the Bible Study had already started. It started in their youth because they were required to learn scripture and attend services in their Synagogues.  They were expecting and searching for the Messiah as prophesied in  the scriptures.

Jesus is coming again. We ought to be getting ready for  His return. We

Should have a joyful expectation of His return.

Jesus changed Simon’s name to Peter which means little rock. Every believer has a name change. You have your earthly name assigned to you by your parents at birth. You new birth in Jesus comes with a name change.You now have Jesus the son of God attached to you name 

You were a child of the world, but now a child of the KIng.

YOU WERE GIVEN TO JESUS BY HIS FATHER

John 1:43-45

Jesus  knows where you are at all times. He went to Galilee to inform Philip  

That he was chosen as a disciple. Philip did not question, he accepted the position. Since Philip and Andrew live in the same city the two may have 

talked about Jesus. Our familiar with others makes a difference in the lives

Of those we know

The word of God spreads from mouth to mouth, We should value others

With love of the Word.

John 1:45 Philip went to look for Nathanael and told him, "We have found the very person Moses and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth."

Notice as the Word spreads, more information about Jesus is revealed. More detailed scripture was used in the evangelism. This suggest to me that as the Word spreads more research or what they had studied was coming to their memory.

WE SOMETIMES HEAR THE WORD WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING 

John 1:46 "Nazareth!" exclaimed Nathanael. "Can anything good come from Nazareth?"  "Come and see for yourself," Philip replied.

Nathanael's response to the revelation of Jesus was different from his friends. He received the information with skepticism. His own prejudice of the city was revealed. Nazareth was a small town of  200 to 400 people.

He expected the Messiah to be born in a much larger city with more

Prestige, or at least a city of some notoriety. 

God uses the poor not the rich, the weak not the strong to bring Him glory. Jesus was revealed to hard working fishermen not to scholars. He revealed His birth to shepherds not kings. He revealed Himself to the humble, not the proud. 

This is what the Lord does today, reveals Himself to those seeking Him. Those who recognize that they need a Savior.

Mark 10:25 It is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

Nathanael's question did not turn him away from Jesus, but made him look at himself. There are times when we speak without thinking, we become the devil's tool.  His first thought was to ignore the testimony of his friends. For Messiah to come from a small town did not match up with his expectations. Our ignorance of scripture shows up in our conversations. 

No where in the Old Testament scriptures which they quoted was the Messiah said to come from a wealthy, high class, notable city. The opposite is true. Bible Study is always in season. God will open our minds to receive it.

Come See Phillip replied.  You don’t argue your beliefs. You invited the unbeliever to Bible Study. Everybody is not at the same spiritual maturity.  You reach an unbeliever with tolerance and patience. Nathanael knew the Word, he needed more Word to see Jesus as the Messiah.

AT THE RIGHT TIME, JESUS WILL OPEN YOUR MIND TO HIM

John 1:47 As they approached, Jesus said, "Now here is a genuine son of Israel—a man of complete integrity." 48 "How do you know about me?" Nathanael asked.

When Jesus is in your Bible Study, compliments and encouragements

Starts the study. See how the compliments deescalated the tension.   We ought always be pleased when others join us in Bible Study. Jesus knows your hearts and does not judge your opinions. Opinions change when the truth is revealed. One question leads to answers and clarification. The study of the Bible challenges your understanding.

JESUS KNEW YOU BEFORE YOU WERE BORN

John 1:48b -49 Jesus replied, "I could see you under the fig tree before Philip found you." 49 Then Nathanael exclaimed, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God—the King of Israel!"

Let me suggest that Nathanael had heard his friends discussion about

Finding the Messiah but was puzzled by their belief. He didn’t reject their

revelation , he was puzzled by their excitement. He may have been under the fig tree meditating on the Word and came up with no satisfactory conclusion.

What appears to bring Nathanael to belief was Jesus' knowledge of where he was and what he was thinking. He saw Jesus, heard Jesus and believed.  His friends had come to an incomplete conclusion. Jesus was not the son of Joseph, but the Son of God, King of Israel. Perhaps Nathanael connected the dots of the virgin birth given in Isaiah 7:14 

FAITH IS THE BEGINNING OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH

John 1:50 Jesus asked him, "Do you believe this just because I told you I had seen you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this." 51 Then he said, "I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of Man, the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth."

CONCLUSION

Constant Bible Study is the gateway to learn more about Jesus our Lord and Savior. Our faith grows as we continue our study and see the scriptures revealed in our daily life situations.  Heaven is our goal, Bible study and faith in Jesus is the ladder.

As your faith grows, God reveals more and more about Himself to you.

Notice God used the differences in His disciples to reveal a way to approach Bible study to others.