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Sunday Sermon Outline STUDIES IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN –
PART 12
Chapter
one, verses 35-42- in the narrative, we come to the 3rd in
the series of days—here John Baptist is said to have had two disciples
(matheton=
learners). “Looking at Jesus as He
walked” denotes John’s concentration upon Jesus as He
approached. Once again, John
describes Him as “The lamb of
God!” which reminds us of his earlier remark (vs. 29). This repetition is due to 1. a different crowd present 2. to amplify
John’s witness to Jesus 3. to set up the stage for the discipling of these 2 men. Vs. 37 says, “the two disciples heard him speak and they followed
Jesus”. The one they
heard was John, but the One they followed then was Jesus. The word for “follow” here is akoloutheo
= a
expresses union; the keleuthos
refers to ‘a way or going the same way’.
There is a shift in their allegiance from John to Jesus. Their action prompts Jesus then to
inquire of them, “What do you
seek?”- it is an expression that is at once both
personal and direct. Yet, it is not confrontational, but an
inquiry as to their sincerity. They, in turn, address Him with a
title of respect- “Rabbi”
(literally, “great One”). The
writer John then
translates it for his readers as “Teacher”. in the expressions of that era, it
is respectful and humble- see 3:2 as well. These men are seeking God and have
responded to the witness of John Baptist and now are to further give their
allegiance to Jesus. Our journey
for truth may lead us to several who will give us the “Bread of Life” and feed
our spiritual hunger. John Baptist has carried them as far as he can; now Jesus
must teach them. Later, it will be
the Holy Spirit who will be their Instructor. Jesus then invites them to “come and
see” with John the writer adding that is just what these two men
did. He adds that they remained
with Jesus until the tenth hour,
which would have been about In vs. 40, one of the men is identified
as Andrew, Simon Peter’s
brother. This “Andrew” would be listed as
one of the apostles in Matt.10:2.
There is a spiritual perception among these brothers and whether it has
its source in their parents we do not know. John Baptist’s efforts were fulfilled in
these 2 and others in that he prepared a people for the
Lord. Andrew then says “We have found the
Messiah”- what a remarkable exclamation! The word “Messiah” is then interpreted
by John the apostle as “the Christ”—the term was used three ways for an
anointing: King
of Of course, these are all seen in
Jesus as King, Priest, and Prophet. Other uses of the word may be seen in
Psalms 2:2 as the object of the rage of the leaders of the nations which
is likely a passage describing events of the Tribulation period; Daniel
sixty-nine “weeks” are fulfilled with this
Messiah being “cut-off” in Page 2 Andrew is depicted as bringing
others to Christ—see 6:8 and Earlier in Luke 2 we find other terms
for this expectation of Messiah—in Andrew brings Simon Peter to Jesus
who “looked on
him”. This may be the
discerning gaze of Jesus to study Peter and discover his
personality. “you are Simon, the son of Jonah”- may be Jesus’ way of revealing
that Peter is like his forefather with
the same name-
see Gen. 49:5-7 and yet, Jesus intends to change Peter’s
character- “you shall be called
Cephas (which is translated a Stone)”. The change would be from
rashness and instability (Simon) to the more stable and certain rock-like
personality as in “Cephas”. It reveals Christ as One who transforms the lives of men & women who believe
on Him. The gospel message of the
Risen Christ is intended to bring characterological
change in people’s lives from selfishness to selflessness, from ungodliness to
righteousness, from malice to love. |