April 21, 2024
Morning Service

John is writing a letter with a purpose; he is building our faith that Jesus is the Son of God.  He is not teaching things in chronologic order, but is hand picking specific events that help him fulfill his purpose.  He began with giving us the “big” picture that Jesus has always been with no beginning and all things were created by Him and for Him.  The Creator of the universe became a man and lived among us. Last week, John introduced us to John the Baptist and revealed to us how he was an intricate part of the story as well as a fulfillment of prophecy.  This builds our faith and challenges us to follow his lead of being messengers to share the Good News of Jesus with those around us.  We begin today again with John and the baptism of Jesus.  To give us a better understanding of this, I want to first read Matthew’s detailed account of this first.

 Mat 3:13-17 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him.  (14)  And John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?"  (15)  But Jesus answered and said to him, "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed Him.  (16)  When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.  (17)  And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

           First notice John’s humility in being asked to baptize the Son of God in verse 14 (read).  Second notice Jesus knew He must do this to “Fulfill all righteousness.”  He had no need to be baptized as He had no sin, but He did it as true leader would do by setting an example for us.  When we follow Jesus, He leads us through places that He has already been and there is a comfort in that for me.  Now we can return to John’s Gospel as he lets John the Baptist tell it from his view of the baptism as his testimony.

 

John 1:29-34The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!  (30)  This is He of whom I said, 'After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.'  (31)  I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water."  (32)  And John bore witness, saying, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him.  (33)  I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.'  (34)  And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God."

          John reveals to us that he had been shown that as a confirmation of the Messiah, he would see “the Spirit descending and remaining on Him who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.”  He also heard the voice of God the Father also proclaim, “this is My Son in whom I am well pleased.”  John was blessed to play a very important part in the coming of the Messiah and to see these signs first hand at His baptism.  This leads John to proclaim what he believes and now his testimony is that Jesus is the Son of God.

 As we answer the call to follow Jesus we have not been given signs like this so we may believe however, we are given this Book and the Holy Spirit’s guidance to assure us of through eye witness accounts that all of this happened just as it is told.  In our journey with Jesus, we are given glimpses of Him through answered prayers, His promises kept, and witnessing lives being changed.  Jesus called us blessed who have not seen yet still believe (Jn. 20:29) as He revealed Himself to Thomas.  Through our experiences, we create our own testimonies of how God has revealed Himself to us along our journey.  Many times it is the most powerful at the beginning of that journey.  As we continue we see Jesus call the first disciples to follow Him beginning their story.

 

John 1:35-42 Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples.  (36)  And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, "Behold the Lamb of God!"  (37)  The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.  (38)  Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, "What do you seek?" They said to Him, "Rabbi" (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), "where are You staying?"  (39)  He said to them, "Come and see." They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour).  (40)  One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.  (41)  He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated, the Christ).  (42)  And he brought him to Jesus. Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, "You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas" (which is translated, A Stone).

            I have two points for us to consider through this.  First, are we seeking God diligently enough that when He is moving we are seeing it, even feeling it, and that draws us closer to Him?  Andrew pursed Jesus to see where He went and what He was up to.  That desire to seek Jesus forever changed his life.  Jesus became priority #1 and everything else fell into place after that.  Secondly, Andrew did not keep this to himself as he immediately went and sought out his brother and shared the good news with him.  Are we sharing this good news with those around us?  This Gospel Message of salvation as a free gift is far too great to keep to ourselves and we are commanded to share it through the “Great Commission.” (Matt. 28:19-20).  Jesus now calls Philip and Nathanael.

 

Joh 1:43-51 The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, "Follow Me."  (44)  Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.  (45)  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."  (46)  And Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see."  (47)  Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!"  (48)  Nathanael said to Him, "How do You know me?" Jesus answered and said to him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."  (49)  Nathanael answered and said to Him, "Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!"  (50)  Jesus answered and said to him, "Because I said to you, 'I saw you under the fig tree,' do you believe? You will see greater things than these."  (51)  And He said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."

            Here we see Philip do the very same thing when he is called, he goes to tell his friend Nathanael.  He simply invites him to “Come and See.”  This is a great way to invite people to church by simply asking them to come and experience a service; come and see.  Words can’t always express the love that is felt in a service or the moving of the very presence of God; “Come and See” is a great way to invite someone to experience all of that.  Nathanael is not so quick to believe at first as he even questions if there can be “anything good coming out of Nazareth.”  However, upon meeting Jesus and a short conversation there, he believes and proclaims his testimony. “You are the Son of God!”  Jesus then assures him that he will see much, much more along his journey to follow Him that has just began.

            How about you?  How did it begin for you?  How did Jesus call you to “Follow Me?”  What things have you seen since that assure you that He is the “Son of God?” 

This is your testimony, your unique story of following Jesus.  We all have one and they are all different.  When was the last time you shared that with someone?  Have you ever shared it?  I encourage you to sit down at the computer or use the old fashioned pen and paper and write it down.  What was going on in your life that made you seek Him?  Who did He use to plant seeds or water your desire along the way?   This is a great exercise to bring an ownership to your faith.  When you write all of that down the Holy Spirit will bring things to your remembrance of how God had been working with you for a long time before you came to your decision to accept His invitation to follow and very closely with you since that decision.  It can make it very personal.  God loves you and pursued you and you have the story to prove it.  You are called to be part of God’s story, but we each have our own unique story inside of that calling.  If you have not answered Jesus’ call today is the day to do just that.  Don’t put it off, Jesus is pursuing you and has great plans for you and all that lacks for that to happen is for you to begin that relationship by accepting the free gift He offers.

 

Heavenly Father, thank You for loving us.  Thank You for revealing unto us Your perfect plan of redemption, forgiveness, and salvation.  Grant us opportunities this week to share our story with someone and invite them to “Come and See.”