BIG IDEA:
THE JOY OF DISCOVERY RENEWS THE CYCLE OF TESTIMONY —
WITNESS REGARDING CHRIST LEADS OTHERS TO THE JOY OF DISCOVERY (WHILE RENEWING OUR JOY) AND PROMPTS NEW WITNESSING (ON THE PART OF EVERYONE)
INTRODUCTION:
Think about your greatest find in life – your best story of something special that you found or a discovery that you made; describe your emotions, your response, wheat did you do?
What must it be like to be a prospector who finds gold or hits oil?
Prov. 3:13-18 – talks about the joy of those who find wisdom
(substitute “Jesus” for “wisdom” and reread this passage)
We know that the Lord Jesus Christ is wisdom personified. Think about our joy in discovering Jesus initially and in discovering new insight and growing day-by-day.
Remember the bumper sticker used for evangelism a long time ago = “I found it!”
Examine the Cycle of Testimony:
Godet: “One lighted torch serves to light another”
(At the same time trace a separate theme = Christ calling His special disciples; His insight into the nature of men; the different types He chose; How He dealt with each man in a unique way)
I. (:35-36) THE INITIAL WITNESS REGARDING CHRIST BY JOHN THE BAPTIST
A. Witnessing was a regular activity for John the Baptist
“was standing” — (force of imperfect) — probably some particular
spot where he customarily preached and called people to repent of their sins and be baptized (Ryle)
B. John’s Goal in Witnessing was to Produce Long-term, Permanent
Commitment — Changed Lives — Not just temporary emotional response
“with two of his disciples”
C. As the God-Appointed Forerunner of the Messiah, His focus was always on Christ and how he could point others to faith in Him
He wanted others to check Christ out for themselves–encouraged active investigation
“and he looked upon Jesus as He walked and said, “Behold …”
he was not seeking a following for himself; he was happiest when Christ was increasing and he was decreasing; no spirit of rivalry or jealousy here; faithful in fulfilling His God appointed role
D. His Witness Was Sourced in God’s Revelation to Him “the lamb of God”
this is an abbreviated summary of his testimony in 1:19-34
John the Baptist was a channel for communicating God’s revelation; not an originator of speculative theories
Significance of this designation
One reason why we don’t witness as we should = lack of joy —
we perpetuate this cycle of testimony in reverse
II. (:3-40) THE JOY OF DISCOVERY — JOHN AND ANDREW — WHAT A PRIVILEGE
A. The Privilege of Seeking
1. Requires Action in response to God’s Revelation (thru John the B.)
they were attentive and responded with decisive faith action
“heard him speak and they followed Jesus”
Note that the huge movement that is known today as Christianity had its beginnings with just a few disciples
2. Requires Awareness on the part of Christ regarding genuine seekers
3. Requires Acknowledgment of One’s Need & of the Sufficiency of Christ
“what are you seeking”
not “Whom are you seeking” because they were already focused in on Christ
but “What do you want me to do for you?””
the removal of their sin by this Lamb of God
the perfect teacher and master
Stedman: I have always been fascinated by the questions God asks of man. These four words go right to the heart of life. In them Jesus asks the most profound question in anyone’s life: “What are you looking for?” Did you ever ask yourself, “Why am I here? What do I really want out of life?” That is the most penetrating question you can ask yourself.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be filled”
B. The Privilege of Access (:38b-39)
probably they desired some private time for extended inquiry;
really asking What is the secret of your spiritual life and power
Stedman: Jesus’ response shows how well he understood Andrew. He said to him, “Come and see.” That is an invitation to investigate. “Come and find out. Take your time; ask what you want; make up your own mind.” What a tremendous response to the kind of men that John and Andrew are! They are men who need time, men who do not move quickly; they need to investigate. Our Lord is instantly responsive to that need. I know men like that today. You cannot push them, or drive them; they need time to make up their minds. All they need is an invitation to investigate.
cf. the Book of Hebrews; we don’t realize the privilege we have
we need to make the most of our opportunity of access
sometimes we come to Christ with wrong expectations or seeking the wrong thing
where did they think Jesus was staying? in some fancy, royal palace? (certainly they were accustomed to humble surroundings with John the Baptist — their concern was sincerity and reality)
C. The Privilege of Fellowship — The Joy of Discovery
“they stayed with Him that day” — imagine how their hearts must have burned within them like the 2 disciples on the road to Emmaus (Lk. 24:32)
Note how testimony must is accompanied by the testimony of Christ
(in our case the internal witness of the Holy Spirit — no man can come to the Father unless Christ draws him to Himself)
III. (:40-41) THE PROMPTING OF NEW WITNESSING BY ANDREW TO HIS BROTHER
those who have been found and have experienced the Joy of Discovering Christ should naturally and enthusiastically seek out others to introduce to Christ
cf. the enthusiasm of little children when they share some new discovery
“we have found the Messiah”- tone of unexpected, joyful discovery
IV. (:42) THE JOY OF DISCOVERY “You are … You shall be”
Simon Peter receives the hope and vision of what God’s grace will accomplish in his character and role in life
A new cycle starts on the next day
V. (:43-44) THE INITIAL WITNESS OF CHRIST TO PHILIP
very simple, clear, concise, authoritative “Follow Me”
we are really the ones found by Christ. It is His initiative.
“We love Him because He first loved us.”
“of the city of Andrew and Peter” — their testimony had prepared him to respond to Christ
VI. (:44-45) THE JOY OF DISCOVERY
Jesus, still at Bethany beyond the Jordan, decided to cross over to the western shores of the Jordan and to proceed from there to Galilee.
– word order of the Greek — very first word is a reference to the Messiah;
– last word is “Nazareth” — these two concepts were self-contradictory to Nathaniel; inconsequential character of the place (Wyclif)
VII. (:45-46) THE PROMPTING OF NEW WITNESSING BY PHILIP TO NATHANAEL
Explanation of Nathaniel’s almost scornful response:
1) caused by cross-town rivalry
2) what prophecy is there that relates the Messiah to Nazareth?
VIII. (:47-51) THE JOY OF DISCOVERY (DESPITE INITIAL SKEPTICISM)
Christ had in mind the cunning of Jacob — Gen. 27:35 Isaac says to Esau, “Thy brother came with guile, and has taken away thy blessing”
this use of trickery for selfish advantage had become so charac. of the Jews that Jesus expressed his amazement at meeting a really honest and sincere Israelite
both in this instance and in the case of the woman at the well in John 4, the Lord’s perfect knowledge of the secret things of the individual was the turning point (Ryle)
what are these “greater things” ? (Hendriksen)
the recognition that Jesus is not only the Son of God but also the Son of Man; hence the Ladder between God and man, and that he would use all his attributes for the purpose of saving the elect form every nation, to the glory of God
there must be a future fulfillment as well when Christ returns to reign; cf. Mat. 26:64 (refs. to the Book of Daniel)
Stedman: This is a reference to the dream that Jacob had centuries earlier. Jacob left his home, fleeing from the wrath of his brother Esau, and headed for his uncle’s home in far-off Aram. At the site of the little city of Bethel (now in Israel), he had a dream. Lonely and frightened, Jacob put his head on a stone for a pillow, fell asleep, and dreamed that he saw a ladder reaching up to heaven, and on it saw the angels of God ascending and descending. Jesus said to Nathanael, “You are going to understand that dream when you learn of me. You will learn that I am the way to God for man, and the way for God to reach man. I am the link, the mediator, who spans the gulf between God and man.” Our Lord intended this to be understood by all his disciples. When you come to know Jesus you have found God.
ASIDE:
This whole section demonstrates Christ’s ability to lead men
1) with Andrew and John — the perfect, sinless Lamb of God makes Himself accessible so that people can check Him out;
welcomes scrutiny of His life
2) with Simon Peter — the Messiah (the anointed one)
gives people new vision and new character and capability to fulfill that vision
3) with Philip — Jesus of Nazareth, the one spoken of in the OT
challenges men to follow His lead; speaks with authority
4) with Nathaniel — the Son of God, the King of Israel
able to perceive and satisfy man’s deepest needs
Christ refers to Himself simply as the Son of Man (:51)
(roots in Dan. 7:13 supernatural one from heaven)
preferable than “Messiah” which conjured up many false political expectations on the part of the Jews