Come and see!

John 1:35-51
Key verse 1:39

„‘Come,’ he replied, ‘and you will see.’ So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him. It was about the tenth hour.”

Introduction

In today’s passage we learn who Jesus’ first disciples were, how they met Jesus and their confession of faith „we have found the Messiah“. When they met Jesus, they preached that Jesus is the Messiah. Let us learn more about Jesus and about witness of first disciples.

Let us pray that we may become good Bible teachers, great shepherds for European students, Jesus’ humble disciples and global leaders.

1. Come and see (35-42)

Look at verses 35-36. „The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God!’“ John the Baptist was last prophet of Old Testament. He preached the baptism of repentance to prepare the way for Jesus the Lord. He became known as the forerunner of Jesus. John witnessed to people that Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes sins of world on himself.

Next day John was there again with his two disciples. He saw Jesus and told them again: „Look, the Lamb of God!“ Look at verse 37. What happened when he witnessed? „When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.” These disciples were apostles Andrew and John, the author of gospel. From this we learn how to become true Jesus’ disciples. We have to witness Jesus.

Everything begins with witness. Can you imagine what would have happened if John the Baptist didn’t witness? We would have had no apostle John or Andrew. We would have had no apostle Peter, because he was the brother of Andrew. And we would have had no John’s gospel. It means I would have nothing to talk about today. I think that Christoph Tornau would have same problem tomorrow. Many people among you are new generation. You are here today. One day somebody would say that he witnessed you here today.

Look at verse 38. „Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, ‘What do you want?’ They said, ‘Rabbi’ (which means Teacher), ‘where are you staying?’“ „What do you want?“ It looks like simple question. But for Jesus it had special meaning. Jesus wanted to know their motivation clearly and goal for following. Most of people came to Jesus just to be cured from their illnesses or to watch miracles. When disciples asked, „Rabbi, where are you staying?”, they were seeking for truth. They wanted to stay with Jesus and see, whether he is truly the Lamb of God.

Look at verse 39. „‘Come,’ he replied, ‘and you will see.’ So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him. It was about the tenth hour.” Tenth hour is 4:00 pm. This means that Jesus invited them to visit him. Who seeks the truth and wants to know Jesus, will see him. They stayed one day with him and heard the Word of God. They opened their spiritual eyes and found the Messiah. They tasted God’s kingdom.

Look at verses 40-41. „Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (that is, the Christ).” After he personally met Jesus, Andrew believed that Jesus is the Messiah. So, he first found his brother Simon and said to him: „We have found the Messiah.” For the Hebrew Messiah means the Savior of the world. Messiah is the one who saves people from their sins. He is the answer for everyone. Jesus is the solution to all our life problems. We have to come to Jesus and find the Messiah who saves us from our sins.

Look at verse 42 what Andrew did: „And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas (which, when translated, is Peter).’” At that time Peter was an ordinary fisher, but Jesus saw in him the hope of God. Jesus sees the hope of God in everyone of us. When Jesus’ disciples met the Messiah personally, their life has completely changed. An ordinary fisher became a great fisher of men. Children of darkness became children of light. Unknown young men became global leaders and well-known Bible teachers.

Three years ago I was a second year student of systems engineering. I worked as a technician in University and studied hard for whole day. In the evening I usually went out for beer or apple juice with my friend Táňa. After that I spent my time with my computer whole night. I felt lonely and meaningless. I saw my parents get divorced and I asked to myself about the meaning of my life. Sometimes when I was sad, I walked on the street in the night until the next morning. I began to think about dropping school, going back to hometown and asking for the job as a librarian again.

But God loved me. In spring 2007, somebody knocked my door. Msn. Hannah Shin and msn. Joshua Kang invited me to Sunday worship service. I wondered how they could know me. The fact was that they knocked every door in my dormitory and I was the first one who opened.

Come and see. When I visited first UBF worship service, I was so surprised. Msn. Hannah Shin delivered an interesting message. Everybody was happy that I came and they loved me. They even allowed me to sing. ♪♫♪

Come and see. From that time on I started to attend our worship service and study the Bible with msn. Hannah Shin. I attended the Czech Spring Bible Conference in Český ráj. Through messages and life testimonies I accepted the Word from Mark 8:29, Peter’s confession „You are the Christ”. I accepted that Jesus is my Messiah, my Lord and my Savior.

God really blessed me. He gave me God’s hope and a new life in Christ and many new friends. From a lonely and depressed unknown technician who had no faith and no desire for study, he changed me into a successful student with a new spiritual identity as a Bible teacher and a source of blessing for czech ministry. By God’s grace I’m preaching here now as a Global leader.

I would like to tell you, if you are alone, if you are sad and depressed, if you have no vision and meaning of life, or you are seeking for the truth – Come and see.

If Andrew didn’t confess to his brother Peter, Peter would have not met Jesus. If he didn’t confess to his brothers he would not have become a disciple of Jesus. In the same way we have to confess to students about Jesus’ gospel. I must testify to Czech students that Jesus is the Messiah, as Andrew did: „I found Messiah. Come and see.” and invite them to our worship service in order to let them hear the word of Jesus. In our ministry in Czech we pray for brothers Tomás, Dan, Pavel, and sisters Jana, Alena, Kristýna and Katka.

When we visit students each week and we invite them to Bible study, it seems to be crazy, but God is pleased with it. Being a shepherd means to lead people to God. I must preach the word of God like Andrew, because I have found the Messiah. Then I can be a disciple of Jesus.

2. You will see greater things (43-50)

Look at verse 43: „The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, ‘Follow me.’” When Jesus saw Philip, Philip looked like a smart, elegant and intellectual leader but he was a little negative-minded and very selfish. He needed training. So Jesus said to him: „Follow me.” Then Philip found Nathanael and told him about Jesus based on the Old Testament. Look at verses 45-46. „Philip found Nathanael and told him, ‘We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote – Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.’ ‘Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?’ Nathanael asked. ‘Come and see,’ said Philip.”

Jesus called Philip, saying, ‘Follow me.’ When Philip followed Jesus, he recognized him as the Messiah. When Nathanael heard that Jesus is from Nazareth, he rejected him because Messiah had come from the city of David. But Philip did not argue with him. He just said: „Come and see!”

We know this situation very well. When we invite the students they usually say: „But I don’t believe in God.” „I was on several worship services and I slept every time.” „I don’t like worship services.” „I am an atheist.” What they truly mean is: „Can anything good come from this?” What should we say to them? „Come and see! You will like it.”

Look at verse 47. „When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him: ‘Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false.’” Nathanael wondered how Jesus could know him. Jesus replied: „I saw you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.” Nathanael was amazed by Jesus’ supernatural knowledge.

Let us see what he declared in verse 49-50,: „Then Nathanael declared, ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.’ Jesus said, ‘You believe I told I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that.’” When Nathanael met Jesus personally, he found that Jesus is the Son of God. His problem of disbelief was solved. But that was just the beginning, the greater things just should come.

That’s same with us. We met Jesus personally. Therefore the word of God has to be delivered through us. Then we can become global leaders and see Portugal, Russia, England, Belgium, USA, Germany and Czech Republic to be a shepherd nation and Europe to be missionary sending continent.

Before that we have to meet the Messiah personally and then make the confession of faith.

In today’s passage, we learned that we need to meet Jesus personally as his first disciples and that we have to make confession, that we have found the Messiah. „Jesus is the Son of God. He is my Lord and Redeemer, who saved me from sin.” „Come and see!” „Come and you will see.”