John 1:35-51 | Following Jesus
1. Following Jesus begins with a realization that it is Christ, and Christ only, who takes away sin.
John 1:35-37 35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.
John 1:29 29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
Matthew 1:21 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
2. Jesus is watching and waiting for us to turn to Him.
John 1:38a 38 Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?”
Luke 15:20 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.
3. Following Jesus means we give up ourselves to be ruled and taught by Him.
John 1:38b 38 Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?”
Acts 2:26 36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
4. Jesus’ invitation to follow Him is open and immediate.
John 1:39 39 He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.
2 Corinthians 6:2 2 For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
5. Following Jesus means Jesus is changing us.
John 1:40-42 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter).
- New identity –
1 Cor 6:19-20 “Not your own… bought with a price…”
Gal 3:26-27 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
- New perspective –
2 Cor 5:17 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
- New mission/purpose –
Matt 4:19 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
6. Followers of Jesus invite others to follow Him too.
John 1:43-46 43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. 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 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”
7. When you follow Jesus he will continually amaze you.
John 1:47-51 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” 48 Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” 49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” 50 Jesus answered 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, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
