FBCWest 326 | They Followed Jesus
Recorded On: 03/03/2019
Bulletin
FBCWest
March 3, 2019
“God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and truth.”
“He Is Exalted”
PRAISE AND WORSHIP
SCRIPTURE READING – Psalm 108:1 - 5
“Lifesong”
“Your Great Name”
“Hello Hurricane”
of a Lifetime”
GIVING OF SELVES AND OUR OFFERINGS
OFFERTORY PRAYER
SPECIAL MUSIC – By Pru Hungate
PROCLAMATION OF THE WORD
MESSAGE Pastor Joe
“THE LIFE AND MINISTRY OF JESUS THE MESSIAH”
“They Followed Jesus”
Time of Reflection
PRAYER TIME –
“I Have Decided”
Benediction “Only Jesus”
SERMON NOTES
John 1:35 – 42 Two of John’s disciples follow Andrew brings his brother Simon
John 1:43 – 51 Philip brings Nathaniel to Jesus
Scritpures
John 1:35 – 42 Two of John’s disciples follow Andrew brings his brother Simon
John 1:35 Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciples,
John 1:36 and he looked at Jesus as He walked, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God!"
John 1:37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
John 1:38 And Jesus turned and saw them following, and said to them, "What do you seek?" They said to Him, "Rabbi (which translated means Teacher), where are You staying?"
John 1:39 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 8tenth hour.
John 1:40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.
John 1:41 He found first his own brother Simon and *said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which translated means Christ).
John 1:42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon the son of John; you shall be called Cephas" (which is translated Peter).
John 1:43 – 51 Philip brings Nathaniel to Jesus
John 1:43 The next day He purposed to go into Galilee, and He found Philip. And Jesus *said to him, "Follow Me."
John 1:44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter.
John 1:45 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."
John 1:46 Nathanael said to him, "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see."
John 1:47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!"
John 1:48 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."
John 1:49 Nathanael answered Him, "Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel."
John 1:51 And He said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man." 1. Or overpower 2. Or came into being 3. Or which enlightens every person coming into the world 4. Or own things, possessions, domain 5. The Gr here can be translated in, with or by 6. The Gr here can be translated in, with or by 7. The Gr here can be translated in, with or by 8. Perhaps 10 a.m. (Roman time)
Transcript of Service
These 2 disciples.
Take the testimony of who from their their rabbi their leader John.
Knowing that John's ministry has never been that he is the Messiah but that he was always the forerunner of the Messiah there. When John says this is the one who have been speaking of these 2 disciples of John decide to follow Jesus.
And Jesus turn and said them saw them following and set it him.
What do you seek and they said to him rabbi which is translated means teacher? Where are you staying now it's interesting that right away. They call him rabbi or teacher or master because if anything, it's been John who they've been following but since they?
The testimony of John that this is the Messiah. The Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world that they're immediately going to follow him as their master their teacher there rabbi.
So they want to know where are you staying?
And 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 was about the 10th hour now for us. That's not 10 AM. That's about 4 PM. So they follow him. They find out where he's saying and they spend the rest of that day.
Communicating with Jesus where he was and one of the 2 heard John speak and followed him was Andrew Simon Peters brother.
So Andrew.
Is an interesting person Andrew means manly and the gospels? Andrew is never really highlighted disciple?
And you can kind of see 'cause we will get to know his brother Peter, who's always the one who seems to be in the center of attention always being the one who speaks always seems to be the one who acts Andrew is always kind of been kind of the background person when we see later in the gospels.
Of the 12 there always kind of listed in 3 different groups 3 groups of 4 in Andrews always listed in the first group, but the last of the first group, so he's if you will influential but doesn't isn't in the main flow of the story.
But I find it interesting what Andrew does.
One of the 2 who heard John speak with being John's disciples and follow him was Andrew Simon Peters brother and he found first his own brother, Simon and said to him. We have found the Messiah, which translates means Christ. Andrew immediately doesn't keep it to himself.
Andrew shows 2 things that he believes that Jesus is the Messiah and acts on it by bringing his brother to the Lord.
His following Christ is more than just following Christ, he wants to make sure that his brother also does so, so he brings Peter Simon Peter to him, you brought him to Jesus in Jesus looked at him and said, You are Simon the.
You shall be called Seafest, which is translated Peter so we immediately. Peter if you will get a new name Peter. It was Simon and it gives us both the Greek and the air make form of his name.
But Andrew's first response into finding the Messiah was to see that his brother came as well.
Many decades ago, when we used to have revivals one of the things that would kind of would be used to promote revival was operation. Andrew and operation. Andrew was where you would try to invite people to come to the revival to hear the word of the Lord.
To be saved and so there was a sense of Andrew was one of those people who hang but if you will operation Andrew is really operation get my family saved.
'cause that's what Andrew does he goes to his brother now. I suspect Andrew knew exactly who is brother was 'cause not only did they grow up in the same home, they were business partners?
He was a fisherman along with Peter and James and John so it's not like Andrew didn't know.
His brother.
And knowing his brother and that he might even take a back seat to his brother. He loves his brother enough to bring him anyway.
The next day, he proposed to go to Galilee and he found Phillip.
And Jesus said to him follow Maine.
Now fill up was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter so there's again this connection that there in the same place. But Phillip is a Greek name. It means the lover of horses. It's interesting that Jesus sees Simon's.
And changes his name to Peter Little Stone.
But fill up a Jew, but with a Greek name, he doesn't change the name.
But he calls him now notice both the 2 disciples of John.
Follow Jesus based on John's testimony and then they discovered who Jesus further was by meeting with him.
And Rogen brings Simon but Jesus now calls Phillip separately to come.
Now fill up in the future will be one will be interested in the cost of things when Jesus goes to feed. The thousands and there's no there's no food. He's a wonder says, but there's not enough money. Even we had this amount of money it would not.
Read everyone, but Phillip was also the one.
During.
Passover or the Jewish.
Christian I mean, the Jewish believers who were of Greek background came to Phillip to meet with Jesus so Phillip would be a conduit in that sense.
But notice again what Phillip Tus.
Phillip found.
Nathaniel and he said to him. We have found him of who Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph Phillip know something about Jesus thought about her come. Follow me and then immediately Phillip goes to.
Phillip learns who he's following and comes to the conclusion that Jesus is the Messiah.
And knows enough when he discusses it with Nathaniel tells Nathanael about how we know that this is the Messiah because Moses wrote of him and the prophets wrote of him and that's the one that I'm going to bring. You too, and his background is he's from Nazareth.
Ported son of Joseph.
Nathaniel, which means
When the Faneuil from Canaan, an it means God has given Nathaniel's responses and oh boy, I believe you his responses.
Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?
Now, some will say that that's kind of A.
Prejudice view.
The Faneuil come from Kane in a small town of several miles. Not that far from Nazareth Nazareth has a more northerly town.
Then I said that that when the Romans needed workers. They would come to Nazareth and take him to do work or whatever, but there's a sense of.
Whenever but I suspect is that is much prejudice as it is since.
Philippos told Nathaniel.
We found the Messiah the one that the profits and Moses has written about Nathaniel knows enough to say nothing comes from Nazareth.
He didn't say he was born in Bethlehem. He didn't say the things that that later we knew know of Jesus.
But it came from Nazareth now.
Phillip could have been like us so well, I tried.
And walk away, said Well, you know, I tried to lead him to the Lord. But he just wouldn't listen.
Phillip said to him come and see.
You talk to him, you decide whether he's the Messiah or not for your own. I know that we have talked to him. I know he's called me to follow him and I believe that he is the Messiah.
You come and see.
So it wasn't dissuaded.
By that comments and Jesus on Nathaniel coming to him and he said of him. Behold and Israel in the Israelite indeed whom there is no deceit.
That's just comment about McDaniel, which is interesting because in essence Jesus is it guiding all the juice.
Why?
Because Israel was Jacob and Jacob was the one who decide disguised himself and deceived his father into getting the birthright.
You see Jacob was in the perfect man.
He wasn't beyond deceit and whatever else that it took to acquire what it was. He wanted and Jesus says. I see this one. And he's an Israelite there is no deceit. There is no guile. She's if you will an honest man.
Yeah.
And a spaniel, said him how do you know me?
Interesting his comment one is well. How do you know who I am not only just how do you know my name but how is it that you know the character, the content of my character.
Now, if he were falsely humble he could have said Well, you know, I'm not really. That honest of a man or whatever, he doesn't say that he goes Jesus understands who I am.
And then Jesus says.
Jesus answered and said to him before Phillip called you when you were under the fig tree. I saw you.
Now that may tell Jesus what he looked like. But it doesn't give him his name and doesn't give him the content of his character unless Jesus is no ordinary man.
And Jesus is no ordinary man.
The Faneuil answered him rabbi you are the son of God. You are the King of Israel. So this is 2 comments that Nathaniel makes in his profession of faith.
He is the son of God, everybody's been saying he's been the Messiah. No one is talked about the Messiah being the son of God is just at the Messiah was going to be the King of Israel, but Nathaniel understands that Jesus is more than just the Messiah.
He is the son of God and he makes that declaration of faith and also says that he is the King of Israel, which he acknowledges that Jesus is his King because he's an israelite.
The son of God, the King of Israel.
And Jesus answered and said to him because I said to you, that I saw you under the fig tree do you believe?
Jeez assassin.
By just revealing this amount of information you now have faith.
10 shooting, we've now seen.
Andrew and the other disciple whose probably John.
And now Simon later called Peter and Phillip in Nathaniel, all coming to the conclusion that Jesus is the Messiah based on the limited information that they have whether it's the testimony of John the baptizer or is there.
Kostas and discussion with Jesus.
Their faith is in operation now notice is not perfect faith.
Because there's going to be 3 and a half years that they're going to travel with Jesus and they're going to learn more and they're going to understand more, but they're still not going to have great tremendous faith until there is an event that happens called the resurrection.
But notice each of these have come to faith based on the information they have and based on their contact with Jesus.
And notice that each of these we see.
And their response seeking others weather loved ones. Family members or in Phillips case. Probably a good friend. So we probably should call instead of Operation Andrew probably could call it operation Phillip.
But their responses come and see Jesus.
They didn't wait to spend 3 and a half years under the tutelage of Jesus before they became Proclaimers of who he is.
Similarly, we do not have to have a PhD in theology in order to be witnesses of him.
Once we have come to the realization that he is the Messiah. We take that amount of faith and we
Reveal to others who is an when they ask us questions that we can answer and they will definitely ask those questions that we can answer they'll say come and see.
I may not have the answer, but there might be someone who does or I do know that Jesus does come and see him.
All too often, we want to have all the answers before we give any.
And I suspect.
If you have come to the realization that Jesus is the Messiah.
That, he had some you had some questions that had to be answered before you did that.
You could start with those.
Well II questioned this and I question that and you may and understand that we don't come here as blank slates who say well. My parents believe therefore, we all have to come to the understanding the knowledge of who Jesus is.
All too often that's the reason so many children leave the faith is because it was a faith of their parents not their faith.
And they go to college in here all of the.
Information that they receive.
From their professors.
Never having ants ask those questions of themselves and say, well, what my parents believe must have been a bunch of.
God in the gaps and therefore I'll just walk away because science tell me something different.
But when we translate faith to faith it's their faith, not ours.
So.
Don't wait.
To be a PhD in theology before you witness with God, has done for you.
But Jesus goes on to say if you believe based on that.
Boy, do, I have something for you?
Because I've said you that I saw you under the fig tree do you believe you will see greater things than these?
Is there cause you to believe wait till you see what I've got in store and he said to him truly, truly now when Jesus says truly truly.
Since I've been using school and stuff. This is like it's on the test. He saying something important. It's time to write it down truly truly. I say to you. You will see the heavens open and the Angels of God. This ascending and descending on the son of Man now this should cause.
The Faneuil, who understands the word of God to understand something that his father Jacob.
On a journey was tired and decided to lay down and sleep at a place near Bethel and laid his head on a stone.
And in that drain, he saw a ladder.
But the Angels of God, ascending and descending on it, and Jesus says that ladder is me and you're going to see heavenly things in spiritual things happening that.
The world would love to see.
You have little faith, I'm going to show you great things.
You hear people on television talking about having great faith and if you only have this amount of faith. These things will happen.
Jesus is rewarder of those who have little faith because from Little Faith. He can grow it. The problem is like with the Pharisees, they had no faith.
But Jesus says if you believe in these little things, I'm going to show you some awesome spiritual things.
These 5 men.
Responded by the information that they had.
That Jesus was the Messiah.
The son of God.
So I started out this message by saying.
What if
You found the Messiah.
What would you do?
There are some who find him and they follow that they follow from a distance.
Never wanting to get too close to Jesus as they might actually have to be like him.
And then you'll get those who will follow him because.
He gives miracles in bread and water in heels, and raises the dead and does all sorts of things and those things are exciting to be apart of their apart of it until Jesus starts teaching some really tough things.
One of the things that he taught that was difficult for them to accept as far as those who are following him was that they had to eat his flesh and drink his blood.
And a lot of people who follow Jesus left 'cause it was too hard are saying.
But those like these men continue to follow him because they said, who else has the words of life.
Now funny things remain. I guess it's because living some a couple thousand years later. His teaching of you must eat my flesh and drink my blood.
Just not nearly as hard as I'm supposed to love you. As he's loved you that's a hard saying.
Because how he loved you perfectly he loved you without condemnation. He loved you when it cost him.
And his teaching is I'm too. Love you, that way. And I'm in his teaching to you as you are to love me that way. But it isn't on the love you. That way when you love me. That way it's under love you. That way, regardless of what you do in return, 'cause That's how Jesus loved.
Then he had a little other harder seems like we're supposed to love our enemies. Now I like the idea of crushing them.
But that's not his teaching.
These men followed him, either because they were.
Witness to or Jesus called them.
But they followed.
And they became different men that they were before they started following Jesus.
Are we different people now than when we first started following him?
Are we unchanged?
If we are unchanged and I suspect.
You may verbalize that Jesus is the son of God that he is the Messiah.
That you haven't convinced yourself.
Because it hasn't changed, you because he hasn't changed you.
You see becoming disciple of Christ isn't a matter of turning over a new leaf is a matter of dying to yourself and living to him.
That's what being a disciple is of price that's the one who follows him that's the one who emulates him.
And and I self.
For the better of the other.
Now the fortunate thing as we will see through the Ministry of Jesus that these.
Followers, who are not yet apostles.
We're going to see you later. He's going to call them again. And if you don't read all of the Gospels, who get the sense of all of a sudden Peter just drops everything in starts following him. That's an odd thing to do. But he's had a number of contact with Jesus. So when Jesus calls him out of his job out of his.
Being a fisherman and to do the business of fishing for men.
He's already had a relationship with Jesus.
Similarly.
When we are called by him.
Because we have a relationship with him.
And we follow him knowing.
Who is
If he is the son of God and he is.
Then he is worthy to be followed. He's worthy to for his teachings to be not just sayings but apply to our hearts in our lives.
If he is the Messiah and he is.
Then he is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
And I am now a child of God, because of him.
So I am more than just changed by who I am I am changed by what I am I am changed by what I do. I been changed by? What my motivation? Is I've been changed by? What my goals are I've been changed by all of what life has to offer because I have come to the realization imperfectly.
That, he is the son of God. The Messiah, the King not overly of Israel in my King.
And he is worthy of my worship, he is worthy of my.
Loyalty.
He is worthy of all that I am which is not enough.
So these 5.
Followed.
We're going to sing a song to says I have decided to follow Jesus.
We decide we don't go with the crowd because the crowd is going we go because we have come to the realization.
He is who he said yes. Now I have a great advantage over these 5 at this particular point in time. They came to the conclusion that he is the son of God.
By who he is, and what he's done.
I tell you other than that his spirit has born with my spirit that he's the son of God.
But there is one thing that confirms it.
That is, he rose from the dead.
Christianity rises and falls on that one fact.
If Jesus did not rise from the dead. We have wasted the time that we have been spent together.
We've wasted whatever ties and offerings you've given we've wasted our breath singing to the air.
But if he is.
And he did rise from the dead.
Not only was it not a waste of time, we should have even been more fervent in our worship more fervent in our praise and more fervent and being who he is called us to be.
Interesting he's not called us to be perfect, but he has called us to be like him.
Is my hope in my prayer?
That as I follow him.
I follow him.
And it is my hope in my prayer that as you follow him, you follow him not circumstance not blessings. Not good times. But you follow him because he is the Messiah and all gods people set.