Additional Thoughts on John Chapter 1
Greetings friends!
Well I hope to integrate blogging into a more regular part of my teaching ministry. Especially since I plan to do a great deal more expository preaching in the coming months, and this format can be useful to provide additional thoughts and clarifying information. At any rate, I enjoyed preaching the message Sunday: It's All About Jesus! And given that this Sunday is Mothers Day and John 2:5 is taylor made for such a day, I figured the blog would be a good way to share a few thoughts on the rest of John Chapter 1.
Thoughts on John 1:19-34
The first thing that grabs me is John's (the Baptist, JB for short) statement in verse 20 that "I am not the Messiah." I think every Christian needs to understand who they aren't as well as who they are. I simply love the humility of John the Baptist. As powerful a ministry as he had, he lived in a humble manner, knew he was simply a servant, and looked to deflect all glory to Christ (v27, 29-34). That's the kind of preacher I want to be! I believe that's the sort of Christians we should all want to be. Bold yet humble. Anointed yet self-effacing. Far from trying to gather followers to himself, JB made it a point to point his people to Jesus, and had no issues when they left him to follow the Master (v37). And isn't this the job of every preacher, leader, and believer...to point people to Jesus? Or as Henry Blackaby would say...to lead people onto God's agenda?
Thoughts on John 1:35-42
JB called Jesus the lamb of God. Although I'm not sure if JB's disciples knew that imagery pointed to suffering and sacrifice, they followed Christ nevertheless. I just love the fact that Jesus asked his new would-be followers straight up, "What do you want?" And at the risk of reading too much into their response, I love that they didn't respond, "We want a blessin!" LOLOLOL!! Their response seems to indicate they simply wanted to follow Him and be with Him. How many of us just want to be where He is, spend time with Him, and get to know Him? What would our lives be if all we wanted was more of Jesus not Jesus to give us more? What if He was "enough" (there pastor goes again!) for us?
And then of course is this powerful example of personal evangelism demonstrated by Andrew. The text says the first thing he did after following Jesus is go get his brother (Simon Peter) and "bring" him to Christ. It seems he was excited "we have found the Messiah" and given Peters revealed temperament elsewhere in the Gospels, probably determined as well! What if we rolled like dat! Can you imagine how God's church would explode with true conversions, or at a minimum, be suddenly filled with many, many people who don't know Christ and would therefore be exposed to the Gospel? Wow!
Thoughts on John 1:43-51
And the person to person evangelism continues! Jesus preaches a 2-word sermon ("Follow me") and wins Philip! (I wish I had it like that Lord!) Philip finds Nathanael and points him to Christ despite his negative attitude, and then we see a marvelous truth of Scripture. It's our job to share the message; Christ is the one who saves. Despite Nathanael's negativity, getting him in the presence of the Lord was all it took. Jesus comment seemed to reveal Nathanael's love for God's law and passion for God's precepts (which is probably why Philip's evangelistic style towards him mentioned Moses and the Law.) That was enough for Nathanael and he followed Christ.
I wonder what would happened if we (like Philip) pointed the people we love towards Christ and allowed Jesus minister to them?
Well I hope to integrate blogging into a more regular part of my teaching ministry. Especially since I plan to do a great deal more expository preaching in the coming months, and this format can be useful to provide additional thoughts and clarifying information. At any rate, I enjoyed preaching the message Sunday: It's All About Jesus! And given that this Sunday is Mothers Day and John 2:5 is taylor made for such a day, I figured the blog would be a good way to share a few thoughts on the rest of John Chapter 1.
Thoughts on John 1:19-34
The first thing that grabs me is John's (the Baptist, JB for short) statement in verse 20 that "I am not the Messiah." I think every Christian needs to understand who they aren't as well as who they are. I simply love the humility of John the Baptist. As powerful a ministry as he had, he lived in a humble manner, knew he was simply a servant, and looked to deflect all glory to Christ (v27, 29-34). That's the kind of preacher I want to be! I believe that's the sort of Christians we should all want to be. Bold yet humble. Anointed yet self-effacing. Far from trying to gather followers to himself, JB made it a point to point his people to Jesus, and had no issues when they left him to follow the Master (v37). And isn't this the job of every preacher, leader, and believer...to point people to Jesus? Or as Henry Blackaby would say...to lead people onto God's agenda?
Thoughts on John 1:35-42
JB called Jesus the lamb of God. Although I'm not sure if JB's disciples knew that imagery pointed to suffering and sacrifice, they followed Christ nevertheless. I just love the fact that Jesus asked his new would-be followers straight up, "What do you want?" And at the risk of reading too much into their response, I love that they didn't respond, "We want a blessin!" LOLOLOL!! Their response seems to indicate they simply wanted to follow Him and be with Him. How many of us just want to be where He is, spend time with Him, and get to know Him? What would our lives be if all we wanted was more of Jesus not Jesus to give us more? What if He was "enough" (there pastor goes again!) for us?
And then of course is this powerful example of personal evangelism demonstrated by Andrew. The text says the first thing he did after following Jesus is go get his brother (Simon Peter) and "bring" him to Christ. It seems he was excited "we have found the Messiah" and given Peters revealed temperament elsewhere in the Gospels, probably determined as well! What if we rolled like dat! Can you imagine how God's church would explode with true conversions, or at a minimum, be suddenly filled with many, many people who don't know Christ and would therefore be exposed to the Gospel? Wow!
Thoughts on John 1:43-51
And the person to person evangelism continues! Jesus preaches a 2-word sermon ("Follow me") and wins Philip! (I wish I had it like that Lord!) Philip finds Nathanael and points him to Christ despite his negative attitude, and then we see a marvelous truth of Scripture. It's our job to share the message; Christ is the one who saves. Despite Nathanael's negativity, getting him in the presence of the Lord was all it took. Jesus comment seemed to reveal Nathanael's love for God's law and passion for God's precepts (which is probably why Philip's evangelistic style towards him mentioned Moses and the Law.) That was enough for Nathanael and he followed Christ.
I wonder what would happened if we (like Philip) pointed the people we love towards Christ and allowed Jesus minister to them?
How movitating and encouraging to be more Christ minded. Yes to have it like JB, I'm thinking, hey!!! to have it like Pastor. You are definitely sold out for Jesus!!!! It has been so liberating for me to get it in my spirit that it's all about Jesus. It has caused me to look at everything with new eyes and new motives. I appreciate your live for Christ and for being a real example of what it is to live for Jesus and to be a real family man. I am greatly encouraged by you and Sister Donna for your undying love and committment to Christ and to CRCC.
Thanks,
Sister Karla
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