“A Journey with John” Day 3: Follow Me (John 1:35-51)

Last time, we started out on our journey with John. Amazingly, just in the first 34 verses, we have found out the foundation of basically everything we need to know about Jesus Christ. That is the amazing thing about John being our guide into the life and work of Jesus Christ. Now, from this point, we will be filling in the narrative, as John escorts us from scene to scene. Are you ready to start filling in the wonderful outline John has already given us about our Lord?

Then let’s go!

People to whom John has already introduced us:

>Eternal God - Creator

>Eternal Word - Creator

>John the Baptizer- “The voice of one crying in the wilderness,” sent by God to bear witness of the Light, Jesus Christ

>Jesus Christ - the Word Who became a human being, the Lamb of God, the unique, uncreated Son of God.

>Pharisees’ minions - came to get a report about who John the Baptizer was.

As we go further into John 1, we watch as the first disciples join Jesus.

On the next day, following the events, we considered last time, John, seeing Jesus, again says, “Behold the lamb of God.” Having heard this, two of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s Brother, and John, go and join Jesus. Andrew is specifically named; John is not. But because our guide often leaves his name out of a narrative, we can assume it was he. Andrew goes and finds his brother Simon, who Jesus renamed Cephas (meaning, A Stone). The day after this day, Jesus found Philip and asked him to follow him. Philip found Nathaniel and told him that they had found the one who Moses had prophesied. Nathaniel questions whether anything good can come out of Nazareth. In Jesus’ first interaction with Nathaniel, He spoke to him in such a way as to make Nathaniel realize He is who He says He is. Jesus then tells Nathaniel not to be amazed that He had seen him under the fig tree, as he would soon see heaven open and the angels of God descending and ascending upon the Son of Man. Here, Nathaniel would’ve known that Jesus was referencing Himself as being the bridge between heaven and earth, as seen in Jacob’s vision (Genesis 28).

Our highlighted verses for today:

“And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, “What do you seek?” They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), “where are You staying?” One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus. Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” (which is translated, A Stone). The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, “Follow Me.” 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.” And Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” And He said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.””

‭‭John‬ ‭1‬:‭36‬-‭38‬, ‭40‬-‭43‬, ‭45‬-‭46‬, ‭51‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Question for Reflection:

Why did Andrew and John leave John the Baptizer to follow Jesus?

Next time, Jesus goes to a wedding!

Peace to you.

Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!