John 1:35-51

RECRUITED!

Life of Christ #8

 

Perhaps no missionary lived up to his name better than the one called Goforth. Jonathan Goforth, a Canadian by birth, has been called “China’s most outstanding evangelist.” Missionary historian Ruth Tucker writes, “Of all the missionaries who served in the Orient during the 19th and early 20th centuries, none saw a greater immediate response to his personal ministry than did Jonathan Goforth.”

 

Dr. Charles Trumbull said about him, “God’s missionary program for the past half-century would not have been complete without him.” Goforth became a powerful evangelist throughout Asia, a rarity for a Westerner, and his crowds sometimes numbered twenty-five thousand people. His Chinese home was open to inquirers—one day alone over two thousand showed up. Multitudes throughout the Orient came to Christ through Jonathan and his wife Rosaline. During his missionary career, fifty Chinese converts went out as ministers or evangelists.

 

What led Jonathan Goforth overseas?

 

He came to Christ at age eighteen, and shortly afterward yielded himself to fulltime service after reading Robert Murray M’Cheyne’s Memoirs. But it was Dr. George Mackay, veteran missionary to Formosa (Taiwan), who drew him to overseas work. Mackay had been traveling across North America for two years trying to recruit young men for Asian evangelism, but he grew bitterly discouraged. One night as Jonathan, a college student at the time, listened, Mackay pronounced himself a failure. All his travels had been in vain, for not one young man had said, “Yes.” The missionary had no choice but to return to Formosa alone, without anyone to carry on the work.

 

Mackay didn’t realize it, but his work wasn’t in vain after all. Jonathan later said about that evening: I heard the voice of the Lord saying: “Who will go for us and whom shall we send?” and I answered: “Here am I, send me.” From that hour I became a foreign missionary.^[1]

 

This is just one instance of someone who was recruited by the Lord Jesus Christ. Countless thousands, of preachers, evangelists, Sunday School teachers, and missionaries have been recruited to serve the Lord Jesus Christ.  And every one of us who has trusted the Lord Jesus as Savior has been recruited to be a disciple, a committed follower of our Lord and Master.

 

As we continue our study of the Life of Christ this morning, we see Jesus recruiting the first of his disciples.  In previous weeks we saw the baptism of Jesus, the temptation of Jesus, and last week, the identification of Jesus as the Lamb of God and as the Son of God by John the Baptist. This happened after Jesus had returned from being tempted.

 

The first recruits were men whom we can learn from.  Each one of the four mentioned by name in this passage have something to teach us. We find:

 

A DISCIPLE WITH A CHAMPION – Vss. 35-41

A DISCIPLE WITH COURAGE – Vs. 42

A DISCIPLE WITH A CAUSE – Vs. 43

A DISCIPLE WITH CHARACTER – Vss. 44-51

 

BACKGROUND

 

Vs. 35 – This is the day after John has identified Jesus as the

               Messiah.

 

There were two disciples with him, Andrew, and most likely, John, the human author of this Gospel.

 

Vs. 36-37 – John saw Jesus again.  This time Jesus was just

walking by.  John reiterated to these two disciples that here was the Lamb of God.  He made it very clear that here was the one, the Messiah that John had been preaching about.

 

Note that John was always pointing people to Jesus and away from himself.  In making this designation, John must have realized, or even desired that these two disciples would start following Jesus. That’s exactly what they did.

 

Vss. 38-39 – Jesus asked what they were looking for.

The disciples were basically asking private time with the Lord Jesus. 

“Where are you living?” they ask.

“Come and see,” was Jesus’ reply.

Jesus was ready to spend time with these men.

Jesus is ready to spend time with any person who wants to learn from Him.

We should be ready to spend time with anyone who wants to learn about the Lord Jesus.

The time of day was probably about 4:00 in the afternoon.

We don’t know what happened in that private meeting, but we do know that these two disciples came out of that meeting believing on the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

A DISCIPLE WITH A CHAMPION – Vss. 40-41

 

Vs. 40 – One of the first two to follow Jesus was Andrew.  Andrew was a fisherman and partner with his brother, Simon Peter.

 

Many people in John’s day knew about Peter.  Evidently, not so many knew about Andrew. 

 

Andrew was one of those guys who kind of flew below the radar.  Probably few knew Him.  Everybody knew his brother.

 

Andrew was not as well known or probably as talented as Peter, but Andrew had a champion.  And the first person Andrew wanted to tell about His champion was his brother.

 

Vs. 41 – Israel was waiting for the Messiah, the Christ, the Anointed One from God.  Andrew announces to his brother, Peter, “We have found the Messiah!”

 

Andrew had a champion.

·        As Andrew’s champion, Andrew believed on Jesus as Savior.

·        As Andrew’s champion, Andrew believed on Him, as Lord and Master.

·        As Andrew’s champion, Andrew wanted his brother, Peter to believe on the Lord Jesus too.   

·        As Andrew’s champion, Andrew was known for bringing people to the Lord Jesus. 

Andrew is mentioned three times in this Gospel, and each time he is bringing someone to the Lord Jesus. He wanted for people to know his champion.

 

Is the Lord Jesus your champion?

·        Is Jesus your champion because you have trusted Him as your Savior?  That is, have you stopped trying to earn your own way to Heaven, and admitted that you need help, because you are a sinner?  That is, have you placed your faith in what Jesus did on the cross, dying for your sins as sufficient payment to be forgiven?

 

Romans 5:1 - Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

 

·        Is Jesus your champion because you have trusted Him as your Savior?

·        Is Jesus your champion because you have trusted Him as Lord and Master?

Everyone is going to be controlled by something or someone.

Some are controlled, by a husband, wife, father, mother, sister, brother, boss or friend.

Some are controlled by the love of money.

Some are controlled by a job.

Some are controlled by a diversion or hobby.

Some are controlled by physical desires for such things, food, drink, or sex.

Some are controlled by their own egos.

 

And like it or not, whatever controls us, is our champion!

 

Matthew 6:24 - No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

 

Jesus should be our champion!

 

2 Corinthians 5:14-15 - For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: [15] And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

 

Remembering that Jesus is God, listen to this little poem.

I am not sent a pilgrim here,
My heart with earth to fill;
But I am here God’s grace to learn,
And serve God’s sovereign will.

He leads me on through smiles and tears,
Grief follows gladness still;
But let me welcome both alike,
Since both work out his will.

No service in itself is small,
None great, though earth it fill;
But that is small that seeks its own,
And great that seeks God’s will.

Then hold my hand, most gracious Lord,
Guide all my doings still;
And let this be my life’s one aim,
To do, or bear thy will. Source unknown http://www.bible.org/illus.asp?topic_id=906

If Jesus is your champion, you should be available to do whatever He wants you to do.  

 

·        Is Jesus your champion because you have trusted Him as your Savior?

·        Is Jesus your champion because you have trusted Him as Lord and Master?

·        Is Jesus your champion because you want others to know your champion?

   

Andrew simply brought his brother to Jesus.

Who is it that you know that needs to make Jesus their champion?

You don’t need a PhD. As we said last week, just tell them what’s happened to you!

   

A DISCIPLE WITH A CHAMPION – Vss. 35-41

A DISCIPLE WITH COURAGE – Vs. 42

 

Andrew probably had no idea that his brother would turn out to be one of the most famous and effective of all the Apostles. 

 

And we never know how the Lord Jesus will use those whom we bring to Christ.  They very well could outshine us!

 

Vs. 42 – Andrew brought Peter to Jesus.

Jesus gave Peter a new name.

Jesus saw in Peter a rock or a stone.

Jesus saw in Peter a man of courage, of boldness, who would preach boldly and live boldly for Christ.

 

But if you know anything about Peter, you know that he was very impetuous, up one moment and down another.  You also know that he denied the Lord Jesus three times.

 

How could Jesus nickname this type of man, “Rock”?

It is because Jesus knew what He would do for Peter.

It is because Jesus knew that when He sent Peter and the other Apostles the Holy Spirit that they would be empowered men who would boldly show courage.

 

·        It was Peter who boldly preached on the Day of Pentecost and saw 3,000 converts.

·        When Peter and John were not to speak in the name of the Lord Jesus, their response was courageous in Acts 4:20, For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

·        When Peter and the other Apostles were confronted because they were preaching about the Lord Jesus, they said in Acts 5:29, We ought to obey God rather than man.

 

We live in a day when people don’t want you sharing your Christian faith.

We live in a day when you may be criticized if you tell people that Jesus is the only way to Heaven.

We live in a day when some want the Christian message silenced.

The Lord wants people who, through the His empowering have courage.

Last week Amanda McKinley was passing out tracts in a New York Subway.  She’s witnessing in the cities this summer through Word of Life.

They were told by police that they were forbidden to hand out tracts, while others were permitted to hand out flyers for other things. Amanda has God given courage.

Amanda ended up talking to the police officer, giving him a tract, and the Police offer asked for another tract for his friend.

 

Just like Peter, we will not have courage until we allow God’s Holy Spirit to control us.

John 15:4 - Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

 

A DISCIPLE WITH A CHAMPION – Vss. 35-41

A DISCIPLE WITH COURAGE – Vs. 42

A DISCIPLE WITH A CAUSE – Vs. 43

   

Vs. 43 - A third disciple is mentioned by name.

              His name was Phillip.

Jesus simply said, “Follow Me”.

One verse tells us about Phillip’s recruitment.

But those 2 words, “follow me” speak volumes.

When we follow someone or something, that someone or something becomes our “cause”.

It is what we stand for.

It is what we live for.

One cannot be a disciple of Christ unless He is willing to make Jesus his cause.

Jesus is very stringent on the requirements for following Him.

 

John 12:24-26 - Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. [25] He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. [26] If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

 

To follow Jesus we must die to ourselves.

To follow Jesus we must despise our own lives in favor of Jesus.

To follow Jesus we must accept His leadership and His plan for our lives.

To Follow Jesus we must be faithful.

Luke 9:62 - And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

 

Phillip had a cause. Do you?

Is it the right cause?

Is your cause the Lord Jesus Christ?   

 

A DISCIPLE WITH A CHAMPION – Vss. 35-41

A DISCIPLE WITH COURAGE – Vs. 42

A DISCIPLE WITH A CAUSE – Vs. 43

A DISCIPLE WITH CHARACTER – Vss. 44-51

 

Vs. 44-45 – Notice that Phillip shared His cause.  When a cause is truly important to you, you will share it.

 

Phillip gave Nathaniel a summary of who they found.

Although we know that Jesus is the Son of God, he would have been known by his guardian on earth’s name, Joseph,

Hence, Phillip calls him, Jesus the Son of Joseph.”

 

Vs. 46 – Nathaniel was a man without deceit or guile.

               Nathaniel would tell you what he thought.

               He was no hypocrite.

So, “He asks, can any good come from Nazareth?”

Evidently, the reputation of Nazareth, just four miles from Bethsaida, where Nathaniel lived, was not very good.

 

Phillip’s answer was very profound, “Come and See”.

Rather than argue with Nathaniel, Nathaniel was invited to experience Jesus for himself.

 

Vs. 47 – Jesus knows his disciples even before they sign up.

Jesus gives his assessment of Nathaniel before actually meeting him.

Jesus didn’t see a sinless man, but he saw a man of character.  He saw a man, who was without deceit. He was straightforward, honest.

 

Vs. 48 – Nathaniel wondered how Jesus knew Him.

Evidently Nathaniel had been sitting under a fig tree by himself with nobody around.  And whatever Nathaniel was thinking under that fig tree were thoughts that showed him to be without deceit.

 

Vs. 49 – This was it all it took for Nathaniel. As a man of faith he declared Jesus to be Son of God and King of Israel.

 

Vss. 50-51 – Jesus basically told Nathaniel, “You ain’t seen nothing yet!” 

The allusion is to “Jacob’s ladder” that Jacob had seen in a dream.  A ladder or a stairway connects two places.

Jacob ’s ladder connected Heaven and Earth.

Jesus Christ is the ladder that bridges God and Man.

Jesus is the ladder that makes access to Heaven possible.

God’s blessing is brought to earth through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Nathaniel was a disciple with character.

Do you have that same character of being honest in all your dealings?

Do you have that same character that honestly proclaims Jesus to be the Son of God?

 

There are four disciples mentioned by name.

Each one has something to teach us.

 

ANDREW, A DISCIPLE WITH A CHAMPION PETER, A DISCIPLE WITH COURAGE

PHILLIP, A DISCIPLE WITH A CAUSE NATHANIEL, A DISCIPLE WITH CHARACTER