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        "The Power of God’s Lamb"
        John 1:35-37
        Theme:         The truth of the Gospel draws men first to believe and as a result to follow Christ.


        1. His Power is Seen in the Groundwork – 1:35
          1. The Preparation of the Prophet
            1. Alexander McClaran stated: "In these verses we see the head waters of a great river, for we have before us nothing less than the beginnings of the Christian Church."
            2. This is the point at which people began to follow the Lord Jesus Christ – it began slowly, despite the declaration the previous day by the prophet, John the Baptizer.
            3. Through the millennia, prophets of God had prophesied of the coming of the Savior – many had died having never received what was promised – cp. Hebrews 11:32-40
            4. However, now – at the fullness of time – God enabled the greatest prophet of all to announce the fulfillment of the hope of all the godly.
            5. This was a great historical moment when the last of the Prophets stood face to face with the Fulfillment of all prophecy.
            6. However, God’s power and grace was clearly evident as He prepared this prophet and laid the groundwork through him for the declaration of Christ’s identity and purpose.
          2. The Preparation of the People
            1. What was the fruit of the ministry of John the Baptizer?
              1. The Religious Establishment rejected him as an insult to the lofty position of the Jews
              2. The People in general crowded around him in bewilderment and inquiry.
              3. However, very few stood ready to receive the Messiah upon His arrival.
            2. Here we find two who had been prepared by God to receive the truth about Jesus the Messiah – "two of [John’s] disciples"
            3. These two had heard the message of John concerning the arrival of the Messiah and had hearts that were affected by the truth – ready to be converted.
            4. Because of the preparatory work of God’s Spirit through John the Baptizer in the lives of these two men, all Jesus had to do was receive from the hands of His forerunner the souls that had been prepared for Him through John.
            5. This displays the power of the Lord Jesus Christ – in the work He performs in men’s hearts to draw them to Himself, and the willingness He has to use us – His servants.
        2. His Power is Seen in the Gospel – 1:36
          1. The Pronouncement of the Gospel
            1. Once again, John delights in the declaration of the truth about the Messiah – "Here He Is!"
            2. John’s eagerness and readiness to declare the truth of the Gospel is evident: "and he looked upon Jesus as He walked, and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God.’"
            3. Notice that the message did not need embellishment – John didn’t attempt to come up with something better or more original, but merely repeated the message from the day before: "Behold, the Lamb of God!"
          2. The Permanence of the Gospel
            1. Another principle learned from John’s repeated declaration is that the central and vital truth to be permanently focused upon in the preaching of the Church is the sacrificial work of Christ – Hebrews 9:14
            2. That Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died in our place – as a sacrifice for our sins – and completely secured our forgiveness by means of His work, is the epitome of subject matter for preaching – it doesn’t get any better than that!
            3. Paul said that he wasn’t interested in coming before people with the persuasive orations created by a man, but simply that he might preach Jesus Christ, and Him crucified – cp. 2 Corinthians 2:2
            4. Notice that it wasn’t preaching Christ in some inane context of simple goodwill, and that he accepts all men – but that the preaching of Christ centers on the cross – and that necessitates dealing with the issue of why He was there . . . to die in our place for our sin!
            5. This message must never change – it is a message of great love yes; but also one of great sorrow – over our sin that demanded such a sacrifice.
        3. His Power is Seen in the Gathering – 1:37
          1. The Personal Response to the Gospel
            1. Notice the impact of what was preached – "The two disciples heard him speak" – that is, they heard the declaration of the identity of the Savior.
            2. Their response was one of immediate faith – God did a work in their hearts to draw them to Christ in total confidence and faith.
            3. These two men were Andrew (cp. v. 40) and John – who rarely names himself in this book.
            4. They had been followers of John the Baptizer and were awaiting the fulfillment of his prophecy and now John extends a pointed finger toward Jesus and says in effect "This is Him whom your soul so long has craved – the Lamb of God"
            5. So many of us can be like they were – hungry for the fulfillment of our soul’s deep need – yearning to find Him who will satisfy our longing.
            6. Then, suddenly, He is before us – Jesus Christ and we see Him with the eye of faith and the One whom to us had previously only been a name is revealed by the Spirit of God as a living reality – cp. Job 42:5.
          2. The Personal Devotion to God
            1. The consequence of such a revelation is that we can no longer be satisfied to sit and listen to descriptions of Him, but we must rise and seek Him with all our heart.
            2. Andrew and John heard the message of Christ, saw Him for Who He is, "and they followed Him."
            3. Can we do anything less? Has the power of Christ prepared your heart to receive the blessed truth of the Gospel?
            4. Has He indeed died for your sin? Is the Lamb of God that takes away YOUR sin? If so, are you following Him? That becomes the natural consequence of truly meeting Him...

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