Home Page

        Study the Bible
        with Pastor Gregory

        Would you like to ask Pastor Gregory a question?


        "The First to Follow"
        John 1:38-42
        Theme:         The heart that finds satisfaction in fellowship with Christ
        lives to tell about the changes that grace brings.

      1. They were Seeking Him – 1:38
          1. The Quest of The Heart
            1. Having been pointed to Jesus Christ by the ministry of John the Baptist, these two disciples of John’s begin following after Jesus.
            2. As they begin following Jesus, "Jesus turned and saw them following" – prompting Him to address them.
            3. He immediately asks them a question designed to cause introspection of their hearts: "What do you seek?"
                1. It is noteworthy that He didn’t ask them "WHO" they sought, but "WHAT" they sought.
                2. In the compassion of Christ’s heart for these men, He prompts them to evaluate what it was that was driving them to follow Him.
                3. Many people follow Christ for reasons varied:
                  1. ) Some follow because they they are so self-absorbed to think that they can get something from Him.
                  2. ) Others follow because they see it as the popular thing to do and a quick way to gain respect and greater esteem from others
                  3. ) Others follow because they sense a deep need of Him and are attracted by the glory of God possessed by the Son of God.
            1. What is your response to such a question? - Are you following Christ because of Christ Himself or merely because of what you can use Him to gain?
          1. The Question of the Hour
            1. Notice their response to His question: "They said to Him, ‘Rabbi (which translated means Teacher), where are You staying?’"
            2. In this response, they demonstrated a desire to commune with Him – to discover Him by means of a private audience with Him.
            3. They didn’t feel that an interview along a public road would be adequate.
            4. The quest of their hearts was an intimate knowledge of Him that could only be obtained by an extended time of private fellowship with Him - which He then provides.
            5. Are we satisfied with a casual awareness of Christ gained "along the way" as we come to church, listen to the radio, or read our devotional guides?
            6. Or, are we interested in personally communing with Him in the place of His own dwelling – to go home with Him and fellowship with Him in the glories of private audience?
            7. Such desires are common among those who are the genuine followers of Jesus – the Messiah.

        1. They were Satisfied with Him – 1:39-41
          1. The Basis Creating Their Satisfaction – v. 39
            1. In response to the expression of their hearts for an intimate audience, Christ issues an invitation to "Come, and you will see."
            2. As they communed with Christ, they saw the rude accommodations Christ enjoyed – the small, humble, tent-like structure He called home – cp. Luke 9:58
            3. If they were looking for something grand and temporally fulfilling, they would have turned away disappointed at the crudeness of what Christ had to offer.
            4. However, they were not looking for something earthly, for riches, or fame, or ease – but for something deeper – for the One promised by God who would provide for them spiritually.
            5. What drew them to Christ was the spiritual satisfaction found that placed their souls in a state of rest – notice: "and they stayed with Him that day, for it was about the tenth hour" (about 4:00 p.m.).
            6. The author takes note of the time merely because the event was so dynamic in changing his life that he recalls the precise moment when Christ offered him fellowship.
            7. Can we say that we have found the satisfaction of our hearts deepest desires in Christ Jesus, a satisfaction that is so constant that we can recall when it found its home in our hearts?
          2. The Burden Caused by Their Satisfaction – vv. 40-41
            1. As greatly fulfilling as this intimate fellowship with Jesus Christ is, it is never to be hoarded or consumed only for oneself.
            2. When we are satisfied in Christ, a burden for others is spawned in our hearts – for our hearts are conformed to that of Christ’s – who possesses the most evangelical heart of all – cp. Matthew 18:11
            3. This burden is displayed in Andrew: "One of the two who heard John speak and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He found first his own brother Simon . . ."
              1. Notice that the first thing Andrew did was leave the presence of the glorious Son of God – whose fellowship He would henceforth be compelled to enjoy – and seek to win others to Christ.
              2. He goes first to his brother Simon – a huge figure in the life of the Church – a very significant evangelistic effort.
            1. Here, we are told that the message shared by Andrew was "’We have found the Messiah’ (which translated means Christ)"
            2. All that is needed to tell a perishing sinner of the Savior is a heart acquaintance with Him yourself – which in itself will compel you to share Him.

        1. They Were Sanctified by Him – 1:42
          1. God’s Affection for the Sinner
            1. Andrew "brought him [Simon] to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon the son of John . . .’."
            2. The idea expressed in the term "looked at him" suggests that Jesus actually studied him (lit. = gaze earnestly or look intently).
            3. This demonstrates the fact that Jesus knew exactly who he had in front of Him: a man who was a big, awkward, impetuous, loud-mouthed, opinionated, short-tempered, and profane.
            4. Jesus knows us as we truly are – yet loves us enough to pick us up out of our condition and seat us in positions of honor before Him – Romans 5:6-8
            5. It is not necessary that we achieve some level of honorability or merit before Christ stoops to lift us up the rest of the way
            6. Christ sees us as we are – miserable and helpless – and does for us what we cannot do for ourselves.
          2. God’s Affection upon the Sinner
            1. Thus the affection of the Savior is given to men and women who do not in any way merit His favor.
            2. Here we see just such an experience by one of the first to follow Christ – "’You shall be called Cephas’ (which is translated Peter)"
            3. In this era, to change one’s name is to express a change in heart and character – from "Simon" to "Cephas" which means "stone."
            4. Later, Jesus returns to this name change to illustrate the significance of this change – Matthew 16:17.
              1. The Lord used a play on words to illustrate that a "small stone" [Petros] was able to declare truths that would serve as the foundation "boulder" ["Petra"] for the church.
              2. Later, in his epistle, Peter applies this principle broadly to include every believer becoming a "small stone" [liqo"] – cp. 1 Peter 2:4.
            5. It is only God who can take an unstable, sinful person and make him into a godly saint who brings glory to the Lord Jesus Christ.
            6. Has such a change occurred in your life? . . . or are you still merely a "Simon" whose heart has never known the changes that the grace of God can bring?
            7. Turn to the Redeemer and find in Him the satisfaction of your great spiritual need and know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

      BCBC Home Page