Why the very first believers were so drawn to Jesus

—Part 2: John 1:19–51

  • Andrew Fountain – Sept 15, 2019

 
 
Click on this slide and then press the spacebar to advance slides: ➜ (or swipe on a touch screen)

Goal:
To engage with Jesus today like those those first followers did.

Themes in John

  1. The life of God has come down to earth, so we can partake in the divine
  2. This life is received by faith—believing in Jesus. How does that happen?

How should we respond to it?

  1. Jesus came that we could be “born of God”
    Grasp the difference between the Old and the New
    What is From Below and what is From Above
    Live with a focus on the New, not the Old
  2. Think of how precious Jesus is to you.
    He has come from the Father’s side, to you
    So that you might have his life

Outline

  1. The remarkable imagery of the passage
  2. People’s responses to Jesus
  3. Deeply seen

John 1:19–51

Genesis 1

  1. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
  2. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

John 1

  1. He came to his own,
    and his own people did not receive him.
  2. But to all who did receive him,
    who believed in his name,
    he gave the right to become children of God,
  3. who were born, not of blood nor of the will
    of the flesh nor of the will of man,
    but born of God.

People in the passage

  • Priests and Levites from Jerusalem
  • Pharisee delegation
  • John the Baptist
  • Andrew & (John)
  • Peter
  • Philip
  • Nathaniel

John 1:50–51

  1. Jesus said to him, “Because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these.”
  2. He continued, “I tell all of you the solemn truth — you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

Outline

  1. The remarkable imagery of the passage: Another creation week!
  2. People’s responses to Jesus
  3. Deeply seen

Jesus “sees” Simon Peter

  1. Andrew brought Simon to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon, the son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter)
  • Jesus can look into the core of our being
    See who we truly are, our essence, our longings
    And prophetically call out our New Creation identity

John 1:47–51 Nathaniel

  1. Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and exclaimed, “Look, a true Israelite in whom there is no deceit!”
  2. Nathanael asked him, “How do you know me?” Jesus replied, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”
  3. Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel!”
  4. Jesus said to him, “Because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these.”
  5. He continued, “I tell all of you the solemn truth — you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

Jesus “sees” you and me

  • Jesus can look into the core of our being
    See who we truly are, our essence, our longings
    And prophetically call out our New Creation identity