Sermon OUtline
Scripture: John 1:35-42
I. You should seek Jesus because you want to follow Him.
A. In John 1 we see John the Baptist handing off his ministry to Jesus. The last of the old covenant prophets stood face to face with the one who fulfilled all those prophecies: Jesus. Jesus notices that he is being followed. And in vs. 38 he says to the two disciples of John the Baptist, “What are you seeking?” Jesus is asking a question of two people who are in the beginning stages of wanting to follow Him as a disciple of Jesus. He is asking them a profound question. “What do you really want in life? What are you seeking by coming to me?” Sometimes, it feels like Jesus is not giving us what we want. But if we persevere in following Jesus, we discover that He is actually giving us something far greater than we could have ever asked for or imagined.
II. You should seek Jesus because you want to be taught by Him.
A. When Jesus asks the profound question, “What are you seeking?” the two disciples of John the Baptist respond. “And they said to him ‘Rabbi’ (which means Teacher).” The word rabbi literally means “my great one.” The two disciples of John then were saying, “Jesus, we are seeking you to teach us about God. We are seeking you to teach us about how God tells us to live.” If we seek to be taught from Jesus about how to live, where do we need to go today? His Word, the Bible. The benefit of reading the Bible is spoken about by Jesus in John 8:31-32: “So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, ‘If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’”
III. You should seek Jesus because you want to live with Jesus.
A. Jesus had asked the two disciples of John the Baptist, “What are you seeking?” And the disciples say to Him in vs. 38, “Rabbi, where are you staying?” In this question, the disciples are saying that they have so much they want to learn from Jesus that it is going to take a long time for them to have all their questions answered. In fact, it is going to take so long, Jesus, that we might as well just move in with you. The word that is translated staying in verse 38 is translated with the word abide in John 15:4: “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.” Jesus wants people who are seeking to be as connected to Him as a vine is to a branch.
IV. You should seek Jesus because Jesus can make you into a new person
A. Notice what happens to Andrew after he spends one night with Jesus. We read in vs. 41-42, “(Andrew) first found his own brother Simon and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (which means Christ). He brought (Peter) to Jesus.” And notice what Jesus said to Peter in vs. 42: “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter).” Jesus is telling Peter how he is going to change Peter’s life. Jesus sees how His salvation is going to completely transform Peter. Peter is going to be a new person because of his connection to Jesus. When you read the Gospels, you see that Peter is often fearful. But Jesus saw what Peter would become. Jesus saw that through living with him, Peter would become a rock of faith.
Application:
Seek Jesus. There is nothing and no one greater. If you are seeking Jesus, you will find all of God’s good gifts for you.
Sources:
The Gospel of John
Commentaries on John by D.A. Carson and Richard Phillips
Sermon Discussion Questions
1) What are you seeking from life? What are you seeking from Jesus?
2) How disciplined are you in Bible reading and prayer? What can you do to become more disciplined in these areas?
3) Do you believe that Jesus is making you a new person? How does this thought give you hope in your current situation?