Well, this is the moment in the ministry of Jesus where the story turns; the story takes another direction, the story has another element added to it. This is the moment where we see Jesus begin to collect together his disciples. Let me read John 1:35-42.
The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God!" The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, "What are you seeking?" And they said to him, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?" He said to them, "Come and you will see." So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. One of the two who heard Jesus speak and followed was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first found his own brother, Simon, and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which means Christ). He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon, the son of John. You should be called Cephas" (which means Peter).
As I said, this is a very significant moment in the life of ministry of Jesus. It is a moment when he begins to call his disciples. These are men who will carry the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ around the world. It's the first indication that Jesus' redeeming mission will extend beyond him. It will extend beyond his life and death. It will extend beyond the limits of Palestine.
You have got to love the response of John the Baptist's disciples. You have got to wonder what John the Baptist was thinking in this moment. Although they were disciples of John, they were schooled in the promises of the Old Testament and the ministry of John the Baptist. So when he points and says, "There's the Lamb of God," they just immediately leave John the Baptist, and they start following Jesus. There is no hesitation. There are no questions. They're thinking, "If this is the Messiah Lamb, then this is who we want to follow." I love that immediate, unhesitating response. I wish that that was always my response to Jesus, but it's not.
But there is more. Andrew immediately goes out and gets his brother. And the message is simple, "We've found the Messiah. You have got to know him." Again, I wish I had that excitement that I want everybody to know the Messiah that by grace I've come to know. I think this immediate response of faith is really important for us to stop and consider. John the Baptist has made it very clear that Jesus of Nazareth was the promised Messiah that the Old Testament has spoken about. And since it was true, there was only one logical response, "Follow him!" You see, this is what faith looks like. It rests on the clear message of the Word of God, never debating or questioning what God makes clear, but accepting it at face value.
But there is more. Faith is not just something you do with your mind. No, faith is a transaction of your heart that changes the way you live your life. Faith is always active. True faith is always lived. What you truly believe is always demonstrated by how you live. Now, that's very convicting. There had to be a thousand questions these men could have wondered about. There are clearly many things they don't yet understand, but they act on what God has made clear; this is what faith looks like.
I have to ask some questions, "What about you? What about me? Do we really live like we truly believe? Do we act with surrender and confidence on what is clear in God's Word? Is our living consistent with what we say we believe?" If those questions convict you, I want to remind you, there's glorious grace for this struggle of faith!
Questions for Personal Reflection or Group Discussion
1. Why do you think it's difficult for us to believe and accept everything that John the Baptist declares about Jesus Christ? Why is it simply easier to make Jesus into whom we want him to be? Why is it ultimately impossible for us to make Jesus into whom we want him to be instead of who he really is?
2. Why is Jesus hope for this fallen, groaning world? Why is Jesus the ultimate hope for you personally? How does Jesus provide hope for your struggles with sin? How does Jesus give you hope for the power to change and become more like him? How is Jesus the hope for people who don't know him?
3. How does the fact that Jesus is eternal affect you in your day-to-day life? If Jesus' eternality doesn't seem to impact or affect you, what might be the disconnect for you?
4. Why is the Holy Spirit's anointing of Jesus something completely relevant to you today? How is God's endorsement of Jesus' identity and mission (through the anointing of the Spirit) connected to your personal identity and mission as a Christ follower?
Conversation Prompts to Use with Children
For Younger Children:
• Why is it important to understand who Jesus is? How is the identity of Jesus connected to who we are as his followers? Why is it important to understand our personal connection to Jesus as we're looking to understand who we are as Christians?
• What does "hope" mean? Why can someone truthfully say that Jesus is their hope? How is Jesus your hope and my hope?
For Older Children:
• Why is it so important to understand the authentic identity of Jesus? How is his identity connected to you and me today? Why is that connection important to us?
• Why should you and I care about the element of hope in our lives? Why can someone truthfully say that Jesus is their hope? How is Jesus your hope and my hope?
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