Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• Looking at v29 to the end of the chapter
• v43
• One challenge we face today is sharing the gospel and seeing people convered
• These verses are helpful and instructive to us
• Jesus is the fulfillment of the Original prophecy
• John speaks about the start of Jesus' ministry - day by day
• This is encouraging for us
• We can be overwhelmed by the task
• Jesus' concentrates on individuals
• People became disciples in different ways
• Example of a testimony
• The disciples had a testimony
• We have a testimony
• These are the first encounters these men have with Jesus

Proclamation of Jesus

• John the Baptist's message was very simple - 'the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world'
• He would be identified by the Holy Spirit
• John the Baptist has reflected on who Jesus is - and knows He is God's Lamb
• He proclaims this
• We can be afraid to proclaim Jesus as the Saviour
• The first day of his proclamation - nothing happens
• We must not give up proclamation because there is no immediate response
• We must keep on giving the same message
• People's eyes are closed/veiled to the gospel
• Example
• The message of the gospel is a puzzle before Jesus opens our eyes
• Quote from JC Ryle

Personal Encounter with Jesus

• On the second day, two men hear Jesus and follow Him
• They wanted to sit at His feet and listen to His teaching - as they had John the Baptist
• They turned from John the Baptist to follow Jesus
• They spent considerable time (several hours) in the presence of Jesus Christ
• They had a profound assurance that they had found the Messiah
• Bringing people face to face to Jesus
• Not religion, church or anything else
• We need to speak of Jesus
• Example
• People should recognise He means a lot to us
• What book can we offer them?
• A gospel
• Ask the question 'who is Jesus' and 'is He someone I need to know?'
• Personal Evangelism
• One disciple telling another that they have 'found Jesus'
• When you know who Jesus is, you have a natural desire to tell others
• Example #1
  
• Example #2

Direct Call of Jesus

• Philip is called - "Follow Me"
• People called during the pandemic - example
• The uncertainties of the world
• God prepares hearts - example
• We are labourers together with God - example
• Nathaniel - an encouragement to persevere
• He pours cold water on Philip's assertion
• He is not able to answer his question but says 'come and see'
• Example of Aberystwyth conference - studying the word of God
• The information does not make sense to Nathaniel who is a student of Scripture
• His heart is opened by Jesus
• We should not be put off - 'come and see'
• We should bring people to Jesus
• His true identity is being revealed (in the titles used of Him in this chapter)
• Jesus tells him he will see better things
• Do we believe this?
• Do we have a lack of expectation of what God will do?
• Example