Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• Moving away from Romans (chapter 9-11) and coming back to the Gospels
• The Gospels speak of Jesus, His life, miracles, teaching, death and resurrection
• Our aim as a gospel church is to focus on Jesus
• When Christ is the centre the people of God are lifted up
• The Gospel of John is very different to the Gospel of Matthew, Mark and Luke
• Different teaching
• Different passages included to the other gospels
• John is a humble person - he never refers to himself directly (only quietly)
• cf v40 - 41
• Undoubtedly one of the two disciples was John
• Looking at 5 men who came to know the Lord Jesus
• Two brothers: Andrew and Simon
• Two friends: Philip and Nathaniel
• One unnamed [John]
• The first members of the New Testament Church
• The first words recorded of Jesus' ministry
• An ordinary account with extra-ordinary results
• Think of what these men became
• These men are to be instrumental in the growth of the New Testament church
• Overview:
• Who were they?
• How did they meet Jesus?
• What was the effect upon their lives?

Who were they?

• They were not educated men or religious leaders or rich people
• They were very ordinary people
• Two of them (Andrew and Simon) were fishermen
• Three of them were from Bethsaida (Andrew, Simon and Philip)
• Andrew was a very timid person
• We hear so little about his brother Simon Peter
• We hear so little about Andrew
• He seems to be a friend of Philip - cf John 12
• Seems content to be in the background
• A facilitator of others
• Simon Peter
• Headstrong, very impulsive, sometimes stubborn
• A fisherman
• Philip
• We don't hear much about him
• Is a questioner - cf John 6 & 14
• Nathanael
• From Cana in Galilee
• A man in whom there is no deceit, no guile - he 'called a spade a spade'
• They were different people
• They had different temperaments
• They were not special people
• 1 Cor 1:26 - "For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called."
• This should be an encouragement to all of us and especially those who are not yet a Christian

How did they meet Jesus?

Andrew and John

• Andrew and John were disciples of John the Baptist
• John preached a message of repentance
• They had heard and listened to John's earlier message (v29)
• They heard his second message (v36)
• They are affected by this message and begin to follow Jesus Christ
• Jesus turned to Andrew and John and asked "What do you seek?" (v38a)
• The first recorded words of Jesus' ministry
• Probes their motives
• It is a question that needs to come to each of us
• Have you asked these questions?
• Their reply seems to reflect Jesus' question: "Rabbi, where are You staying?" (v38b)
• They are saying that they need to be with Jesus
• Jesus counter reply: "Come and see" (v39)
• Shows His concern for the two
• They remained with Him for a long time
• 4pm - Hebrew time, 10am - Roman time
• They are absolutely sure that they "have found the Messiah" (v41)
• Came first through the preacher
• Then have a personal encounter with the Lord Jesus

Simon

• Doesn't come through the preacher (though He may have heard his preaching)
• He comes through the personal witness of his brother
• Example of Park Church in Merthyr
• Andrew brings Simon to Jesus (v42)
• Simon comes
• Jesus speaks to Simon - He knew who he was and who he would be (Cephas - the Rock/Stone)
• What about you and me?
• Have we lost that enthusiasm for Jesus?

Philip

• No preacher or personal witness
• Jesus comes direct to Philip
• Jesus took the initiative
• Jesus went after the lost sheep
• Jesus says "Follow me" (v43)
• Not a long sermon
• Great power in these words
• God was at work in Philip's life

Nathanael

• Found by Philip
• A bible student
• "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" (v46a)
• Some prejudice in his heart
• Philip does not argue - he simply gives an invite "Come and see" (v46b)
• Jesus said: 'A true Israelite'
• Different to the Pharisees and Scribes
• Not despising or disparaging - speak what he really sees
• Nathanael asked how Jesus knew him (v48a)
• Jesus had seen him under the fig tree (v48b)
• Nathanael was astounded at this
• "Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" (v49)
• We remember Simon Peter's confession
• We sometimes forget that one of the disciples saw exactly who He was early on
• He came through personal testimony and the the Lord spoke to him

How do people meet Jesus today?

• Faith comes through preaching
• We may be the preacher - us in personal witness, explaining the Bible
• Sometimes God directly calls people
• Not the normal way
• God uses people to reach others

What was the effect upon their lives?

• Andrew:
• Has drawn to love and serve the Saviour
• He was a background person - a facilitator
• He found the little boy with the 2 loaves and fish
• He (and Philip) bring the Greeks to hear Jesus
• He was a servant
• Simon Peter:
• From impulsive to someone who was strong, a rock, a pioneer
• He was tamed and humbled
• God did a tremendous work in him
• He became a pillar in the early church
• A central figure in the New Testament Church
• Philip:
• A loyal servant of the Lord Jesus
• Questions reflect weakness of faith - this is an encouragement to us since Christ never despised Philip
• Nathanael:
• We don't know much about him - not told much else about him
• Maybe he became like John the Apostle - self-effacing, humble

What about you and I?

•     Have you come to Jesus?
• Religion is no good - you need a personal encounter with Him
• Repent of your sin and trust in Him alone