WHY FOLLOW JESUS? TESTIMONY!

TEXT: JOHN 1:35-51 SERMON: WHY FOLLOWJESUS? TESTIMONY!

Introduction: In this passage John tells us we follow Jesus for two reasons, because of:

A. His Testimony – What He says…

B. Other’s Testimony – What they say…

Let’s look at the first reason why John tells us we follow Jesus.

John tells us we follow Jesus because of what Jesus tells us, because of:

A. HIS TESTIMONY 

Explanation: John records for us Jesus Testimony, what He said, He said:

1. Come and See. (v 39)

2. Follow Me. (v 43)

3. I know you. (v 48)

4. I am the Savior (v 50)

Let’s look closer at each of the things Jesus said…

1. COME AND SEE

 Intrigued by what John the Baptist says, two of his disciples ask Jesus where he is staying

 Jesus Response  “Come and See”  Spend Time Examining Me

 Andrew’s Response  Finds his brother and tells him about Jesus.

2. FOLLOW ME

 Finding Philip

 Jesus Response  “Follow Me”  Spend Time Together With Me

 Philip’s Response  Finds Nathaniel and tells him about Jesus.

3. I KNOW YOU

 Nathaniel doubts but comes  Jesus call him “A true Israelite, Nothing False”

 Nathaniel asks, How do you know me?

 Jesus Response  “I saw you…”  I know you, I care about you, I love you

 Nathaniel’s Response  “Son of God”

4. I AM THE SAVIOR

 Jesus: “You shall see greater things than that…You shall see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” vv 50-51

 Jacob’s Dream at Bethel: Genesis 28:12 (13) He has a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angel’s of God were ascending and descending on it. (There above it stood the LORD, and he said: I am the LORD the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendents the land on which you are lying.)

 Jesus himself is the bridge between heaven and earth (John 14:6)

 Jesus is the only mediator between God and men (I Timothy 2:5)

 Jesus: Son of Man  Jesus most common title for himself, 81 times in the Gospels, only by Jesus, a Messianic title

 Son of Man  Daniel 7:13-14 In my vision at night I looked and there before me was one like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into His presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshipped him.

Illustration: A parent’s testimony about their child

Like Jesus, they know, care about child & love their child.

Like Jesus, by spending time together, by relating, they bond to their children as their children attach to them.

Like Jesus, in relationship, through examination, their children discover who they are.

Like Jesus. they bridge the gap between childhood and adulthood, helping the child move from confinement (dependency) to freedom (independency).

Application: So what is the significance of Jesus’ testimony for us today?

 When Jesus tells us “Come & See” do we stop what we’re doing to spend time with Him, to examine who He is, what He says, what He has done?

 When He tells us “Follow Me” do we drop what we’re doing to be with Him, to learn from Him, to allow our hearts to change because of Him, to allow our pain to heal because of Him?

 When Jesus tells us that he knows us, do we believe Him and do we know that when He tells us he knows us He is telling us He cares about us, that he loves us?

 And what is our response? How do we respond when He tells us to “Come & See”, to Follow Him” and when he tells us He knows us?

 Like Andrew & Philip is our first response to go and tell someone else about Jesus  a family member, a friend?

 Like Nathaniel is our first response to confess Him as the Son of God?

And when He tells us he is the bridge, the stairway, between heaven and earth, the mediator between mankind and God do we realize He is our SAVIOR?

 Have you heard His testimony? Have you responded? Are you following Him? Are you HIs disciple? Is He your Savior?

Transition: John tells us there is another reason why we follow Jesus, because of what others say about Him, because of:

B. OTHER’S TESTIMONY 

Explanation: John tells us we follow Jesus because of who they say he is:

1. The lamb of God (v 36) John the Baptist

2. The Messiah. (v. 41) Andrew

3. The One Moses wrote about. (v. 45) Philip

4. The Son of God. (v. 49) Nathaniel

Let’s look closer at each of these testimonies about Jesus…

1.THE LAMB OF GOD (v 36) John the Baptist

 John 1:36 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”

 Isaiah 53:7-9 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.

 Jesus will be the “sacrifice” that will atone (like the Passover lamb) but for the sin of world

2. THE MESSIAH (v. 41) Andrew

 Christ (Greek)  “The Anointed One”

 In OT “anointing” signified being “set apart” for service, like with the Kings

 Jewish hopes of a “National Deliverer”

3. THE ONE MOSES WROTE ABOUT (v. 45) Philip

 Luke 24:27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

 Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.

 Numbers 21:9 So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived.

 Deuteronomy 18:15 The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to him.

4. THE SON OF GOD (v. 49) Nathaniel

 John 1:14, 18, 34; 3:16; 20:31

Illustration: A child’s testimony about their parents

Like a King, she delivered me.

Like a Lamb, they sacrificed for me.

Like Moses, he was my leader.

Like the Son of God, they saved me.

Application: So what is the significance of their testimony for us today?

What does it mean that Jesus is your Lamb? Has the blood of the Lamb been shed for you? Has it been shed for your sins?

Is Jesus your Anointed One?, Your King, Your Deliverer?

He has crushed Satan’s head, striking a fatal blow with his death and resurrection?

Do you look to the Cross for Salvation like those wandering in the desert looked to the Bronze Snake on a Pole in order to live?

Do you believe Jesus is the Son of God?

Transition: In this passage, John tells us that we follow Jesus based on two types of testimony: first based on the Testimony of Jesus Himself and secondly based on the testimony of others.

Conclusion:

Jesus’ Testimony tells us that if we take time to be with Him we will discover He knows us, cares about us, and loves us.

Spending time with Jesus leads to the discovery that Jesus loves us so much that He came to Save us, that he came to bridge the gap that exists between us and God because of our Sin.

And like parents, who love their child helping them move from helpless dependency to autonomy and independency, Jesus Liberates us from the confines of Sin and its effect on our life. He frees us from this burden and heals our heart, our pain, our suffering, our lives.

Other’s testimony, the testimonies of John the Baptist, Andrew, Philip and Nathaniel, tell us that Jesus is our sacrificial lamb, our king / our deliverer, our leader, and the Son of God.

He is like a mother delivering a child brining it to life, a parent sacrificing for their child’s good, a parent who leads the way for the child in life, and the parent who is there to save their child in times of trouble.

Why follow Jesus?

Because of what he says!

Because of what they say!

In the name of the Father, Son & Holy Spirit. Amen.