WHAT DO YOU SEEK?

WHAT DO YOU SEEK?
JOHN 1:35 To 51

Introduction:

Last Christmas we left off with John the Baptist's proclamation, “Behold the lamb of God which takes away the sins of the world.” The Baptist's apocalyptic sounding affirmation of the identity of Jesus signaled the beginning of Jesus' public ministry and the section of the gospel that we might call the ever widening circle of Jesus' self revelation- a period of consideration as to the identity of Jesus that continues to the end of Ch. 4.

This morning I want to make that our starting point as we look at some key ideas in the closing part of chapter 1 as well as introduce Jesus’ core disciples- John, Andrew, Peter and Nathaniel. If you have your Bibles, please open to John 1:35.

The setting is Bethabara (“House of Passing”) and it takes place over a period of about four days. John the Baptist has just been interrogated by the Pharisees seeking to expose him as a heretic- but it was John who proved ignorance of his inquisitors. For, among these experts of scripture stood the one about whom, Moses and the prophets testified, and yet they did not know him and therefore, all their learning was idle nonsense.

That John saw Jesus as the Lamb of God- it signals two truths: one, that he is spotlessness being without sin; and two, that they were sinful and unable to atone for their own sins. Neither truth could be acceptable to the Pharisees because they were spiritually blind.

The religious elite had eyes but they could not see that:
1. Jesus was the lamb foreshadowed by the sacrifice of the firstling slain by Abel (Gen 4);
2. Jesus was the lamb about whom Abraham prophesied would replace his only son as a sacrifice (Gen 22:8);
3. Jesus was the Lamb whose blood was applied in order to spare Israel from the passover (Ex 12);
4. Jesus was the lamb personified in Isaiah 53:7 (for the first time we learn that he is a man)

Finally, for those who have spiritual eyes- that is an understanding of the things of God (like John the Baptist) the mystery lamb is identified in John 1:29 and 35 and soon to be crucified, not just for Abel's sins, nor the sins of Abraham, nor would he be slain for the nation, but for the whole world. In Revelation he is the lamb in heaven magnified (Rev 5), and the lamb upon the throne glorified (22:1).

Read 35 to 51

A key idea in this whole section is the idea of seeing, which is stated in various ways such as see, look, behold. For instance, Jesus says of Nathaniel, “behold an Israelite in whom there is no guile”; he also says, “when you were under the fig tree I saw you.” He told John and Andrew, “Come and you will see.”

In fact, Jesus would later promise his disciples that they will see greater things, including the open heavens and the ascending and descending angels upon Jesus. Between verses 29 and 51 (22 verses), such phrases appear 15 times.

Have you ever noticed when you're listening to someone talk, or maybe reading a letter or email from someone, if they constantly repeat a word, it is usually because that word is important to what the person is trying to say- whether they realize it or not.

That's what the author of this gospel is doing- he's using repetition for emphasis. The idea that John is emphasizing is the need to see Jesus with spiritual eyes; that is, with the blind eyes of our heart opened by a miraculous revelation of God.

The Pharisees could not see what John the Baptist did see, (i.e. The Lamb of God upon whom God the Father affirmed his pleasure by placing on him the Holy Spirit anointing- what we call the baptism in the Holy Spirit).

Someone once wrote, “If the doors of perception were cleansed everything would appear to man as it is, infinite” (William Blake). That is how John the Baptist was able to see Jesus as he was.

Before we dig into the unfolding events here, let's unpack this biblical idea of seeing with spiritual eyes.
1. The natural man is blind to spiritual things because God has,
“blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, Lest they should see with their eyes and understand with their hearts and turn and be healed” (Jn 12:40 cf. Is 6:9,10).

The Bible teaches that Israel rejected Jesus because, “God has given them... eyes that they should not see” (Rom 11:7-10).
2. Those who never do see “shall not see eternal life, but the wrath of God is in them” (Jn 3:36).
3. On the other hand, Jesus says to his disciples, “blessed are your eyes for they see” (Mt 13:16); those who do see him the way that John did shall never see death, but will have eternal life (Jn 8:51; 3:36).
4. But seeing is not something that a person can will to do, for “most assuredly I say to you, unless a man is born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God.... The wind blows where it wishes.... So it is with everyone who is born again” (Jn 3:3,8).

5. Just to keep humble those who do see Jesus as he is, the Bible tells us that “ now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now we know in part, but then we shall know just as I am known” (2 Cor 13:12).
So with that in mind, let's look at our text (explain the text).

Look at the progression of Jesus ever expanding revelation: First look at John,
● In v. 27, he is preferred before John.
● In v. 29 and 36, he is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
● In v. 33, he is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.
● In v. 34, he is the Son of God.

Then the disciples,
● in v. 38, he is Rabbi- teacher.
● In v. 41, he is the Messiah- Christ
● in v. 45, he is him of whom Moses in the Law, and also the prophets, wrote- Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
● In v. 49, he is the Son of God and the King of Israel.

Seeing Jesus for who he is, like any relationship, is not an event, but a process that lasts a lifetime.

Just as an aside: if you've ever wondered why John came baptizing, here is your answer: verse 31, “...that (Jesus) should be revealed to Israel.” That's the reason why John's baptism became obsolete after Pentecost- Jesus, their long awaited messiah has been revealed to Israel and rejected by them. From now on, Baptism is done only in Jesus' name, meaning under his authority.

John the Baptist was so convinced by outpouring of the Holy upon Jesus (vv. 32-34), that no further evidence was needed for him. John knew beyond doubt that “Jesus is the Son of God!” That has powerful implications for us.
The tongue has such power, both to destroy and to build. Remember James' warning, “see how the tongue can be like a little fire that burns down a whole forest” (Ja 3:5 my paraphrase)? In John's testimony we see a perfect example of a positive outcome in the use of the tongue. Gossip and slander causes irreparable pain. But a testimony can gain so much good. John's testimony is the little fire that ignited the church.

My guess is that every testimony about Jesus Christ that has ever been uttered… every time someone has ever said, “come and see the messiah,” or “behold the Son of God,” their testimony can be traced back to John the Baptist.

We will have more to say about John the Baptist in a later chapter. But now it is time to move on to Jesus' disciples:

The two disciples mentioned here are Andrew, the brother of Peter (the sons of Jonah), and John. Not John the Baptist, but John the brother of James (the Sons of Thunder).

John and Andrew's first encounter with Jesus must have been etched in their memory, they remembered every detail, including that it was the tenth hour (v. 39). Can you recall the details of the hour you were first introduced to Jesus? I bet you can.

“What are you seeking?” he asked (v. 38). Some seek fame, some fortune, some seek pleasure, others seek knowledge. What are you seeking? Come and you will see the light shining in the darkness. That is Jesus invitation. He promises that you will see greater things then this. You will see the heavens having been opened and the Angels ascending and descending upon Jesus.

You will see God's glory displayed so brightly that fame and fortune, pleasure and knowledge will appear as it truly is, dust in the wind- vanity of vanities- dung compared to the surpassing glory of the knowledge of his grace displayed in Christ before the foundations of the world. Come and see!