Meaningful Week

Date: Feb. 3, 2025

John 1:35-51

35 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” 37 When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38 Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?” They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” 39 “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.”  So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon. 40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter). 43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. 45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip. 47 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” 48 “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.  Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”  49 Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.” 50 Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.” 51 He then added, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man.”

Meaningful Week
TEXT: John 1:35-51

Sermon Topic:  There is No Alternative to Jesus

Take Home Point:  Tell Others About Jesus                     

From this passage we pick out some very key points that will help us in making meaningful decisions in our walk with Christ:

1. Jesus the Substitution/Sacrifice for our Sins (vs 36): When John the Baptist referred to Jesus as “The Lamb of God.”  In the old Jewish tradition, A lamb in Israel’s economy was the sacrificial animal, killed as a substitute for the atonement and cleansing of sins and wrongdoings but it was not sufficient. Jesus the Messiah was the only sacrifice acceptable by God that could wash away our sins and grant us eternal salvation therefore, He was referred to as “The Lamb of God.”  

The point is that there is no alternative to Jesus when it comes to the redemption of mankind.

2. The Right Response to Jesus (verse 37): “And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Him.” 

John’s disciples immediately turned their allegiance and loyalty 100% to the Savior.  How do we respond to Jesus today?  Do we give Him our total commitment? Or do we follow Him with partial loyalty? Andrew and Philip followed Jesus immediately without hesitation.  That should be our response to the call of Christ.

3. What do you Seek.? And the Invitation” (vs 38-39):  This was the question that Jesus asked the disciples of John the Baptist during his earthly ministry. 

Jesus our Messiah is still asking every one of us the same question today “what do you seek.?” Are we seeking Jesus to gain popularity and fame?  Are we seeking Him for Miracles, signs and Wonders?  Are we seeking Jesus to gain power?  Or are we seeking Jesus to have an intimate personal relationship with Him, to serve Him, honor Him, and Worship Him.  What is our motive for seeking Jesus? 

In Luke 9:62 Jesus made a firm declaration. “Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

It’s either we submit 100% to follow Jesus or nothing.  There is no half and half measure in God’s kingdom. We cannot treat God like the half and half cream we pour in our coffee. 

It is my sincere prayer that you will make up your mind to follow the Lord Jesus completely as you surrender the will of your life to him.

I wish you a meaningful week.

David Kachi Jite