John 1:36 "And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, "Behold the Lamb of God!""

John's second witness to Jesus took place the next day (John 1:35 ). Here he is taking part in personal witnessing. John standing with two of his disciples (John 35 ), getting others to look upon Jesus - to draw attention to His walk - to focus on His sacrificial life as God's Lamb, this is crucial to discipling to Jesus. Notice the repetition of the testimony. As at the first occasion John says, "Behold the Lamb of God." It introduces sinners to the Saviour, gets them to look to the Lamb of God. The timely message is Christ and Him crucified. Get saints to look to the Lamb of God. Identifying Jesus as the Lamb of God to others, is the living seed that effects mighty growth.

John 1:37 "... and they followed Jesus. "

Steps turned to following Jesus bring lasting change. Jesus welcomes seekers of more intimate knowledge.

John 1:38,39 "... "What do you seek?" ... ³⁹ ... "Come and see." ... and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour)."

The Lord satisfies desires for companionship. The Lord makes Himself available to answer all questions no matter how long it takes. Time spent with Jesus is so memorable that every minute is treasured. It was 4 p.m. Jewish time. They thrilled in calculation of all the time spent with Jesus. There is nothing like personal contact With Jesus to establish testimony.

"We have found the Messiah" (John 1:41 KJV), implies there had been previous seeking. Now the seeking ended in the joy of finding. You cannot seek Jesus in vain. Finding can be unexpected, joyful, and final. Andrew was among Christ's first disciples, but knew what to do first, find his brother Simon and bring him to Jesus (John 1:41 ). Personal experience of Jesus makes effective disciples that win others to Jesus. A new disciple is consumed with the priority of discipling others to Christ. How important not to lose that priority of love.

John 1:42 "... 'You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas' (which is translated, A Stone). "

Knowledge of Peter's heart that revealed his hidden character, testified to the anointed Christ being Jesus. The Master speaks out the change that was to take place in Simon, he would become known for strength of character - a man of resolution - able to withstand aggression. Much later he became exclusively known to the Church at Corinth as Cephas.

John 1:43 "... and He found Philip and said to him, "Follow Me.""

Peter was brought, Philip was found by Christ Himself. The initiative and choice was the Lord's alone. This is true even when human intervention is used. But it is more obvious when man is left out of it. Philip's response testifies to who Jesus is - the Master whom open-hearted men cannot deny. Nothing Philip may have said is recorded, his action said it all.

John 1:45 "Philip found Nathanael and said to him, 'We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.'"

	Philip was a man of the Scriptures.
	Philip had knowledge of Jesus.
	Philip took action to bring another to Christ.
	Philip was committed to Jesus.

Philip found Nathaniel:

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He Found One Who Objected To What He Was Hearing

Can anything good come out of Nazareth? A place of bad report (John 7:52 ).

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He Found One Who Tested What He Heard, By Scripture

His difficulty was not prejudices - the Messiah of whom Moses and the prophets wrote had no prophecy of Messiah coming from Nazareth. Deception comes through failure to test what is heard by what the Bible says.

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He Found One Who Willingly Came To Jesus To See For Himself

Never get locked into objections that the objector believes unanswerable. Like Philip, invite to Jesus to experience Him personally.

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He Found One Whose Spirit The Master Perceived

John 1:47 "Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, 'Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!'"

This genuinely sincere, straightforward man was gripped by the supernatural knowledge of the Master. He was already convinced about the Person of Jesus.

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He Found One Whose Actions And Thoughts Were Known To The Master Before They Met

John 1:48 "Nathanael said to Him, "How do You know me?" Jesus answered and said to him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.""

Nathaniel felt stripped bare before the eye of the Master, and confessed, "You are the Son of God: You are the King of Israel" (John 1:49 NKJV). The Holy Spirit still gives discerning of spirits, as here the human spirit, and words of the all-knowledge of God. (1 Corinthians 12:8 ) which glorify Jesus, and bring others to confess that God is in you (1 Corinthians 14:25 ).

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He Found One Who, Upon Acceptance Of The Master, Was Given Further Revelation

He would see greater things than these (John 1:51 ).

Greater proofs of the Person of Jesus the Christ were to be granted to this new disciple, among which were the seven great signs in this gospel (John 2:2-12 ). "You shall see heaven open" (John 1:51 NKJV). Heaven was now open, not will be, open from this time of acceptance of Christ and commitment to Him. Now greater communion and communication would be experienced. Christ Himself was the source of this continual revelation from heaven. Jacob's ladder, in his dream heaven and earth linked in communication - is now fully realised in Jesus Christ. From "hereafter" revelation had commenced and now would continue (John 1:51 ). From this moment on, satisfying communication of the mind, will and purpose of God.

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QUESTIONS FOR GROUP INTERACTION

1. In discipling to Jesus, is it necessary to draw attention to His walk and sacrificial life? (John 1:36 ).
2. Are there practical steps you need to take in following Jesus? (John 1:37 ).
3. Is spending time with Jesus the way to get your questions answered? (John 1:38,39 ).
4. Did Andrew dare to call Jesus the Christ because of hours spent in the company of Jesus? (John 1:41 ).
5. Should it be the norm to find someone to disciple to Christ? (John 1:41 ).
6. Looking back, can you see the positive changes made by the Master in your person and character?
7. What kind of potential do you think the Lord Jesus sees in you? (John 1:42 )
8. How did Philip vindicate the confidence of Jesus in him as a disciple? (John 1:43-45 ).
9. What would be the characteristics of a modern Philip? (John 1:43-45 ).
10. Do you know someone like Nathanael whom you could bring to Christ? (John 1:45 ).
11. Do you find encouragement in knowing that nothing about the person you bring is hidden from the Lord? (John 1:47,48 ).