Come and See: Transformative Encounters with Jesus
Summary
In our journey with Jesus, we are exploring the pivotal moments of His ministry, leading us to a deeper understanding and closer relationship with Him. Today, we focus on the calling of Jesus' first disciples as depicted in John 1. This chapter introduces Jesus as the eternal Word, the essence of God, who was present at creation. Despite His divine nature, the world did not recognize Him, yet to those who believed, He gave the right to become children of God.
The narrative unfolds with John the Baptist identifying Jesus as the Lamb of God, prompting two of his disciples to follow Jesus. When Jesus asks them what they seek, they respond nervously, asking where He is staying. Jesus invites them to "come and see," a simple yet profound invitation that changes their lives. Andrew, one of the disciples, brings his brother Simon to Jesus, who renames him Peter, signifying a transformation from the ordinary to the extraordinary.
This story illustrates how Jesus transforms common people into remarkable individuals. Philip and Nathanael's encounter with Jesus further emphasizes this transformation. Nathanael initially doubts anything good can come from Nazareth, but upon meeting Jesus, he recognizes Him as the Son of God and King of Israel. Jesus promises Nathanael that he will witness even greater things, revealing Himself as the stairway between heaven and earth, the connection to God.
The essence of this message is that when our view of Jesus changes, it changes everything about us. Our perception of Jesus influences our understanding of the world, ourselves, and our eternal destiny. Whether we are just beginning our journey with Jesus or seeking a deeper relationship, the invitation remains the same: "Come and see." By focusing on Jesus, rather than our own efforts or the imperfections of others, we can experience His transformative power in our lives.
Key Takeaways:
- Jesus invites us to "come and see," offering a personal encounter that transforms our lives. This invitation is not about what we can do for Him, but about experiencing who He is and allowing that to change us. [06:15]
- Our view of Jesus profoundly impacts our lives. When we see Him as more than just a teacher or historical figure, but as the Son of God and our Savior, it changes our perspective on everything, from our purpose to our relationships. [10:34]
- Jesus transforms ordinary people into extraordinary individuals. Like Simon becoming Peter, Jesus sees beyond our current state and calls us to a greater purpose, using our lives for His glory. [14:55]
- The journey with Jesus is not about striving for perfection but about resting in His grace. We cannot earn grace; it is a gift. Our focus should be on Jesus, not on our performance or failures. [21:18]
- Despite the imperfections of His followers, Jesus remains perfect. Our view of Him should not be obstructed by the failures of others. By focusing on Jesus, we can experience His true character and love. [24:03]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [01:00] - Introduction to the Journey with Jesus
- [02:30] - The Eternal Word: Jesus in John 1
- [04:00] - The Calling of the First Disciples
- [06:15] - Jesus' Invitation: Come and See
- [08:00] - Transformation of Simon to Peter
- [10:34] - The Impact of Our View of Jesus
- [12:00] - Nathanael's Encounter with Jesus
- [14:55] - Jesus as the Stairway to Heaven
- [16:48] - Personal Reflections on Following Jesus
- [18:30] - The Challenge of Earned Grace
- [21:18] - Resting in Jesus' Grace
- [24:03] - Overcoming Obstructed Views of Jesus
- [27:26] - Simplifying Our Understanding of Jesus
- [30:06] - The Worth of Following Jesus
- [34:03] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- John 1:1-51
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Observation Questions:
1. What are the different titles given to Jesus in John 1, and what do they signify about His identity? [06:15]
2. How did Andrew and Nathanael's initial perceptions of Jesus change after their encounters with Him? [10:34]
3. What was the significance of Jesus changing Simon's name to Peter, and how does this reflect Jesus' transformative power? [14:55]
4. How did Nathanael's skepticism about Jesus being from Nazareth change after meeting Him, and what did Jesus promise Nathanael he would see? [14:55]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the invitation "come and see" reflect Jesus' approach to inviting people into a relationship with Him? [06:15]
2. In what ways does the transformation of Simon to Peter illustrate the potential for change in our own lives when we follow Jesus? [14:55]
3. How does Nathanael's initial doubt and subsequent belief highlight the importance of personal experience in faith? [10:34]
4. What does Jesus' promise to Nathanael about seeing "greater things" suggest about the journey of faith and the revelations that come with it? [14:55]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current view of Jesus. How might a deeper understanding of His identity as the Son of God and Savior change your perspective on your life and purpose? [10:34]
2. Jesus invited His disciples to "come and see." How can you create space in your life to experience Jesus more personally this week? [06:15]
3. Consider a time when you felt ordinary or inadequate. How can the story of Simon becoming Peter encourage you to see yourself as someone Jesus can transform for His purposes? [14:55]
4. Nathanael initially doubted anything good could come from Nazareth. Are there areas in your life where skepticism is holding you back from fully trusting Jesus? How can you address these doubts? [14:55]
5. The sermon emphasized focusing on Jesus rather than our own efforts or the imperfections of others. What specific steps can you take to shift your focus more towards Jesus this week? [21:18]
6. How can you apply the concept of "earned grace" being an oxymoron to your own spiritual journey, and what changes might this understanding bring to your relationship with Jesus? [24:03]
7. If your view of Jesus has been obstructed by the actions of others, how can you refocus on His perfect character and love? What practical steps can you take to see Jesus more clearly? [24:03]
Devotional
Day 1: The Transformative Invitation of Jesus
Jesus' invitation to "come and see" is a call to experience His presence and transformative power. This invitation is not about what individuals can do for Jesus, but about encountering who He is and allowing that encounter to change their lives. When Jesus invited the first disciples to follow Him, it was a simple yet profound moment that altered the course of their lives. This invitation is extended to everyone, offering a personal encounter with Jesus that can lead to a deeper understanding and relationship with Him. By accepting this invitation, individuals open themselves to the possibility of transformation and a new perspective on life. [06:15]
John 1:38-39 (ESV): "Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, 'What are you seeking?' And they said to him, 'Rabbi' (which means Teacher), 'where are you staying?' He said to them, 'Come and you will see.' So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel Jesus is inviting you to "come and see"? How can you respond to this invitation today?
Day 2: Seeing Jesus as the Son of God
Our perception of Jesus profoundly impacts our lives. When we see Him as more than just a teacher or historical figure, but as the Son of God and our Savior, it changes our perspective on everything, from our purpose to our relationships. Recognizing Jesus as the Son of God means acknowledging His authority and divinity, which in turn influences how we live our lives. This understanding can lead to a deeper faith and a more meaningful relationship with Him. By focusing on who Jesus truly is, individuals can experience a transformation in their worldview and personal identity. [10:34]
Colossians 1:15-17 (ESV): "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together."
Reflection: How does seeing Jesus as the Son of God change your perspective on a current challenge you are facing?
Day 3: From Ordinary to Extraordinary
Jesus transforms ordinary people into extraordinary individuals. Like Simon becoming Peter, Jesus sees beyond our current state and calls us to a greater purpose, using our lives for His glory. This transformation is not about our abilities or achievements but about Jesus' power to change us from the inside out. When individuals encounter Jesus, they are given a new identity and purpose, which can lead to a life of significance and impact. This transformation is a testament to Jesus' ability to see potential in everyone and His desire to use them for His kingdom. [14:55]
1 Peter 2:9 (ESV): "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."
Reflection: In what ways do you feel Jesus is calling you to step into a greater purpose? How can you begin to embrace this calling today?
Day 4: Resting in Grace
The journey with Jesus is not about striving for perfection but about resting in His grace. Grace is a gift that cannot be earned, and our focus should be on Jesus, not on our performance or failures. This understanding of grace allows individuals to experience freedom and peace, knowing that their worth is not based on their achievements but on Jesus' love and sacrifice. By resting in grace, individuals can let go of the pressure to be perfect and instead focus on growing in their relationship with Jesus. This shift in focus can lead to a more fulfilling and joyful life. [21:18]
Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV): "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are striving for perfection? How can you begin to rest in Jesus' grace instead?
Day 5: Focusing on Jesus Amidst Imperfections
Despite the imperfections of His followers, Jesus remains perfect. Our view of Him should not be obstructed by the failures of others. By focusing on Jesus, we can experience His true character and love. This focus allows individuals to see beyond the shortcomings of others and to understand that Jesus' perfection is not diminished by human flaws. By keeping their eyes on Jesus, individuals can maintain a clear and accurate view of who He is and what He offers. This perspective can lead to a deeper faith and a more authentic relationship with Him. [24:03]
Hebrews 12:2 (ESV): "Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."
Reflection: How can you shift your focus from the imperfections of others to the perfection of Jesus in your daily life? What practical steps can you take to maintain this focus?
Quotes
"So last week, we began a seven-week journey with Jesus and the three years of his ministry. This is gonna lead us right up to Holy Week and the crucifixion and the resurrection. So we're looking at this series of messages like a journey, kind of like a trip that we're taking with Jesus. And along the way, we're gonna make seven stops. We're gonna take seven stories, seven scenes, or seven, like, snapshots from the life and the ministry of Jesus. And each one of these stops, the goal is the same." [00:00:00] (32 seconds)
"And that is to know Jesus more and to follow him more closely. And so today's stop is a really famous story of Jesus, the calling of his first disciples. And we're gonna be focusing on John chapter one. This chapter starts with really famous lines that refer to Jesus as the logos, as the essence of God, the word of God. So if you've got your Bibles, we're gonna start off with John 1.1." [00:00:33] (26 seconds)
"It says, In the beginning, the word already existed. Jesus is eternal. Jesus was there at the beginning. The word already existed. The word was with God and the word was God. And he existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him and nothing was created except through him." [00:00:59] (18 seconds)
"The word gave life to everything that was created and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness can never extinguish it. And this tells us a little bit about John the Baptist. And then John 1.10 goes on to say that Jesus came to the world that he created, but the world didn't recognize him. And even his own people rejected him." [00:01:17] (23 seconds)
"Okay, so this is John 1, 35. The following day, John, this is John the Baptist, was again standing with two of his disciples. So these are followers of John the Baptist. And as Jesus walked by, John looked at him and said, look, there is the Lamb of God. Ding. When John's two disciples heard this, they followed Jesus. They were John's disciples. But as soon as they heard that he was the Lamb of God, they left him and began to follow Jesus." [00:02:48] (26 seconds)
"Jesus looked around and saw him following him. And he asked him, what do you want? So it's a lot of pressure, right? I mean, the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. And you're following. You know, these guys are nervous. And Jesus turns around and he says to them, Yeah, like what do you want and I'm sure they were thinking I want truth you know I want peace I want forgiveness I want purpose I want security I want life I want a relationship with God I want healing I want to be changed but they choked under pressure and they couldn't think of what to say so when Jesus turns around to them and says what do you want look what they say nervously rabbi ding which means teacher um where are you staying like what a stupid thing to say to Jesus right but like that's that's what you got this is your chance to meet the lamb of God where are you staying how about the spurs right they're awesome it's so hot today right so anyway where are you staying and look what Jesus says to them super super important thing Jesus says come and see come and see it's about four o 'clock in the afternoon when they went with him to the place he was staying and they stayed with him for the rest of the day Andrew Simon Peter's brother was one of those men who had heard what John said and then followed Jesus and Andrew went to find his brother Simon and told him we have found the Messiah ding which means the Christ then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus and looking intently at Simon Jesus said your name is Simon son of John but you will be called Cephas which means Peter so in Greek this is Petros which means the rock this is really kind of I think an interesting thing this name change deal so Peter or Simon was like Simon was a very common name um in this era very very common name and so you know they didn't use a lot of last last names in the Bible have you noticed that it's always everybody's first name um and I'll tell you why" [00:03:15] (122 seconds)
"And Jesus is changing His name from this incredibly common, average, mundane Simon to the rock, right? He's changing His name. And I think this just points out something so cool about Jesus, and that is that Jesus loves making common people amazing. Jesus loves doing, like, just crazy, extraordinary things through ordinary people." [00:05:52] (32 seconds)
"Philip was from Bethsaida, Andrew and Peter's hometown. And Philip went to look for Nathaniel, and he told him, we have found the very person that Moses and the prophets wrote about. His name is Jesus, son of Joseph, from Nazareth. Nazareth, exclaimed Nathaniel. Can anything good come from Nazareth? So Nazareth, at that time, had kind of a, like, like it was the other side of the tracks, you know, like you would, like nothing good, they would have said, I mean, if the Messiah is coming, surely he's coming from New York, or London, or Paris, or something, right, surely he's coming from Bolverde, or some important place, not Nazareth, right, but I love how, I love how Philip handles this, so he's brought Nathaniel to meet Jesus, and here's Nathaniel, like, putting up a fight, if you're witnessing to friends or family, you might want to remember this, instead of making a debate, instead of making an argument, instead of making a case, he just says to Nathaniel the same thing that Jesus said to those other two, he says, come and see, come and see, as they approach, and I get this picture, here's Philip, he's bringing Nathaniel to Jesus, right, and as they approach, Jesus said, now here is a genuine son of Israel, a man of complete integrity, and Nathaniel asked, how do you know so much about me?" [00:06:32] (91 seconds)
"And I want it to happen to you, but I especially want it to happen to me. They were changed. I mean, their lives and their eternities and their place in history, they were, they were changed. And here's what sticks out to me when I read this story. In fact, this is like, this is the bottom line. Okay. So if you're going to, if you're taking notes, write this down. If you, if you only remember one thing I say today, right, this is the thing." [00:09:10] (27 seconds)
"When our view of Jesus changes, it changes everything. It changes us. When our view of Jesus changes, that changes everything. That changes us. How we see Jesus changes everything. It changes how we see the world. It changes how we see ourselves. It changes where we spend eternity. It changes how we live our lives now." [00:10:05] (28 seconds)
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