How Do I Follow? | John 1:35–42 | Peter Frey | Eastpoint Church Durham

John’s Gospel shows that following Jesus starts with seeing Jesus. John the Baptist sees Jesus passing by and says, “Look, the Lamb of God,” calling his disciples not merely to notice Jesus but to behold him. The Lamb of God carries the whole story of God’s rescue, from Passover to the hope that death will pass over those covered by God’s provision. The story of God frees people from trying to be the hero of their own lives and reveals Jesus as the hope their hearts have been longing for.

The Christian life cannot jump to the how before settling into the what. The gospel announces who Jesus is, what Jesus has done through his death and resurrection, and what Jesus brings through his free gift of grace. Ephesians follows that same pattern: grace comes first, then the call to “walk in a manner worthy” of the calling received. A disciple finds identity in the gospel of Jesus, reorders life to be formed by Jesus, and lives to join the mission of Jesus.

Jesus responds to the first disciples with a heart-level question: “What do you want?” Jesus does not begin with a checklist for reforming behavior because he wants to change the heart. The vision of “the good life” always shapes desire, and every competing vision eventually leaves people wanting. Jesus invites hungry and weary people to seek him as the One who is enough, even when his way leads through suffering rather than comfort and self-curation.

Jesus answers the disciples’ desire to know him with, “Come and you will see.” His invitation brings them into his presence, where they spend the day with him. The rhythms of the Word and prayer immerse people in God’s story and delight them in God’s presence. Worship and community surround people with others who can keep pointing them to Jesus, since disciples are rarely pictured alone.

Andrew shows what happens when someone sees and seeks Jesus: he goes to Simon and says, “We have found the Messiah,” then brings him to Jesus. Jesus gives Simon a new name and a new identity before Simon has done anything to fill the shoes of that calling. The mission of Jesus grows through generosity, hospitality, service, witness, and the simple celebration of real hope. Jesus calls his people to see Jesus, seek Jesus, and celebrate Jesus until their loves and longings are shaped by the kingdom of God.

##

---

Key Takeaways

• 1. Following Jesus starts with seeing Jesus. John the Baptist’s command to “look” is deeper than a passing glance. The Lamb of God must become the center of attention because beholding Christ changes people “from one degree of glory to another.” The Word gives believers the story needed to recognize Jesus as their true hope. [10:54]
• 2. Jesus wants the heart, not performance. Jesus asks, “What do you want?” before giving the disciples anything to do. The question exposes the visions of the good life that quietly rule desire, whether comfort, approval, success, or control. Jesus does not merely rearrange outward behavior but invites desire itself to find rest in him. [21:05]
• 3. God’s presence reshapes human desire. Jesus says, “Come and you will see,” and the disciples spend the day with him. Prayer, fasting, and time in Scripture are not religious boxes to check but rhythms that train the heart to delight in God’s presence. Christ becomes more than a useful addition when his presence becomes the place of deepest longing. [24:50]
• 4. Community keeps disciples near Jesus. The first disciples follow Jesus together, and the New Testament regularly pictures Christian obedience as a shared life. Worship and smaller communities create space for people to ask who God is, what God has done, and who they are in light of Christ. The people of God help one another resist lesser visions of the good life. [18:46]
• 5. Witness begins with found hope. Andrew’s first response is to find Simon and bring him to Jesus. Witness does not require a complicated formula when someone can honestly say, “We have found the Messiah.” Jesus gives people a new identity before they have proven themselves, and that grace becomes a story worth celebrating.
  
  ## [28:56]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [02:09] - Essentials That Never Change
• [03:21] - The Gospel Before the How
• [04:40] - What Is a Disciple?
• [06:19] - Following Jesus as Immersion
• [10:18] - Look, the Lamb of God
• [12:31] - Immersing in God’s Story
• [18:46] - Following Jesus in Community
• [19:31] - What Do You Want?
• [24:50] - Come and You Will See
• [25:41] - Rhythms for Following Jesus
• [28:56] - Andrew Brings Simon to Jesus
• [30:16] - See Jesus, Seek Jesus, Celebrate Jesus
• [31:57] - A Vision for God’s Kingdom
• [32:31] - Jesus Is What Hearts Need

Bible Reading

John 1:35-42
“The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God!’ The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 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. One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (which means Christ). He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas’ (which means Peter).” [00:05]

Ephesians 4:1
“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called.” [05:59]

2 Corinthians 3:18
“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” [12:21]

Matthew 11:28-30
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” [15:21]

Observation questions

1. In John 1:35-42, what does John the Baptist call Jesus, and what do his two disciples do after hearing him say it? [10:42]
2. What question does Jesus ask the disciples when he sees them following him, and how do they respond? [19:55]
3. What invitation does Jesus give the disciples, and what do they do for the rest of that day? [24:59]
4. What are the first two actions Andrew takes after following Jesus, and what new name does Jesus give Simon? [28:56]

Interpretation questions

1. John calls Jesus “the Lamb of God.” How would the Passover story help the first disciples understand that Jesus is not merely a teacher, but God’s provision of rescue and hope? [20:30]
2. Jesus asks, “What are you seeking?” rather than first giving the disciples a list of religious duties. What does this reveal about the kind of change Jesus desires in his followers? [21:25]
3. Ephesians 4:1 calls believers to walk worthy of their calling, but this comes after the good news of grace in the earlier chapters. Why does it matter that identity and grace come before instructions for Christian living? [05:07]
4. Andrew simply tells Simon, “We have found the Messiah,” and brings him to Jesus. What does this show about witness and about the kind of hope Christians are called to share? [30:39]

Application questions

1. Jesus asks, “What do you want?” What picture of “the good life” most pulls on your heart right now—comfort, approval, success, control, security, or something else? Where has that pursuit left you still wanting? [23:45]
2. Following Jesus starts with seeing Jesus. What tends to keep you from slowing down to behold Christ through Scripture—busyness, distraction, discouragement, uncertainty about where to begin, or something else? What is one realistic step you could take this week? [16:14]
3. Jesus invites weary people to come to him for rest. Where are you carrying the pressure to prove yourself to others, to God, or even to yourself? What might it look like to receive Jesus’ grace in that particular area? [14:47]
4. Prayer, Scripture, and fasting are not boxes to check; they are ways of delighting in God’s presence. Which of these rhythms has helped you desire Jesus more in the past? Which one might be worth revisiting with a simple and honest heart this week? [25:59]
5. The disciples follow Jesus together, and Christians need people who can point them back to him. Who are the people helping you see Jesus clearly right now? Is there a step you could take toward deeper Christian community? [19:09]
6. Andrew brought Simon to Jesus because he had found real hope. Who in your life may need the simple encouragement of hearing what Jesus has done for you? What could it look like to share your story naturally and honestly? [30:48]
7. Jesus gives Simon a new identity before Simon has proven he can live up to it. Where do you need to remember that your identity rests in Christ’s grace rather than your performance? [29:45]