Come and See: Radical Discipleship Following the Lamb

John 1 is read as a call to reorder allegiance: culture shapes expectations, but encountering Christ demands a different vision. Listeners are invited to recognize how cultural lenses—educational systems, national habits, and inherited pieties—distort understanding of God and the Messiah. The narrative reframes popular hopes for a conquering king by presenting Jesus first as the Lamb of God, a sacrificial Savior whose purpose precedes political deliverance. This radical reframing exposes a choice every hearer must make: remain loyal to a trusted teacher or follow the One who fulfills and surpasses that teacher’s witness.

Discipleship in the first-century context is portrayed not as a classroom but as an apprenticeship: proximity, rhythm, and servant-work shape formation more than information alone. The disciples’ simple question, “Where dwellest thou?” models a longing for intimate access—living with the master to observe prayer, response, and character. When John points to Jesus and the two disciples immediately redirect their loyalty, the account insists that true following reorients life swiftly and decisively.

Perception plays a decisive role in disciple-making. Jesus sees Nathaniel and Peter not merely as they are but as who they can become; likewise, genuine discipleship learns to perceive potential rather than merely catalog shortcomings or reputations. The text presses readers toward authenticity—honest about weakness, yet expectant about transformation through the Master’s presence. Finally, the call is practical and urgent: upend default cultural assumptions, invite others into real-life apprenticeship, and choose the path that leads into the unfolding work of God—where angels ascend and descend, and greater things await those who follow.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Culture filters biblical vision Cultural habits and national narratives shape how people read Scripture and imagine God’s work; awareness of these filters is the first step toward theological clarity. Regularly interrogating inherited assumptions prevents domestic values from supplanting divine intent and frees faith to receive Scripture on its terms. Practically, disciples must ask which patterns reflect Christ’s mind and which reflect local convenience. [26:08]
• 2. The Messiah is sacrificial, not merely triumphant Presenting Jesus as the Lamb emphasizes atonement and vulnerability over immediate worldly power, reshaping expectations of God’s way of redeeming the world. This framing refuses a domesticated Christ whose primary role is national success or personal convenience, calling believers to align with a Savior whose victory comes through costly self-giving. Such a vision reorders devotion and prepares hearts for a kingdom that is formed by sacrifice. [39:00]
• 3. Discipleship is proximity, not programs True formation happens in the daily rhythms of shared life—seeing how the master prays, serves, and bears burdens—rather than merely attending classes or acquiring facts. Apprenticeship requires patience with mundane service and willingness to be formed by habits over years; this posture resists quick fixes and cultivates durable character. Enter into relationships where watching and serving shape belief into practice. [48:19]
• 4. Follow Christ, not personalities Loyalty rightly moves from gifted teachers to Christ himself; gospel fidelity means abandoning secondary allegiances when the living Lord appears. Healthy discipleship honors mentors but refuses to make any human a rival to the Redeemer, recognizing that every true guide must point beyond themselves. This discernment preserves spiritual integrity and prevents idolatry of leadership styles. [44:19]
• 5. Invite people into your life Invitation—“come and see”—is the gospel’s primary evangelistic posture: not rhetorical arguments but shared life and honest witness. Bringing others into daily rhythms offers a more persuasive testimony than polished programs; it models faith’s realities, confessions, failures, and steady hope. Small acts of hospitality and mentorship multiply into generational formation. [53:55]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [25:41] - Missions and cultural insight
• [27:32] - Cross-cultural habits: a McDonald’s anecdote
• [30:48] - Setting: disciples in first-century context
• [33:00] - What “disciple” meant then
• [39:00] - Behold the Lamb of God
• [44:19] - Leaving teachers to follow Christ
• [48:19] - Discipleship defined by proximity
• [53:55] - “Come and see”: the invitation
• [56:06] - Perception: seeing potential in people
• [63:51] - Promised “greater things” ahead
• [69:10] - Call to follow and disciple others

1. In John 1:38, what question did the two disciples ask Jesus, and what does their choice of words reveal about their understanding of discipleship?
2. How does John the Baptist refer to Jesus in verse 36, and how does this title contrast with common cultural expectations of the Messiah?
3. What immediate action did the two disciples take after John identified Jesus as the Lamb of God (v. 37)?
4. According to the sermon, what was the cultural meaning of being a "disciple" in the first century, and how did it differ from modern education models? [33:00]

1. Why did Jesus respond to the disciples’ question (“Where are you staying?”) with “Come and see” instead of giving a direct answer? What does this reveal about how discipleship works?
2. Nathaniel initially doubted that anything good could come from Nazareth (v. 46). What does this say about how preconceptions and biases can hinder someone from recognizing truth?
3. Jesus told Nathaniel, “You will see greater things than these” (v. 50). What might these “greater things” represent in the life of a follower of Christ?
4. The sermon emphasized that “discipleship is proximity, not programs.” What would it have been like for those first disciples to literally dwell with Jesus, and how does that apply today even if we can’t physically be with Him? [48:19]

1. Jesus is presented first as the Lamb of God—a suffering Savior—not a conquering king. How does this reshape what you ultimately expect from God? Do you find yourself more drawn to a God who serves your desires or a God who calls you to surrender yours?
2. “Discipleship is an enduring act of service… defined by hidden service.” [49:56] What mundane, hidden acts of service (like grinding paints or sweeping floors) are part of your walk with Christ? How can you embrace these as meaningful rather than wishing for more visible roles?
3. Who are you truly following? Are there teachers, influencers, or even Christian leaders you admire more than you pursue Christ Himself? What would it look like this week to redirect that loyalty directly to Jesus?
4. Jesus saw Nathaniel not as he was, but as he could be—“an Israelite indeed.” [56:06] Who in your life do you struggle to see that way? How can you begin to perceive others not by their flaws or reputation, but by what God can make them?
5. “Come and see” was the simple, relational invitation Philip gave Nathaniel. [53:55] Is your life open enough that you could naturally invite someone into your ordinary routines—meals, errands, time in God’s Word—to show them what following Jesus looks like day to day?
6. The first disciples left John immediately to follow Jesus. Is there anything—a habit, a relationship, a comfort—you’ve been hesitant to release in order to follow Christ more completely? What would it look like to take that step now?