Seeking Jesus: The Invitation to Follow

In John 1, we encounter a people who have been waiting for centuries to hear from God, longing for the fulfillment of His promises. After 450 years of prophetic silence, the arrival of Jesus is the answer to their deepest hopes. Among the religious routines and spiritual apathy of the broader nation, there are a few who are truly hungry for God—men like Andrew, John, Peter, Philip, and Nathanael. These are not just casual observers; they are seekers, expectant and ready to respond when the Messiah is revealed.

John the Baptist’s ministry is a model for all who desire to point others to Christ. He prepares the way, but when Jesus appears, John steps back, gladly allowing his own followers to leave him for the One who is greater. This humility is essential for anyone who wants to serve God: our role is to direct people to Jesus, not to ourselves.

When Jesus encounters these seekers, He does not turn them away. Instead, He invites them to come and see, to dwell with Him, and to discover who He truly is. The invitation is not to a one-time decision, but to a life of continual following. Jesus’ call—“Follow me”—is present and active, a daily surrender and pursuit. This is not about adding Jesus to our lives, but about making Him our life.

The response of those who find Jesus is immediate and contagious. Andrew brings his brother Simon (Peter); Philip seeks out Nathanael. Those who have truly encountered Christ cannot help but invite others to meet Him as well. Even skepticism, like Nathanael’s about Nazareth, is met with the simple invitation: “Come and see.” Jesus knows the hearts of those who seek Him, and He reveals Himself in ways that are both personal and profound.

Ultimately, this passage is a beautiful picture of salvation: people seeking God, a Savior seeking people, and those who have found Him helping others to do the same. Jesus is the ladder between heaven and earth, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. He meets the longing heart, transforms lives, and sends His followers out to share the good news.

Key Takeaways

• 1. True spiritual hunger is rare but powerful. In a world where many go through religious motions, God responds to those who earnestly seek Him. The longing heart is not ignored; Jesus meets those who desire Him with revelation and invitation, fulfilling the deepest hopes of those who wait on Him. [35:32]
• 2. Humility in ministry means stepping aside so others can follow Jesus, not us. John the Baptist’s willingness to lose his own disciples for the sake of Christ’s glory is a model for every believer. Our influence is significant only insofar as it points people to the Savior, not to ourselves. [46:17]
• 3. Jesus’ call is not a one-time event but a continual journey. The present active tense of “Follow me” means discipleship is a daily, moment-by-moment surrender. Faithfulness is measured not by a past decision, but by a present walk—especially in the ordinary and difficult moments of life. [61:48]
• 4. Encountering Jesus leads to transformation and mission. When Andrew and Philip meet Christ, their first impulse is to bring others to Him. Genuine faith is never self-contained; it overflows in a desire for others to experience the same life-changing encounter. [56:37]
• 5. Jesus knows and seeks the honest heart, even before we articulate our need. Nathanael’s story shows that Christ sees us in our seeking, understands our doubts, and reveals Himself in ways that speak directly to our hearts. The journey of faith is both a response to God’s initiative and an invitation to see “greater things” as we follow Him. [70:07]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [27:26] - Announcements and Church App
• [28:48] - Growing Up in the 80s: Illustration
• [30:56] - The Longing for Revelation
• [33:48] - 450 Years of Silence
• [35:32] - The Spiritually Hungry Remnant
• [36:53] - Jesus Invites the Seeker
• [38:29] - The First Disciples: Andrew and John
• [41:07] - John the Baptist Points to Jesus
• [46:17] - Stepping Aside for Christ
• [47:51] - Jesus’ Question: What Do You Seek?
• [49:32] - The Identity of the Disciples
• [52:02] - The Journey and the Invitation
• [56:37] - Bringing Others to Jesus
• [59:37] - Philip and Nathanael: Honest Questions
• [61:48] - The Call to Continual Following
• [66:08] - Nathanael’s Skepticism and Jesus’ Knowledge
• [70:07] - Greater Things to Come
• [72:44] - The Microcosm of Salvation
• [75:10] - Closing Prayer

Bible Reading

John 1:35-51 (ESV) —
> 35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 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?” 39 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. 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). 42 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).
>
> 43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 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.” 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” 48 Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” 49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” 50 Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

Observation Questions

1. What was John the Baptist’s reaction when his own disciples left him to follow Jesus? What does this show about his attitude toward his ministry? ([46:17])
2. How did Andrew and Philip respond after meeting Jesus? What did they do next? ([56:37])
3. What question did Jesus ask the two disciples who started following him, and why is that question important? ([47:51])
4. How did Jesus demonstrate that he knew Nathanael before they ever met? ([01:08:52])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why is true spiritual hunger described as rare but powerful in the sermon? What sets apart those who are truly seeking God from those just going through religious motions? ([35:32])
2. What does John the Baptist’s willingness to “step aside” teach us about humility in serving God and pointing others to Jesus? ([46:17])
3. The sermon says Jesus’ call to “Follow me” is not a one-time event but a continual journey. What does it look like to follow Jesus in the “ordinary and difficult moments of life”? ([01:01:48])
4. Why is it significant that those who encountered Jesus immediately wanted to bring others to him? What does this say about genuine faith? ([56:37])

Application Questions

1. The sermon described a spiritually hungry remnant among a nation that was mostly spiritually apathetic. Would you describe yourself as spiritually hungry right now? If not, what might be dulling your hunger for God? ([35:32])
2. John the Baptist was willing to lose his own followers so they could follow Jesus. Are there areas in your life or ministry where you need to “step aside” so that Jesus can be the focus instead of you? What would that look like practically? ([46:17])
3. Jesus’ invitation was “Come and see,” and his call is to continual following. In what area of your life do you find it hardest to follow Jesus daily? What is one step you could take this week to surrender that area to him? ([01:01:48])
4. When Andrew and Philip met Jesus, their first impulse was to invite others. Who is one person in your life right now that you could invite to “come and see” Jesus? What’s a practical way you could do that this week? ([56:37])
5. Nathanael was honest about his doubts, but still responded to the invitation. Are there doubts or questions you have about Jesus that you haven’t brought to him? What would it look like to bring those honestly to God? ([01:06:08])
6. The sermon said that Jesus knows and seeks the honest heart, even before we articulate our need. How does this truth encourage you in your current season of life? ([01:10:07])
7. The passage is described as a “microcosm of salvation”—people seeking God, a Savior seeking people, and those who have found him helping others. Which of these three do you most identify with right now: seeking, being sought, or helping others find Jesus? How can your group support you in your next step? ([01:14:12])