The Gospel of John, Day 11: ch. 1, vv. 40-43

40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus.

Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).

43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”

Three things are happening in this passage:

1. People are following Jesus
2. People are telling about Jesus
3. Jesus is calling people to follow him

This is appropriate to the season we are in now: Christmas. As we celebrate the first coming of Jesus, these three things should be happening. Am I doing this in my life? What distracts me from these basic things? Is this what I am living for?

Think about these things as you have a merry Christmas!!

The Gospel of John, Day 10: ch. 1, vv. 35-39

35 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”

37 When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38 Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?”

They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”

39 “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.”

So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon.

I think there is an emphasis on concrete experience. Jesus invites the disciples to come and see where he is going and what he is doing. The disciples experience Jesus in person. We can experience his love, grace, action, and transformation in our lives also.

The first two disciples followed Jesus after John pointed out Jesus to them. No questions, conditions, or reservations. They didn't even know where Jesus was taking them, they just went. Should we be surprised if we don't know where He is taking us? Just follow. No one knows the future or the best way to get there. But He does.

The Gospel of John, Day 9: ch. 1, vv. 32-34

32 Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33 And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”

At the baptism of Jesus, the dove descends on him as a sign of the spirit of God coming down to rest upon him. This also accomplishes God's purpose for John's ministry of baptism: so that Jesus might be revealed to Israel (31). Since Jesus has the spirit of God remaining in him, he baptizes us not with water, but with the holy spirit. Water baptism is a physical sign that Christians are told to practice for many different reasons. However, I do not believe it is a requirement of salvation. Yet baptism of the holy spirit is something that all believers are given when they follow Jesus. What exactly the holy spirit gives us is expounded upon later in John 14-16.

Check out Mark 1:7 also for more about John's baptism and Jesus' baptism.  This is a tricky subject, but I think it is important.

The Gospel of John, Day 8: ch. 1, vv. 29-31

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”

John repeats what he said before.  Jesus was before and after John so he has surpassed John.  Jesus is the lamb of God, so he can take away the sins o the whole world.  The whole reason why John was baptizing was so that Jesus might be revealed, might be magnified to Israel.

All John does is talk about Jesus. He baptizes and preaches to talk about Jesus and how he has surpassed and is greater than John. He even baptizes just to get people's attention so that he can talk about Jesus. One of the first Jesus freaks. And an example of what our life's purpose should be.

The Gospel of John, Day 7: ch. 1, vv. 24-28

24 Now the Pharisees who had been sent 25 questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”

Baptism seems to be a very important thing to the Pharisees. This was different than the traditional ritual cleansing that was performed by the Jews, so it was a notable practice done by John.

26 “I baptize with[e] water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. 27 He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”

28 This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

Even though baptism is mentioned several times, we get the sense that it is not the most important thing. Jesus is greater than all this, even John the great prophet is unworthy to even untie this man's sandals.  Christ is worth more than anything.

Summary-John continues to baptize at the Jordan River. The pharisees have lots of questions about that (as do I). However, John keeps pointing back to the greatness of Jesus, the one to come after him. We are unworthy of Jesus' presence also. Yet we can come to him, because of the truth and grace that He brought us.

The Gospel of John, Day 6: ch. 1, vv. 19-23

19 Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders[c] in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20 He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.”

The Jewish leaders are antithetical to Jesus; they ask John if he is the Messiah, but he freely admits that he is not.  John has humility, yet he also has boldness.

21 They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?”

He said, “I am not.”

“Are you the Prophet?”

He answered, “No.”

22 Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”

These leaders really want an answer.  There seems to be a hidden agenda for the pharisees.

23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”

John uses the words of Isaiah to tell who he is.  This is a bold statement, but a humble statement.  He is in essence challenging these leaders and telling them to make a path for the Lord. It is a great comeback.  John is asked loaded questions, so he returns with a loaded answer. Like the Pharisees, we need to make a straight path for the Lord in our own lives.