A Greater Vision for Your Life

Today’s passage is John 1:40-51.  I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help, then read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go!

John 1:40-41 (NIV)
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).

On verses 40-41:  Earlier in John 1:35-37 we read that John the Baptist pointed Jesus out to two of his disciples and said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”   So those two disciples of John the Baptist start to follow Jesus.  We learn here that one of those two disciples is Andrew.  The identity of the second disciple is not 100% clear, but I think he might be John himself, the author of this gospel.

Notice what Andrew does after he starts to follow Jesus (John 1:37, 40).  The “first thing” (v41) Andrew does is tell his brother Simon about Jesus and bring Simon to meet him.  When we experience something good, whether it’s finding a good restaurant, watching a good movie or visiting a place worth seeing, it’s natural to want to tell others about it.  Similarly, when we experience the goodness of Jesus, it’s natural to want to tell others about Him.  Don’t be afraid or ashamed to do so, but be natural about it.  Your experience of Jesus is nothing to be ashamed about, but to be thankful for.  Let your light shine.

John 1:42 (NIV)
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).

On verse 42:  Jesus gives Simon a new name in the Aramaic language, which is “Cephas”, which translates in Greek to “Petrus” (“Peter”) and literally means the “Rock”.  This new name Jesus gave Simon was not a “normal”, common name.  Back in ancient Israel calling someone Cephas (“Rock”) was about as common and normal as you calling someone “Rock” in today’s culture.  It was more a nickname than something you would expect as a legal name.  Yet Jesus gives Simon this new name, and in so doing gives Simon a new identity and a new purpose. For Jesus would build his church on this “rock”.  Likewise, when we come to Jesus, we get a new identity and a new purpose in life.  And whatever your nickname is, remember that you are a rock on which Jesus builds his church.

John 1:43-45 (NIV)
⁴³  The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”
⁴⁴  Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida.
⁴⁵  Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote–Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

On verses 43-45:  Jesus calls Philip to follow him, and soon Philip is leading others like Nathanael to Jesus.  Philip tells Nathanael, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote – Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph”.

What can we learn from this?  First, as Philip says in verse 45, Jesus is the one that the Old Testament – both the Law and the Prophets – point to.  For centuries the Old Testament was pointing forward to the day that God would send a Saviour, a Messiah.

Second, you are never too young in your faith to lead others to Jesus.  Just as Philip was just learning about Jesus but was still bold in reaching people for Jesus, so you can be a baby Christian, super new in the faith, and God can use you to reach others for Jesus.  You don’t need to have all the answers or wait until you have no more questions.  All you need to do is not be afraid to invite people to come see Jesus for themselves.

John 1:46 (NIV)
⁴⁶  “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip.

On verse 46:  Nathanael was prejudiced against small towns like Nazareth.  He assumed that the Messiah the Jews were waiting for would not come from a small town.  But Nathanael was at least willing to challenge his own prejudice, and in so doing, he found his prejudice to be unfounded.  Don’t allow prejudice and preconceived assumptions keep you from checking out who Jesus really is.

John 1:47-49 (NIV)
⁴⁷  When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false.”
⁴⁸  “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”
⁴⁹  Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.”

On verses 47-49:  Just as Jesus was able to perceive from afar that Nathanael was sitting under a fig tree before Philip called him (v48), I’m sure Jesus was fully aware of all the sins and sinful habits in Nathanael’s life.  Yet when Nathanael first approaches Jesus, notice Jesus’ first words to Nathanael are not condemning and judgmental but rather encouraging and affirming.  Jesus says about Nathanael, “Here is a true Israelite, in whom is nothing false.” (v47)  Despite Nathanael’s prejudice against people from Nazareth, Jesus won Nathanael’s heart with the encouraging and affirming words he spoke and by understanding Nathanael’s deepest desires.

Jesus wasn’t denying Nathanael’s sin.  Jesus would in fact deal with Nathanael’s sin thoroughly and completely by going to the cross for Nathanael.  But what Jesus was doing here was casting a greater vision for Nathanael’s life.

What can we learn from this?  Even when you are aware of a person’s weakness, flaws and faults, go out of your way to encourage that person and to cast a greater vision for that person’s life.  In doing so, like Jesus, you touch their heart and help them reach for a greater version of themselves.

John 1:50-51 (NIV)
⁵⁰  Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that.”
⁵¹  He then added, “I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

On verses 50-51:  In Genesis 28, Jacob (also known as Israel) has a dream where he sees a ladder connecting earth to heaven with the angels ascending and descending on it (Genesis 28:12).  Here in John 1:51 Jesus is identifying with that picture in Genesis and is suggesting that he himself is the ladder connecting sinners on earth to God in heaven, with “the angels of God ascending and descending” on him.  Praise God! When we couldn’t reach God on our own, Jesus came to be our ladder to heaven!  So let’s climb on Jesus, lean on Him, and hang on to Him.  In doing so, we will access all of the mercy, blessings and power from heaven that we need for today.

Jesus, thank You for being the ladder that connects sinners on earth with the holy God of heaven.  Thank You that in You I have a new identity and a new purpose.  Like Andrew and Philip, may I be passionate and bold in leading others to You.  Like Simon Peter, may I be a rock on which You build Your church.   Like Nathanael, may I not let my preconceived assumptions keep me from knowing You better.  Thank You Jesus for speaking life giving words to me, despite knowing how much of a mess I am.  Thank You that Your greater vision for my life leads me forward.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN!