John Seeth Jesus

The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. John 1:29.

At first glance there seems to be nothing much to observe here. John the Baptist just saw the Lord Jesus walking up to him. But there is far more to this event than meets the natural eye! This becomes evident when we read John’s twice repeated statement, “And I knew him not” in verses 31 and 33!

What we learn from this, is that John is  not seeing just a physical person come walking by, that he can, with face recognition, identify! His mother and the Lord’s mother were cousins. (Luke 1:36). So there can be no doubt that he readily knew his cousin by sight. But that is not what is being deal with here!

Lets turn to Job and see what light he can shed on this. In Job 42:5-6 we read, I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes. That quite a confession!

Those words, but now reveal that there is a difference in his first, just hearing of the Lord, and his presently seeing Him! For his hearing of the Lord, that is, just being illuminated by religious facts, brought no repentance like the seeing of Him by the eye! Therefore we know that the seeing of the Lord had to be by divine revelation, granting Job the eye of faith! For faith is God’s gift (Eph. 2:8,9), and it has the quality of seeing Him who is invisible! (Heb. 11:1, 27).

The Apostle Paul grants us greater insight into this situation in 2 Corinthians 2:16-17. Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, thought we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Christians are never again truly known by their physical appearance, for they are now a new creation of the Holy Spirit! They now must be known only by the same Holy Spirit who indwells others. And it is the same with Christ! He clearly told us in John 14:19, …the world seeth me no more; but ye see me! That is, those of the world, who are without the new birth having made them a new creation in Christ, have no spiritual eyes to “see” the Lord as the very Son of God!

Listen to John 6:40. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, AND BELIEVETH ON HIM, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. Just as Job only had repentance after “seeing” the Lord, so these who see the glory of the Lord Jesus by the Holy Spirit, also receive the gift of faith in order to believe on him!

There were those in the days of the Lord’s natural life on earth who saw him daily! But without faith being granted, they knew him not in redemption’s vision! John 6:36 But I say unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believed  not.

Here is John’s testimony:

And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.

And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.

And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.

And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

This is the same principle by which all the elect of God are brought into salvation! They are given to see the glory of Christ by the Holy Spirit! For without the revelation of his glory, Christ has no attraction to the heart! These would only say, he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. … and we hid as it were our faces from him; (Isaiah 53:2-3).

John’s Joy

In chapter three of the Book of John we have revealed to us a private conversation that John the Baptist had with his disciples. The “Jews” had been in argument with them concerning the purging, or cleansing of baptism. (V.25). Then in the next verse we read of John’s disciples taking up the matter with him. From this we conclude that the purpose of the  Jew’s argument must have been to set the Lord Jesus’ ministry in opposition to John and his ministry. And it is in John’s answer to his disciples that we learn of his inner joy!

John gives them a most important understanding that all senior preachers should impart to those younger ones called to preach Christ. He reminds them that they were never supposed to worship him, nor try to defend him as a person. He reminded them also that heaven alone  establishes those who minister, and the degree of their effectiveness. (V.27). And he refreshed  it to their minds that they were his witnesses of the fact that he had always insisted the he was, most certainly, not the Christ! (V.28).

Then he told them the most important thing that a preacher can relate to younger preachers. He explained that his inner, lasting joy never lay in the thrill of preaching. His joy was not from his calling to the ministry, nor from his gift assigned him by the Holy Spirit! He told them most emphatically that his inner joy came from hearing Christ’s voice, as the bridegroom, speaking to the Church, his bride!  The Lord Jesus sets forth this to us in John 15:11, which states, These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

And didn’t this prove to be important to John in prison? The exciting time of his flaming ministry was over. He comes to decrease as the Lord increases. And he asks an almost unbelievable question. The only man set forth by heaven to state that Jesus of Nazareth was the Lamb of God, asks, “art thou the Christ, or do we look for another?” (Matt. 11:3). And what does the Lord give him? He made no effort to get him out of prison! He hired him no lawyer to appeal his case!

But he did give to John that which John proclaimed to his disciples was the very joy of his soul! The Lord sent his word to John! “Go and show John again those things which ye do see and hear!” He allowed him to hear the Bridegroom’s voice again!

Pastor Gene Breed

ONE OF THE TWO

John 1:40 One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. 42 And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone. 43 ¶ The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me. 44 Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.

Days of Gospel Beginnings

The beginnings of verses 29, 35, and 43 all let us know that each of these succeeding days are of great importance in the beginning of the gospel era! For verse 29 has us notice, “The next day.” And verse 35 states, “Again the next day.” And verse 43 draws our attention to, “The day following!” These are essential days of events that must take place for the gospel to finally come to America’s shores! For these were “the times before appointed,” in order for the remaining gospel history to fall out in their  respective places!

Days of Small Beginnings

Zech. 4:10 For who hath despised the day of small things? You will notice that our passage begins with the words, One of the two! It is not “one of the hundreds!” The gospel days begin with just two of John the Baptist’s disciples and our Lord Jesus! For gospel progress is likened unto sowing seed. We know that the Lord is that seed! (Gal. 3:16). And he tells us that except that seed fall into the ground, and die, it will abide alone! But if it die, it will bring forth much fruit! (John 12:24). And James 5:7 instructs us that farmers must have patience, waiting for the precious fruit of the earth! The Harlot church likes wildfire type speed and fury! But our Lord here just starts out with – One of the Two!

And the one that he begins with is Andrew, whose name means, “a man!” For God always chooses the weak and base things to reveal his own glory! (1 Cor. 1:27). Not only is he just one of the two, and only a man, and not some superstar, he is always known by his association with his brother! For he is identified as, “Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.”

Yet, without that association, humanly speaking, we would not have the church’s spokesperson on the day of Pentecost! For Andrew always had a specific character trait  that was used by the Spirit throughout his ministry. He always brought those he found to Jesus! In John 6:8-9, he brings the lad with the small lunch to Jesus and the multitudes get fed! And in John 12:23-24, he aids Philip in getting the Greeks to Christ! He’s just one of the two, but he was ordained to help begin the gospel day that would shine forth around the entire world! For He first findeth his own brother Simon … and he brought him to Jesus!

What’s In Your Hand?

When Moses would have some assurance from God that the Hebrews down in Egypt would accept him as being sent from God for their deliverance, God asks him a simple question. “What is that in thine hand?” This is not what one might expect, when asking for  help with self confidence! But the answer was at that time being gripped in the very hand of Moses! Moses replies, “A rod!” After the Lord shows Moses the snake in that upon which he leans, he becomes more confident that the Lord shall go with him. For he comes to see that he already possess a rod which shall prove to be the comfort of the Lord’s people! (Psa. 23:4b thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.) Dear Reader, we should do with our might what our hands find to do. We should be confident in the fact that we are what we are by the grace of God! (1Cor 15:10). For the Lord God has always used just everyday people like us to accomplish his glorious purposes!

He First Findeth

There is another unusual thing that we become aware of by a careful reading of our passage. That is, the Lord Jesus was planning to go to Bethsaida anyway! And we read that Bethsaida was “the city of Andrew and Peter!” If Christ was going to see Philip in Peter’s city, why didn’t Andrew just wait and let him kill two birds with one stone? Because Andrew never allowed convenience to cool his godly zeal!

Why seek out the lad with the little lunch if the Lord Jesus is going to preform a miracle and feed the thousands? And why aid Philip to bring the Greeks to Christ, if all that the Father giveth him shall come to him? “If God is going to save the elect anyhow, why even preach?” Because God is not going to save the elect “anyhow!” He is going to save them “God’s how!” And “God’s how” commands us to preach the word to every creature! We are instructed to do all we do for the glory of God, and not for any lesser reasons!

A New Name Given

“IF” Andrew would not have “First” sought out Peter, again, humanly speaking, Peter would have missed the day of his salvation! The Lord didn’t intend to save Peter the next day in Bethsaida! He intended that this day (remember the importance of these days of gospel beginnings!), would be the time before appointed for Peter’s entrance into the kingdom of light!

What one day would you be willing to give up since coming savingly to Christ? Which day would you choose to say, “I’ll just remain in my sin one more day!” Psa. 84:10 For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. Would you not be eternally thankful for the urgency that the Spirit of God placed in your natural brother, Andrew’s heart to seek you out, regardless of whether Jesus was coming down to your city the next day? Wouldn’t you rather be thrilled to enter into Bethsaida with Christ for the first time as a new creature?

The Lord Jesus tells Simon what his old name was, given him from his natural birth. Then he tells him of his new name as he grants him spiritual birth! It is not visibly seen in the transaction. For the Spiritual Wind bloweth where he wills, and none can tell of His coming and going. And so is every one who is born of the Spirit!

Christ’s dealings with Peter here in John one reminds us of his words to the church in Pergamos, as recorded in Revelation 2:17. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. Simon’s name was changed to “a stone.”

A Condemned City

Even though Andrew, Philip and Peter were chosen to be disciples of the Lord, and all came from the city of Bethsaida, this did not prevent that city from becoming notoriously wicked!

Luke 10:13 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for you.

Nor was this city great, or glorious because the Lord found there “a desert place” for his restful privacy (Luke 9:10). Nor did it benefit from having such glorious heavenly guests as our Lord Jesus Christ, Andrew, Peter, and Philip! In fact, it was exactly the opposite! America is not great because she has been favored with those gospel champions, of whom the world was not worthy (Heb. 11:38), nor that the gospel has been vigorously declared! But she shall be highly condemned because she has not believed that gospel!

Pastor Gene Breed

DARKNESS AND LIGHT

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5  And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

In these verses we find both the condition of the lost soul, and the only recourse of God to grant spiritual light to him.  For we are instructed that the character of darkness is totally opposed to light and to it’s reception. That word, “comprehended” is of great instruction to us in the revealing of the darkened, lost soul. That Greek word is translated as, “came upon” in John 12:35; as “perceive” in Acts 4:13; as “overtake” in 1 Thess. 5:4; as “apprehend” in Phil. 3:2; and as “obtain” in 1 Corin. 9:24. Therefore we come to understand that the sinful darkness of the lost man’s soul can in no way receive, nor desire, nor apprehend the light of gospel life!

The Amplified Bible reads, “for the darkness has never overpowered it – put it out, or has not absorbed it, has not appropriated it, and is unreceptive to it.” Just like water and oil cannot be mixed, so the darkness has not ability to respond to the light! This is why we state that men are only born again by God’s Sovereign Grace!

How then does an unregenerate soul ever receive the light? Go back and read verse four. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. Lost mankind cannot receive light from God until they first receive God’s Life! Since the character of the darkness prevents the reception of spiritual light, the Life of God, with it’s character totally agreeable to light must be given to man! – Hence, the absolute necessity of Christ to die, so that His life may be imparted sovereignly to the elect of God! John 12:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. Unless God was pleased to eternally “abide alone,” he must, as the seed of God (Gal. 3:16), die and be buried to bring forth life unto mankind! 2Cor. 5:14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:

It is only as we are brought into the life of Christ, by spiritual resurrection that we come to the light! Psa. 36:9 For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light. For it is first him that “doeth truth,” that is, experiences spiritual life, who shall alone, come to the light! (John 3:21). Eph. 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

Pastor Gene Breed