Session 2: The Work

Session Overview

Creedal Statement

Coming soon.

Key Elements

• Key Passage - John 1:1–51
• Scripture Memory - This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and in His name repentance and forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. Luke 24:46–48
• Catechism - Q: How do disciples participate in God’s mission? A: Witness.

Introduction

And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world.

Are you a true believer? If you are, you ought to glory in Christ. Glory not in your own faith, your own feelings, your own knowledge, your own prayers, your own amendment, your own diligence. Glory in nothing but Christ … Tell the young, tell the poor, tell the aged, tell the ignorant, tell the sick, tell the dying,—tell them all about Christ. Tell them of His power, and tell them of His love. Tell them of His doings, and tell them of His feelings. Tell them what lie has done for the chief of sinners. Tell them what He is willing to do to the last day of time. Tell it them over and over again. Never be tired of speaking of Christ.

Genuine faith in Christ should precipitate vocal proclamation of the gospel to others. No greater work has been achieved on earth than the saving work of Christ. God the Father sent his Son to reveal God to the world and to redeem sinful humanity. When Jesus entered the world, he remained fully God and became fully human in order to rescue sinful people from God’s pending judgment. A gracious message of salvation, redemption, forgiveness, and rescue is at the center of Christ’s work. When people encounter Christ and experience his life-altering salvation, there is a compelling desire to tell others about the freedom and forgiveness that they have experienced. This God-given impulse to share Jesus with others is one of the means God uses to spread the message of Christ throughout the world. God wants people throughout the world to place their faith in Jesus and follow him with the entirety of their lives.

Despite experiencing Jesus’ transforming impact in their lives, many believers struggle to talk to others about Jesus. Feelings of fear, insecurity, and embarrassment may cause disciples to hesitate to publicly announce the gospel. Some may wrongly assume that the work of evangelistic witness is the duty of paid Christian professionals, when this gospel-sharing work is organic to the soil of Christian discipleship. Still others may confuse formalized public speech as the only real mode of gospel preaching. In this latter case, they overlook one of the primary ways the gospel spreads to new believers: people naturally telling others in their relational network about what they have discovered about Jesus. Although barriers to gospel witness abound, these obstacles are not insurmountable. The Scripture itself disentangles the confusion around evangelism and invites all genuine disciples of Christ to participate in this work of witnessing.

The narrative spine of John 1:1–51 highlights the important Christian work of bearing witness to Jesus. In a powerful prelude to the narrative, we learn about the true identity and work of Jesus. As the story unfolds, we encounter John the Baptist bearing witness to a crowd of religious leaders. Instructive to our witnessing work, the author of the narrative records the content of John’s message. Then, we see how some of Jesus’ earliest disciples come to follow him and bear witness about him to others. Through the examples of John the Baptist, Andrew, and Philip, we see how discipleship is intertwined with gospel witness. The simple and important work of evangelism—that is, telling other people about Jesus and his saving work—is a responsibility of all believers. In the course of this narrative, we come to understand the centrality of Jesus, the foundational work of witnessing, the basic thrust of the gospel message, and evangelism as a natural outcome of genuine discipleship.

Whether you are a new believer or have been following Jesus for decades, this narrative can profoundly shape your life. If we allow it to penetrate our hearts and lives, this powerful story can challenge our evangelistic hesitations, (re)invigorate our witnessing efforts, focus our church’s ministry, and expand our individual gospel influence. The work of gospel witness need not remain in the hands of the few; God invites all faithful followers to confess Christ to others. As Christ followers, let us revisit an early time of Jesus’ ministry as a means to spur us to share the gospel with a world that needs to hear about Jesus. In this session, we will learn that when our lives are rightly and joyfully oriented to Christ as his disciples, we will naturally be engaged in an outward-facing work of passionate witness.

Biblical Interpretation: Hearing the Word

Study the Text: The Bible is God’s inspired word to his people. Christian disciples mature in the faith when they are grounded in God’s word. In this movement, you will study the basic details of the biblical text.

Observation Questions

Read (or listen to) the whole passage of Scripture. Discuss the questions below for each section of the story. Pay attention to the details of the text to recall what the passage is saying. Use the focus verses to guide your conversation.

Storycraft

Retell the story in your own words, recounting the overall flow of the narrative, the main segments of the story, and the major developments that take place.

Narrative Elements

Story Retell

Theological Dialogue: Discussing the Plot

Explore the Text: God’s word is his trustworthy and sufficient revelation to his people. We grow as Christ’s disciples by rooting our lives in God’s unchanging truth. In this movement, you will explore vital teachings of this biblical passage.

Discussion Questions

Summarize the biblical story. As a community, discuss the following questions. Be attentive to the truths taught in this text. Use the commentary on the next pages to uncover core principles this passage teaches about the Christian faith.

Biblical Commentary

Use this commentary to help you understand the meaning of the text. Refer to the infographic on the next page to think through how narratives work.

Passage Introduction

Key Idea

Jesus’ disciples are called to tell others about Jesus by bearing witness to Jesus’ true identity, saving work, and transformative impact in their lives.

Passage Overview

Jesus calls his disciples to represent him to the world. In the current scriptural narrative, we learn about the centrality of Jesus in God’s plan of salvation. God calls people, such as John the Baptist and us, to bear witness to Jesus in the world. In our witness, we proclaim a message of good news about Jesus and his saving work. Genuine belief in Christ translates into an eager gospel proclamation. Like in the lives of the early disciples, a life-transforming encounter with Christ is an invitation to tell others about Jesus. As this biblical narrative suggests, sometimes gospel proclamations take place in natural conversations with people in our relationship network. Each person has a sphere of influence where they can speak the message of Christ. Certainly, it will require a clear understanding of the gospel and a bold heart willing to take risks. Nevertheless, this work of witness to others is intrinsically bound to our maturity as Christ’s disciples. Explore the following commentary to learn about the basic work of evangelism and how you can tell others about Jesus in your own sphere of influence.

Passage Outline

Spreading the News

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our own eyes, which we have gazed upon and touched with our own hands—this is the Word of life. And this is the life that was revealed; we have seen it and testified to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And this fellowship of ours is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ.

Christianity once established was its own best missionary. It grew naturally from within. It attracted people by its very presence. It was a light shining in darkness and illuminating the darkness. And while there were no professional missionaries devoting their whole life to this specific work, every congregation was a missionary society, and every Christian believer a missionary, inflamed by the love of Christ to convert his fellow-men.

Introduction

The life of a disciple involves the work of Christ-centered witness to the surrounding world. This means that people who place their faith in Jesus are called not only to follow Jesus as Lord but also to announce him to others as Savior and Messiah. What we most deeply believe, we most eagerly proclaim. In this way, announcing Jesus to the world is a great privilege but also a serious responsibility. Authentic Christ followers give expression to their faith in the character of their lives and in the message they willingly herald. After experiencing forgiveness of sins and escape from divine judgment, disciples tell others about Jesus out of a natural expression of gratitude and love.

Although a Christian’s witness is intrinsic to his new life of following Jesus, many disciples struggle to tell others about Jesus. In areas of the world where Christianity has a history, believers may struggle to share the gospel with those who think they are Christians but may only be nominally so. In these instances, cultural familiarity with Christianity may be masking spiritual poverty. For those who live in a sociopolitical context where Christians are persecuted, some disciples may hesitate to speak about Jesus because of the harm that might come to themselves and their families. Regardless of the context, the Bible offers timeless guidance for how disciples can overcome the challenges of their surrounding context and embrace their duty of gospel witness in any and every context.

In the gripping narrative of John 1:1–51, we observe the instructive example of John the Baptist (and some early disciples) bearing witness to Jesus. The opening of the passage asserts Jesus as the central figure of our evangelistic work. After this powerful prologue, the story unfolds in scenes that take place over the course of several days. Within the storyline, we learn about John the Baptist’s primary work of witness. John the Baptist was a prophet whom God appointed to prepare people for the coming of Jesus. Throughout John’s ministry, we come to understand the essential content of the gospel message. After being introduced to John the Baptist, we discover how some of Jesus’ first disciples followed Jesus and how some of these first disciples brought others to Jesus. (One point of clarification: the Gospel of John is written by the Apostle John, one of Jesus’ disciples. This is a different John than John the Baptist in this story.)

John the Baptist (and the early disciples) presents a compelling and inspiring picture of faithful witness. The boldness and simplicity of his announcement of Jesus serve as an example for all believers. Although John the Baptist occupied a unique role in the history of salvation, the content of his message, the sincerity of his testimony, and the determination of his ministry guide us in our responsibility to tell the world about Jesus. Let’s look at his example with deep appreciation, self-reflection, and a growing compassion for the unbelieving world.

There Was a Man: Focusing One’s Life Around the Person of Jesus

Biblical Narrative (John 1:1–18)

The opening of this biblical passage asserts fundamental truths about Jesus. Showing that Jesus is eternal, the Apostle John stated that “in the beginning” Jesus was “with God” (1:1). John reasserted that Jesus was “with God in the beginning” (1:2). Emphasizing that Jesus is fully God, John wrote that Jesus was not only “with God,” but he also “was God” (1:1). John gave evidence for Jesus’ power and deity by saying that “all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made” (1:3). Additionally, John recorded that Jesus was the source and substance of life: “in Him was life, and that life was the light of men” (1:4). Jesus is responsible for human existence and he is also the means of giving sinful humans new life. John concluded this section of his prologue by teaching that “the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (1:5). In this powerful opening to the Gospel of John and this narrative about John the Baptist, we learn about the unique person of Jesus.

Jesus was described as the “true Light” which came into the world and “gives light to every man” (1:9). Despite making the world, Jesus was not recognized as Creator and God by many in the world (1:10). In contrast, John hinted at a basic element of true discipleship: knowing and recognizing Jesus for who he really is (cf. 1:10). Those who are genuine followers of Christ accept and trust Jesus: “To all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God” (1:12). Those who receive Jesus by faith, are children of God, “born not of blood, nor of the desire or will of man, but born of God” (1:13). Those who become children of God through faith are enlightened and enter into an intimate relationship with God through Jesus Christ, the true Light of the world.

John also explained that Jesus is “the Word” (1:1). As the Word of God, Jesus entered into the created world as a human. When Jesus was born into the world, he “became flesh and made His dwelling among us” (1:14). Remaining fully God at the same time as becoming fully human, Jesus revealed the glory of God, “full of grace and truth” (1:14). The fullness of Jesus—fully God and fully man in one person—brings true grace to humanity (1:16). While the law came through Moses, Jesus manifested the fullness of God’s grace and truth (1:17). Since Jesus has full knowledge of God the Father—and he himself is fully God—Jesus revealed in human person the fullness of God. Even though previously “no one has ever seen God,” Jesus “made [God] known” to humanity because he himself “is God” (1:18).

John the Baptist was born and ministered at the time Jesus came to earth. In this opening prologue, we learn about John the Baptist’s vocation: he is a witness to Light, Jesus (cf. 1:6–8, 15). He was “sent from God” (1:6) into the world “to testify about the Light” (1:7). The aim of John the Baptist’s witness was to call people to believe in Jesus (1:7). As we will see from his own ministry, he was careful to diminish his importance as he exalted Jesus’ preeminence (1:8, 15). From this opening passage, we clearly see the main focus of John the Baptist’s ministry, a ministry centered upon the person of Jesus.

Biblical Principles

Centrality of Jesus Christ. This opening prologue highlights the central importance, exceptional character, and redemptive vocation of Jesus Christ. In this passage, Jesus is identified as the Word of God (1:1 [3x], 14) who is both equal with God the Father (1:1, 14) and distinct from God the Father (1:1, 14, 18). Jesus is also identified as the Light (1:4–5, 7–8) who comes into the world to overcome the darkness. Along with these, Jesus is also Creator and Life-Giver (1:3, 4, 10–11). He is God’s eternal Son (1:14) who brings grace (1:14, 16) and truth (1:14, 17) to an ignorant and rebellious humanity (1:10, 11, 18). Fully God and fully man, Jesus reveals the fullness of God (1:14, 16, 18), showcases the intended character of humanity (1:9, 11, 14), and restores broken humanity to a right relationship with God (1:11–13).

Accessible to a new believer and thought-provoking for the seasoned disciple, the prologue prepended to this narrative establishes foundational truths about the Christian faith. These truths should guide each believer’s life and witness. The knowledge of Jesus and the proclamation of the gospel exist in a reciprocal and mutually edifying relationship with each other. Coming to a deep understanding of Jesus will fuel, expand, and sharpen our gospel witness; in turn, faithful gospel engagement with others will inspire our continued study of Christ. The grand beauty of the gospel is also its great offense to the unbelieving world. The gospel is an exclusive and unapologetic declaration of Jesus’ centrality. Jesus is the culmination of God’s revelation to humanity, the fullness of divine majesty, the uncorrupted embodiment of human dignity, the final sacrifice for sin, and the only means of a restored relationship with God. The incomparable character of Christ is the great impetus for evangelistic work. As disciples of Christ, we do not herald one religious option among many decent alternatives. Instead, we proclaim Jesus as the one and only Savior of the world.

Human Messengers. While God sent Jesus to redeem sinful humans, God also appointed human messengers to tell the world about Jesus. In particular, this passage highlights John the Baptist as a divinely appointed messenger (1:6) sent to bear witness to Jesus (1:7, 8, 15). The goal of John’s witness was to call people to believe in Christ (1:8). What empowered John’s witness was a humble recognition of Jesus’ supreme importance (1:8). John viewed his entire vocation as focused on drawing people’s attention to Jesus. Similarly, Christians need to renounce their own appeals for greatness in order to become faithful and fruitful witnesses of Christ. This self-denial is not only core to Christian discipleship, but it is an essential foundation for embracing the evangelistic responsibility that is part of Christian discipleship.

The brief introduction to John the Baptist should draw our attention to his evangelistic example in the narrative that follows. Although John occupies an extremely unique role in the entire history of humanity, we should not dismiss his prophetic example too quickly. His unique prophetic calling should cause each of us to reflect on our own unique evangelistic vocation. In many ways, his life and ministry are paradigmatic for evangelism and ministry service. His bold and compelling gospel proclamation should inform us on how to engage others with the proclamation of the gospel. We should simultaneously respect the unrepeatable contribution of John the Baptist while using his life and ministry as a mirror to our own.

This Is the Testimony: Envisioning God’s Mission as a Work of Witness

Biblical Narrative (John 1:19–28)

After the Apostle John’s prologue, we read a narrative of Christ-centered witness. It is possible to understand the chronology of the following narrative like this: day 1 (John 1:19–28), day 2 (John 1:29–34), day 3 (John 1:35–42), and day 4 (John 1:43–51). If this narrative were followed to the end of its first section (1:19–2:11), we would read about an entire week of Jesus’ ministry. The opening lines of the narrative tell us its theme. This story is a true historical account of “John’s testimony” (1:19). The narrative events that follow tell us about John the Baptist’s witness, which occurred at a time “when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites” to ask John the Baptist about his identity (1:19). These events took place “at Bethany beyond the Jordan” (1:28). Responding to this delegation of religious leaders (sent by the Pharisees as seen in 1:24), John the Baptist announced that he was not the Christ. The term Christ referred to the Messiah, the promised deliverer God prophesied to send to save his people. Knowing that he was simply a messenger of the Messiah, John “did not refuse to confess” (in Greek, the word “confess” is used twice in this verse for emphasis) and “openly declared” (1:20) that he was not the promised Messiah. When the delegation continued to ask him if he was “Elijah” or “the Prophet” (1:21), John the Baptist continued to deny such claims.

When the Jewish leaders pressed John the Baptist to identify himself, John quoted from Isaiah 40:3, saying that he was “a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord’” (1:23). In God’s great plan of salvation, God called John to a specific role: preparing people for the coming of the Lord. Faithfully following God’s call on his life, John entered into this vocation according to “the words of Isaiah the prophet” (1:23). Persistent in their inquiries, the group of religious leaders asked John why he was baptizing (1:28) people if he was “not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet” (1:25). John responded to these leaders by explaining that he did not equate his ministry with the ministry of Jesus. John clearly understood that his ministry of water baptism was preparatory, as it aimed to introduce people to the true Messiah.

John the Baptist did not merely distinguish his ministry from the ministry of Jesus. He also wanted to redirect attention from himself to Jesus. John told the religious leaders, “Among you stands One you do not know” (1:26). The Jewish leaders inquired about the Messiah, but were ignorant about his true identity. Further, John oriented and defined his entire ministry in relation to Jesus. John’s ministry took place before Jesus’ ministry in order to introduce people to the Messiah who would come after John (1:27). John also spoke about his unworthiness for this task. He emphatically declared that he was not even worthy to untie the strap of Jesus’ sandal, let alone bear witness to his ministry (1:27). As a prophet who was called to prepare people for the coming of the Messiah, John viewed himself as an unworthy but divinely appointed messenger whose vocation was to boldly bear witness to the promised Messiah.

Biblical Principles

Bearing Witness to Jesus. This opening scene of the narrative describes John the Baptist’s ministry work as one of testimony (i.e., witness) (1:19), confession (which includes appropriate denials) (1:20–21), announcing the Lord’s coming (1:23), and baptism (1:24, 26, 28). Interestingly, each of these tasks relates to verbal (and ritual) pronouncements about Jesus. At the core of John’s work, John testified that Jesus was the prophesied Savior whom God had promised to send to deliver people. An exemplar of discipleship and mission, John models for Christians the basic evangelistic work of disciples: bearing witness to Jesus. Although disciples are not prophets in the formal sense like John the Baptist, every Christian is called to the prophetic work of bearing witness to Jesus: preparing people to come to know and receive Jesus as God’s Messiah.

Faith Identity. John the Baptist faithfully embraced his missional work because he correctly understood his spiritual identity. John embraced his work of witness with appropriate humility and God-empowered boldness. John was quick (and insistent) to say that he was not the Christ (1:20–21), but equally certain (and accurate) in claiming who he was (1:22–23). John did not make himself the central focus of his message because he rightly understood that he was not the Savior of the world. On the other hand, however, John understood that his work was quite important. Divinely appointed by God, the prophet Isaiah had announced his prophetic ministry. John confidently announced a message to prepare people for the Lord’s coming. John did not inflate or devalue his importance or responsibility. He approached his messenger work with a godly understanding of his identity. Helpful as an example to us all, John clearly understood his worth, vocation, and identity in relationship to Jesus (1:26–27). As disciples of Christ, we must allow the identity of Jesus to be the great organizing reality of our self-understanding and vocational work.

Behold, the Lamb of God: Boldly Announcing the Person and Work of Jesus

Biblical Narrative (John 1:29–34)

The next scene in this story—occurring on “the next day” (1:29) of this multi-day narrative—records the content of John’s message. John seized a moment when Jesus was coming toward him to announce several important truths about Jesus. He introduced Jesus as “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (1:29). Jesus was the perfect sacrifice that would satisfy God’s wrath and forgive human sin. Also, John declared that Jesus was greater than John. John reminded people that Jesus started his ministry after John, but Jesus actually “surpassed [John] because He was before [John]” (1:30). In this statement of Jesus’ preexistence, John asserted that Jesus existed before John. Although Jesus was born into the world after John the Baptist, Jesus existed for all eternity before his birth as a human. He is eternal, without beginning or end. Additionally, John declared that Jesus occupied a greater priority than John the Baptist. John explained that he baptized people with water only to prepare them to follow Jesus. John’s ministry aim would only be fulfilled when Jesus was “revealed to Israel” (1:31).

John the Baptist continued his witness about Jesus, telling the story of Jesus’ baptism. John recalled how the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus at his baptism (1:32). This descent (and remaining) of the Holy Spirit on Jesus clearly identified Jesus as God’s appointed and promised Messiah (1:33). Whereas John baptized people with water, Jesus would baptize people with the Holy Spirit. In a remarkable affirmation of Jesus’s identity, John concluded that he had “seen and testified that this is the Son of God” (1:34). Before those gathered around, John the Baptist declared Jesus as Savior, Messiah, and God’s eternal Son.

Biblical Principles

Jesus’ Identity. Core to John the Baptist’s ministry was bearing witness to Jesus. Knowing the content of John’s message about Jesus helps disciples of all ages become faithful witnesses to the people in their own generation. John’s emphatic exclamation that Jesus is “the Lamb of God” (1:29) revealed an important truth about Jesus. Jesus is the all-sufficient sacrifice who would suffer and die in order to pay for human sin. God himself provided the sacrificial “lamb” of his Son to be a substitute for humans. When God poured out his wrath upon Jesus (God’s innocent, sinless Son) on the cross, God was providing a way for sinful and guilty sinners to receive pardon for their sin.

John the Baptist also identified Jesus as the one who came after him, occupied a higher rank than him, and existed before him (1:30). In this cryptic statement, John the Baptist affirmed several truths about Jesus: Jesus’ historical reality, supreme preeminence, and eternal preexistence. Jesus actually lived in the world as a human being. Jesus is most high and worthy above all. And Jesus existed before he was born as a human: Jesus has existed for all time as God’s eternal Son. When disciples proclaim Jesus to others, they are introducing them to Jesus as the real Messiah in all his uniqueness and eternality.

John the Baptist also identified Jesus as the promised Messiah. John described Jesus’ baptism and the sign of the Spirit, which identified Jesus as God’s chosen one (1:33). Jesus would baptize people with the Holy Spirit in a way that eclipsed John’s water baptism. Further, the fact that the Spirit descended and remained upon Jesus showed the divine appointment and favor upon him (1:32). John also identified Jesus as God’s Son (1:34). Jesus does not have any beginning or end. He exists for all time in full and complete fellowship with God the Father.

Jesus’ Work. Jesus’ identity reveals important truths about his work. As the Lamb of God, Jesus was the perfect, God-appointed sacrifice who “takes away the sin of the world” (1:29). Through his sacrificial death on the cross, Jesus saves people from guilt, shame, and eternal judgment. As God’s appointed Messiah, Jesus baptized believers with the Spirit. In this way, Jesus restores sinful humans to a relationship with God (1:33). The baptism of water was only a sign of a more significant baptism of the Holy Spirit, which seals believers as part of God’s people, restoring the broken communion between God and humans. Savior, Messiah, and Son of God, Jesus is God’s superlative means of securing the salvation of sinful humans.

He First Found: Understanding the Compelling Instinct of Gospel Witness

Biblical Narrative (John 1:35–42)

On the subsequent day, John the Baptist again announced that Jesus was “the Lamb of God” (1:35; cf. 1:29). After this verbal confession, two of John’s disciples who were there “followed Jesus” (1:37). When Jesus noticed that these disciples were following him, he asked them, “What do you want?” (1:38). More than a surface question asking for mere information, Jesus intended to cause these disciples (and us as readers) to evaluate what we are really seeking in life. The disciples made their intentions clear when they called Jesus “Rabbi,” which means “Teacher,” and asked where he was staying (1:39). This intention was further cemented when these disciples followed Jesus and “spent that day with Him” (1:39).

The story took a fascinating (and instructive) turn as one of the disciples named Andrew (1:40) went to his brother, Peter, and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (1:41). Having just recently responded to John’s witness about Jesus, Andrew then gave his own witness of Jesus to his brother Peter. Approaching a person from his immediate sphere of influence, Andrew “found his brother” (1:41). Consequently, Andrew “brought [Peter] to Jesus” (1:42). In a remarkable action of a Master to his apprentice, Jesus told reoriented Peter’s name and self-understanding: “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which is translated as Peter). In this amazing declaration, Jesus showed both his complete awareness of who Peter is and his power to redefine Peter’s core identity by renaming him.

Biblical Principles

Ultimate Loyalty, Genuine Humility, and Vocational Clarity. Amazingly, two of John the Baptist’s disciples became disciples of Jesus through John’s own testimony. Through John’s faithful witness of Jesus, John was responsible for the “loss” of his disciples so that they would follow Christ (cf. 1:36–37). Had John been defensive of his own ministry or protective of his own legacy, he would have grieved the disciples leaving him to follow Jesus. Clearly, his disciples’ transfer of loyalty was not lamentable. For a humble and lowly servant like John the Baptist—a messenger whose whole aim of his ministry was to direct attention away from himself toward Jesus—people pledging full and primary allegiance to Jesus is a great success. No one can maintain a desire for their own renown and be a faithful witness to Jesus.

Such an attitude toward John’s evangelistic ministry was only possible because of a deep conviction about his vocational duty before God (cf. 1:23) and his lowly rank before Jesus (cf. 1:15, 27, 30). Healthy vocational clarity and godly self-understanding are key components in evangelistic work. This outlook is the fuel that energizes, sustains, and promotes ongoing gospel witness. If we do not remain watchful and alert, boldness can inflate to overconfidence and pride, and humility can deflate into cowardice and timidity. On the contrary, when confidence in one’s divine calling is tempered by a firm belief in one’s unworthiness before the Savior, gospel witness can be courageous and sincere.

Inner Longing and Deep Seeking. Another important factor in evangelism is revealed in Jesus’ question to John’s disciples: “What do you want?” (1:38). Importantly, this question contains the first words of Jesus in this story (and in the entire Gospel of John). At one level, Jesus’ question asked why these disciples were following Jesus. In this sense, it is a request for information. At a deeper level, this penetrating question forced these interested followers to evaluate their own interests and desires. In essence, Jesus was asking them to assess what they are really looking for and whether they hope to find these things in Jesus. Such a question is also powerfully asked of people of all generations, probing them to clearly identify what they are pursuing. Gospel witness asks people to consider Jesus as the summative fulfillment of their deepest longings, inmost desires, and passionate pursuits.

Come and See. When John’s disciples expressed interest in following Jesus, Jesus responded by inviting them to go where he was going. When these disciples asked Jesus where he was staying (1:38), Jesus responded with a simple yet captivating “Come and see” (1:39). In short, Jesus responded to their interest with an invitation. As we think about our responsibility to share the gospel with others, this is a helpful detail to remember. Since we believe Jesus is real and alive, the gospel witness we share invites people to explore and investigate Jesus for themselves. More than propagating an idea, the disciples’ evangelistic task is to promote a person, Jesus Christ. In our witness, there is a serious duty to verbally share the message about Jesus with others. However, we must remember these witnessing words are meant to draw people to encounter Jesus as the Living Word (cf. 1:1, 14).

The “come and see” dynamic of gospel witness cannot be overemphasized. All disciples need to faithfully steward their responsibility to accurately, boldly, and winsomely tell others about Jesus. This duty, often neglected as Christians “age” in their faith, should always be at the forefront of the mind for believers and churches. This duty of proclamation, however, is an introduction to the person of Christ. Our verbal declaration of Jesus should be clothed with a confident invitation to explore Christ. It is when people encounter the living Christ—experience his tenderness, learn of his character, marvel at his sacrifice, celebrate his sinlessness, and rest in his grace—that genuine conversion and natural gospel witness result. That is, a “come and see” approach to evangelism can result in multiplying “go and tell” conversations with others. Or, said yet another way, the greatest appeal and motivation to gospel witness comes from a first-hand, transformative encounter with the living Christ.

Bearing Witness to Our Own Experience. One of the most interesting aspects of this narrative is the fact that John’s witness gave birth to more witnesses. After John announced Jesus as the Lamb of God, Andrew was one of John’s disciples who followed Jesus (cf. 1:37, 40). After staying with Jesus, Andrew was convinced that Jesus was the Messiah. In an immediate, instinctive, and intuitive way, Andrew told his brother, Simon Peter, that Jesus was the Messiah (1:41). Of note, we are told that Andrew “first found his brother” (1:41). In this simple phrase, we learn that Andrew’s genuine encounter with the real Messiah catalyzed his own witness. Highlighting the demonstrative impact that Jesus had on Andrew, we learn that Andrew “first found” Peter (cf. 1:45). Not only did Andrew’s witness seem instinctive, but he treated it as an urgent priority. Additionally, Andrew went to “his brother.” In this way, Andrew appealed to someone in the normal orbit of his relationship sphere.

In many ways, gospel witness is an experience-backed referral and recommendation for others to seriously investigate the claims of Christ. The gospel spreads when people who have “come and seen” the reality of Jesus give testimony of him to others. Transformed by an encounter with Christ, Jesus’ disciples tell others how they have discovered—“we have found” (1:41)—what they were seeking—“what do you want” (1:38). Like Andrew, we go and “find” others because what we have “found” in Jesus is of unparalleled worth and importance. When people genuinely place their faith in Christ, this pull to give testimony about Christ is instinctive, urgent, and natural.

Come and See: Sharing with Others What We Have Found in Christ

Biblical Narrative (John 1:43–51)

As mentioned above, the present narrative takes on a day-by-day chronology. Therefore, the following scene brings us to “the next day”—the fourth day of the storyline—when Jesus traveled to Galilee (1:43). Jesus found Philip and commanded him, “Follow Me” (1:43). Importantly, “Philip was from Bethsaida, the same town as Andrew and Peter” (1:44). Much like the response of Andrew, Philip “found” (1:45) another person called Nathanael and told him that he had met the Messiah. Specifically, Philip told Nathanael that they “found the One Moses wrote about in the Law, the One the prophets foretold—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph” (1:45). Intrinsic to the vocation of a disciple, Jesus called people to follow him and bear witness to his identity to others.

At first, Nathanael was skeptical about Jesus. He did not think the blessed and promised Messiah would come from an unqualified place such as Nazareth (1:46). Relying upon the irresistible appeal of Jesus himself, Philip enjoined Nathanael to “come and see” (1:46; cf. 1:39). Showing intimate knowledge of Nathanael like he did for Peter (cf. 1:42), Jesus told Nathanael that he saw him “under the fig tree” even before Philip called him (1:48). Deeply impacted by Jesus’ supernatural understanding and detailed awareness, Nathanael declared, “Rabbi … You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” (1:49). Affirming Jesus’ deity and royalty, Nathanael agreed that Jesus was the Messiah that Philip had earlier told him about (cf. 1:45). Jesus characterized Nathanael’s response as one of faith: “You believe” (1:50). Subsequently, forecasting the signs and miracles he would perform during his ministry, Jesus told Nathanael that he would see even greater wonders than Jesus’ display of supernatural knowledge (1:50),. After this, Jesus told Nathanael that he would “see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man” (1:51). This reference not only identified Jesus as the promised Messiah—the Son of Man who fulfilled Old Testament prophecies (cf. Daniel 7:3)—but also that Jesus is the full revelation of the knowledge of God (cf. Genesis 28:12).

Biblical Principles

Prophetic Fulfillment. Disciples who bear witness to Christ are a part of a prophetic heritage that announced the coming of Jesus hundreds of years (and even more) in advance. One of the major themes of this narrative is the prophetic background of the gospel message. What John, Andrew, Philip, and Nathanael announced was the fulfillment of prophecies given many years ago (1:23, 41, 45, 49–51; cf. 1:26, 30). God promised to send a deliverer, the Messiah, to rescue his people from sin. These prophetic announcements created collective hope that longed for the coming of the Messiah. While the Jews of that day looked forward to the Savior’s victorious entrance into the world, people today look backward to the amazing truth that the Savior has already come. Even though people throughout the globe may not share the exact same Jewish history or collective longing of a centuries-long anticipation of a messianic deliverer, all people share a common longing, anticipation, and hope for deliverance. This broadly felt reality of deep longing—a collective sentiment expressed in Jesus’ question to Andrew (and us) in 1:38—allows people of all backgrounds, cultures, languages, and generations to celebrate Jesus as “the one we have all been waiting for.” The prophetic background of the gospel message, though Jewish in its historical development, is fundamentally human in its existential relevance.

Christological Clarification. Some additional terms appear in this passage that further clarify Jesus’ identity. Philip appealed to Nathanael that Jesus was “the One Moses wrote about in the Law, the One the prophets foretold” (1:45). This is a clear affirmation of Jesus’ messianic identity, a truth that Andrew earlier declared (cf. 1:41). Specifically, Philip told Nathanael that Jesus was “Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph” (1:45). This twofold description highlights the humanity of Jesus. He grew up in the town of Nazareth, and he was born into Joseph’s family. So human was Jesus’ life on earth that Nathanael could hardly believe that the Messiah would come from a place such as Nazareth (1:46). When Nathanael finally came to believe in Jesus, he called Jesus “Rabbi” (1:49; cf. 1:38). A term that means teacher, Rabbi referred to Jesus’ credibility and Nathanael’s intent to follow Jesus as his master. But Jesus is not just any religious teacher. Nathanael came to two other convictions—already affirmed in this narrative (cf. 1:14, 23, 33–34, 41)—that Jesus is the Son of God and the Messiah. The messianic identity is reaffirmed by Nathanael’s claim that Jesus is “the King of Israel” (1:49). A sturdy spine that binds together the narrative structure and our evangelistic work, full knowledge of Jesus’ identity is a structural buttress to gospel witness.

Process. Overall, it might be helpful to make some general observations about the process(es) of people coming to follow Jesus. Clear announcements about Jesus (1:36, 45) elicit questions from interested disciples (1:38, 46, 48) and questions from Jesus to the disciples (1:38, 50). In both of these final scenes, potential disciples are invited to come and see Jesus for themselves (1:39, 46). One time, this invitation came from Jesus, and the second time it came from a newly convinced disciple. People investigating the truth claims about Jesus involved themselves in exploring declarations about Jesus (1:41, 45, 49) and reflecting upon Jesus’ declarations about them (1:42, 47). While we heard John (1:35; cf. 1:29–34), Andrew (1:41), Philip (1:45), and Nathanael (1:49) declare significant truths about Jesus, we also heard Jesus reveal personal and penetrating truths about Peter (1:42) and Nathanael (1:47–48). Important in this plot is the fact that Jesus also spoke powerfully about the future of Peter (1:42) and Nathanael (1:51). Coming to follow Jesus is both a Christ-confessing and self-reflecting experience, one that results in a transformed identity, new vocation, and restored relationship with God.

Following and Finding. The primary way discipleship is described in this passage is following Jesus (1:37, 38, 40, 43). Disciples who follow Jesus demonstrate the genuineness of their loyalty by speaking to others about what they have discovered in Christ. Followers of Jesus generate more followers of Jesus. John allowed his disciples to follow Jesus (1:35–37); Andrew recruited his brother Peter (1:40–42); and Philip invited Nathanael to meet Jesus (1:44–45). These conversations with others about Christ were natural outflows of their newfound relationship with Jesus. The repeated term “found” (1:41 [2x], 43, 45 [2x]) communicates this reality. As mentioned in the scene with Andrew and Peter, we see Philip “finding” Nathanael (1:45) in order to tell him that he “found” the Messiah (1:45).

What is unique in this particular scene is the explicit statement that Jesus first “found” Philip (1:43). Although God calls us as disciples to herald the message of Jesus to others, we do not bear the full responsibility for evangelistic success. Jesus himself cares more deeply than any of his disciples about the completion of his redemptive work. Further, Jesus is alone capable of bringing it to completion. Christians can freely and joyfully engage in the important work of gospel witness with a spirit of confidence that Jesus will fully and finally “find” all that are his. In this way, the work of gospel proclamation is a privilege and honor to participate in and not an onerous burden to begrudgingly bear.

Conclusion

This first chapter of the Gospel of John provides a helpful introduction to each Christian’s missional calling. Serving as a prelude to the biblical passage and a thematic focus of evangelistic work, the prologue of this narrative reinforces the central importance of Jesus to the life and mission of a Christian. The unique and powerful ministry of John the Baptist offers a simple and accessible approach to Christian mission: bearing witness to Jesus. The record of John’s preaching helps Christians clearly and accurately tell others about the person and work of Christ. The fascinating accounts of Andrew, Peter, Philip, and Nathanael depict the inseparability of discipleship and evangelism. As we witness Andrew and Philip speak about Jesus to those in their relational sphere of influence, these narratives also provide a helpful means for all Christians to meaningfully engage in gospel-proclaiming work.

The spark of genuine faith in Christ grows into a flame of gospel witness. When people truly become followers of Christ, they cannot help but talk to others about Christ. The true identity of Jesus and the saving work he accomplished are divine answers for all of our greatest questions, a true fulfillment for all of our deepest longings, a sure solution for all of our gravest concerns, and an effective remedy for all of our most besetting troubles. Rather than mistaking gospel witness as a complex task for religious professionals, we can view the simple task of this work as reinforcement of its profound nature. A fitting work for all Christians, Jesus invites us into the great privilege of introducing people to the incomparable one—the One we have all been seeking—Jesus Christ.

Session Synopsis

SESSION 2 SYNOPSIS
Witnesses of Christ	In this passage, we learn about the work of bearing witness to Jesus. The beginning of John’s Gospel account offers an introduction to who Jesus is and how John the Baptist told others about Jesus. John the Baptist publicly announced Jesus as the Messiah and Savior, leading his disciples to follow Jesus. John the Baptist was humble and elevated Jesus above himself. When Jesus called the first disciples, Andrew called his brother Peter to come to Jesus. When Jesus called Philip to be his disciple, Philip called Nathanael to come and see Jesus for himself. This narrative highlights the importance of evangelistic work and its task of bearing witness to Christ. A summary of this story’s principles is outlined below.
Bearing Witness	God uses human messengers to tell others about Jesus (1:6–8, 15). At a basic level, evangelism is bearing witness to Jesus, inviting people to come to believe in him and follow him (1:6–13). We bear witness by testifying (1:7–8, 15, 19, 32, 34), confessing (1:20–21), announcing (1:23, 29, 36), and conversing (1:35–51).
Person and Work of Jesus Christ	Evangelism is a proclamation of Jesus. Jesus is the eternal Word of God (1:1, 14, 30), the Light of the world (1:4–5, 7–8, 9), Creator (1:3, 4, 10–11), the Son of God (1:14), the Lamb of God (1:29), true Teacher (1:38, 49), the King of Israel (1:49), and the promised Messiah (1:33, 41, 45). Jesus is fully God (1:18) and fully man (1:18, 45) in one person. Jesus is equal with God the Father and distinct from God the Father (1:1, 14). Jesus came fulfilling God’s ancient, Old Testament prophecies (1:23, 41, 45, 49–51). Jesus came to rescue people from sin (1:29).
Example of John the Baptist	John the Baptist was a God-appointed messenger to prepare people for the coming of Jesus (John 1:6–8, 15; cf. Luke 1:5–25, 57–80; 3:1–22). John the Baptist is a helpful and humble example of evangelistic witness for believers (1:20–27)
Strategies of Evangelistic Witness	When we bear witness to Jesus, we are to proclaim the truth (1:29–34) and invite people to discover the living Jesus for themselves (1:39, 46). Evangelism should encourage reflection on the identity of Jesus (1:41, 45, 49) and self-reflection on one’s own life (1:42, 47). Probing questions can be a helpful mode of evangelistic witness (1:38, 46, 48, 50).
Call to Discipleship	Evangelism is a call to discipleship. Christians bear witness to Jesus, inviting others to follow Jesus (1:37, 38, 40, 43). Faithful followers of Jesus bring others to Jesus (1:35–37, 40–42, 44–45). Jesus finds his own people in the world (1:43); we are called to bear witness to Jesus in our spheres of influence (1:41, 43, 45). Baptism is a means of making one’s faith in Christ public (1:24, 26, 28).

Personal Reflection: Entering the Story

Apply the Text: The word of God is binding and authoritative, the only reliable guide for faith and godliness. True disciples submit themselves to God’s word. In this movement, you will apply God’s word to your lives.

Reflection Questions

Encourage one person to share a testimony about how this story has impacted them so far. Use the reflection questions to examine your life in light of this biblical passage.

Spiritual Practice

Relational Map

Take time to prayerfully reflect on the people God has placed in your life. Consider this a “relational map” of ministry influence. Consider friends, family, neighbors, coworkers, and others God has placed in your life. After identifying these relationships, pray that God would show you one person to talk to about Jesus in the next week. Then draft one prayer that you can pray over the people on your list. In the upcoming weeks, keep this list of people near you and pray for opportunities to share the gospel.

Ministry Practice: Rehearsing the Script

Minister the Text: God’s word is living and active. Through God’s word, the Christian community is edified. In this movement, you will utilize the biblical passage to minister to other believers and build them up in their faith.

Application Questions

Look at the infographic below. Use the questions to think about how to minister this text to other believers.

Missional Outreach: Publicizing the Truth

Witness the Text: The Bible is a message of God’s gracious salvation to the world. In word and deed, God’s people proclaim the good news of the gospel. In this movement, you will use this biblical passage to reach out to unbelievers.

Strategy Questions

Reflect on the infographic below. Consider how you can use this passage to witness to the surrounding world. Use the suggested ideas to prime your imagination. Then, put together a plan to share this passage with unbelievers, Afterward, reflect on this mission experience.