The 1st Disciples Follow Jesus
Theme: Good News to Share
Theme Verse: "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10b NIV
Readings: John 1:35-51
Memory Verse: "Then Nathanael declared, 'Rabbi, you are the son of God; you are the King of Israel.'" John 1:49
The Jewish culture of Jesus' day had a special understanding of being a disciple. In some ways it is similar to the medieval European ideas of apprentices. A rabbi or Master would choose his disciples or apprentices. They would come and live with him, travel with him and learn everything he knew and copy not only his specialty but how he lived his life. (See note at the end.)
John the Baptist had his disciples as did many of the ancient prophets like Elisha and Elijah. (See 1 Kings 19:19-21 for the calling of Elisha, and 2 Kings 2:1-3 for another reference to schools of disciples.) John the Baptist was special in his humility and in the way he was able to release his own disciples to follow one greater than himself -- Jesus. Look at what he says in John 1:29-31. 'The next day as John was standing with two of his disciples he looked at Jesus and said, "Behold the Lamb of God'." Two of his disciples heard this and left him and followed Jesus!!! John recognized that the purpose of his ministry was to point others to Jesus! Word received: I AM the Lamb of God, there is no other. Pray for hearts that will recognize Me. Do we pray for hearts to recognize Jesus as he passes by in our daily lives?
John recognized the uniqueness of Jesus. Do we? John's obedience made his witness possible. John is a model of witnessing. Word received: I want you to be like John. John was willing to let go of what was his to allow Jesus to use it. Are we?
Jesus notices the two following him and asks, "What do you seek?" This is one of many times when Jesus ( who already knew) asks people questions like this. "Do you want to be healed?" "What do you want me to do for you?" "Who do you say that I am?" Word received: What do you (underline you) seek when you come after Me? I AM the Bread of Life; do you seek new life from Me? Come to Me and I will give you Living Bread.
Jesus already knew what people wanted or needed and was giving them a chance to put their thoughts into words and come directly to him and ask for it. He wants us to do the same. It's OK if we don't have enough faith or insight to know what Jesus can really do in our particular situation. We just need to come to him where we're at. Often later we can look back and see how much more God did for us than what we asked for. But it is important to ask. Jesus can meet our need at whatever stage we are at. Do we seek wisdom? He can give it. Do we seek healing? He is the healer. Do we want to know God as Father? He can show us the Father. Do we seek the truth? Jesus is the truth and there is no deceit in him. Whatever we seek, Jesus can use it to bring us to Himself as Savior and Lord (Master).
Do we only want some blessing or do we want Jesus himself? When the two answered, Rabbi, where are you staying? they made clear that they wanted to be with him and get to know him better. Remember the pattern of disciples living with and following a rabbi. How much time do we spend with the one we call Lord? Word received: Ask Me and I will show you the way to find new life in Me. Do we want to be Jesus' disciples??? Do we want everything Jesus has to give and teach us or do we want to pick and choose -- to retain control of our own lives -- or surrender our live to Jesus and follow him -- wherever he leads?
Jesus recognizes that they are interested in being his disciples and invites them to "Come and see" -- to check it out. Word received: That's an open invitation to you (underline you) I am inviting you to come and see. God gives the same invitation to us and through us to others.
So Andrew and the other man came, saw and stayed with Jesus that day. Look at Andrew's heart. He immediately thinks of his brother. (As a family they must have been seriously longing for the Messiah.) Andrew always focused on others. He overheard John the Baptist, spent some time with Jesus and went to get Peter and introduced him to Jesus. Word received: I want you to see My people. I want to open your eyes to see those who need to meet Me. Andrew was the one who spotted the little boy with the lunch and brought him to Jesus who used it to feed the 5,000! The first thing Andrew did the next day was to find his brother. He wastes not time in sharing the Good News. Word received: I don't want you to waste time either. My Good News is important -- important enough to save lives.
Notice the pattern here that repeats itself with Andrew and Philip. They observed Jesus, spent time with him and introduced a friend to him. This is often called Friendship Evangelism. Philip finds his friend Nathanael and brings him to Jesus. His answer to Nathanael's question is the same as Jesus' answer, "Come and See". Prayer: Help us to hear your call to us. Show us who we are to tell. Give us words of introduction so we can invite others to 'come and see'. Word received: Know Me.
Another pattern is when Jesus goes and finds Philip and calls him to "Follow Me". Word received: That is My invitation to you too: Follow Me. Jesus called Matthew the same way. (Matthew 9:9-10) Matthew in turn invites his co-workers.
Jesus knows your name! Notice that Jesus already knows all about each person he calls and who comes to him. He knows Peter and gives him a name that will not fit till after the Resurrection and Pentecost. Nathanael is cynical and asks how do you know my name? Then he is stunned when Jesus tells Nathanael he saw him under the Fig tree and knew what he was doing. That convinces Nathanael that something supernatural is going on and convinces him to follow Jesus.
NOTE: The Fig tree was a traditional place for rabbi's disciples to study the scriptures. Nathanael would have known the law and prophecies. He sees that Jesus was the one pointed to. The Fig tree was also used as a symbol for peace and prosperity (to sit under your vine and fig tree). and as a symbol for the nation. The blighted fig tree symbolized national peril or God's judgment. (Hosea 2:12 and Luke 13: 6-9).
What should we be doing? Word received: Look at your day -- how many opportunities do you miss because you just didn't see them? Ask Me to open your eyes, your spiritual eyes too and I will show you the opportunities. Word received: Are you so caught up in your own day and your own way that your can't see My way or My day?
Even though their understanding of who Jesus was is very inadequate, they left everything behind and followed him. To recognize who Jesus is, however imperfectly, is a call to follow him. A missionary in Nepal described his thinking before his conversion during high school, " something I had always referred to as "god" -- a god, however, that was for me more of a concept to be acknowledged than a person to be encountered." ( p13, Don't let the goats eat the Loquat Trees by Thomas Hale, Zondervan c. 1986)
The response of these men was to follow Jesus. They didn't just say "How nice" and do nothing. It was not just an interesting fact that he was the Messiah, it changed their lives. Prayer: Jesus help me to proclaim you and follow you.
NOTE: Look at all the names given for Jesus in this passage: Lamb of God vs29, 36 , Holy Spirit will remain on him, vs.32, will baptize with Holy Spirit vs.33 , Son of God vs.34,49 Son of Man, vs.51, Rabbi vs.38, Messiah vs. 41, the one Moses wrote about, vs.45, Jesus of Nazareth, son of Joseph vs.45, King of Israel vs. 49.
NOTE: The people of Israel were longing for a Messiah, a political warrior and king who would deliver them from foreign rule. That was why Jesus often told his followers not to say he was the Messiah till he had re-interpreted it. The term Lamb of God would have a familiar ring because of Temple sacrifices and the Passover but they couldn't understand it really till after Jesus' death and resurrection. Similarly the term "son(s) of God" would have been understood as a reference to the King, or to worshipers of God rather than as they later understood it. (Could also refer to members of a guild or profession "sons of the prophets" or "sons of the singers".) Sometimes it referred to the whole of Israel (Jeremiah 31:20 "Is Ephraim my dear son?")
Teaching Ideas for Lesson 07
Please read the Study Guide first. Go over Memory Verse to make sure the children understand it and then if they have memorized it.
Remind them their parents need to sign a report slip monthly if they have read the lessons, so they will get credit at the end of the year.
Make sure they know what happened in the story. Get them to tell you.
Basic points of the lesson for little ones:
1.Jesus want you to know and recognize Him as the Son of God.
2. Jesus wants you to be one of his disciples. What is your answer to Him?
3. Whenever you have questions, Jesus wants you to come to Him.
4. Jesus has a plan for you and He want you to seek that plan.
5. Jesus wants you to come to Him everyday, and follow Him every day.
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