John
1:29-42 GW
John saw Jesus coming toward him the next day and said, "Look!
This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. (30)
He is the one I spoke about when I said, 'A man who comes after me
was before me because he existed before I did.' (31)
I didn't know who he was. However, I came to baptize with water to
show him to the people of Israel." (32)
John said, "I saw the Spirit come down as a dove from heaven
and stay on him. (33)
I didn't know who he was. But God, who sent me to baptize with
water, had told me, 'When you see the Spirit come down and stay on
someone, you'll know that person is the one who baptizes with the
Holy Spirit.' (34)
I have seen this and have declared that this is the Son of God."
(35)
The next day John was standing with two of his disciples. (36)
John saw Jesus walk by. John said, "Look! This is the Lamb of
God." (37)
When the two disciples heard John say this, they followed Jesus.
(38)
Jesus turned around and saw them following him. He asked them, "What
are you looking for?" They said to him, "Rabbi" (which
means "teacher"), "where are you staying?" (39)
Jesus told them, "Come, and you will see." So they went to
see where he was staying and spent the rest of that day with him. It
was about ten o'clock in the morning. (40)
Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two disciples who
heard John and followed Jesus. (41)
Andrew at once found his brother Simon and told him, "We have
found the Messiah" (which means "Christ"). (42)
Andrew brought Simon to Jesus. Jesus looked at Simon and said, "You
are Simon, son of John. Your name will be Cephas" (which means
"Peter").
John has seen his ministry coming to a close. He has
seen the Lamb of God, the one that he was preparing the way for. He
is excited to point him out to his disciples and anyone else he
happens to be with.
Andrew, Simon Peter's brother is one of the disciples
who was with John and after confirming that Jesus is the Christ, he
runs to tell his brother.
That's evangelism folks. Being excited about Christ and
telling you friends and family about him, telling everyone else you
come in contact with.
The Jesus movement of the 1960's and 1970's that I was
involved with started many of the changes we have today in the style
an music of worship. A number of musicians became members of the
movement and a Christian theme entered their music and lyrics.
The counter culture was divided by those for and those
against Jesus but both against the establishment.
Jesus Freak was the name given, a name meant to be
derogatory. Instead the movement embraced the name and Jesus Freak
became an accepted name to be known by them.
Today it depends on who you ask, some see Jesus Freak as
a nut case, others as an evangelist not afraid to share their faith.
Vineyard Churches, Calvary Chapel, Maranatha! (O Come
Lord, Lord Has Come) Music and most of the Christian Rock we have
today happened because of the movement. Some church bodies embraced
and took in the movement, others condemned and distanced themselves
from the movement.
Witnessing as a Christian is supposed to be like Andrew
running to his Brother Simon. It is supposed to be full of energy,
love and excitement. Wow! Look what I found!
What Andrew found we have found, Jesus the Christ, the
Lamb or sacrifice of God for our sins.
Isn't that exciting? Are we sharing that?
The Good News of Jesus Christ should be in every one
hand. It should be studied by everyone who has heard it, it should
be lived by everyone who believes it.
We aren't asked to be Billy Graham's or TD Jakes or Joel
Osteen's or Rick Warren's. We are asked to spread the word, one by
one, to those we know.
The script is simple, John
3:16
God loved the world this way: He gave his only Son so that everyone
who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life.
That's pretty simple isn't it? Tell the story, pray for
the Holy Spirit to enter their heart, and invite them to church.
Come with them and help them see Jesus.
We don't need a fancy building, a radio show, a tv show
or an internet streaming video. One on one and prayer.
