Calling Again (John 1:39)

“Come and see,” he said. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon when they went with him to the place where he was staying, and they remained with him the rest of the day. (John 1:39) Read: Job 26:1 – 29:25 Relate: Over the past couple nights my dreams have been a bit nostalgic. Random people from points…

Follow (John 1:37)

When John’s two disciples heard this, they followed Jesus. (John 1:37) Read: Job 19:1 – 21:34 Relate: I’m a chicken. There is no other way around it. I am just too scared to step out and do what I believe God is truly calling me to do. For years now my heart has been to just pack…

The Handoff (John 1:35-36)

The following day John was again standing with two of his disciples. As Jesus walked by, John looked at him and declared, “Look! There is the Lamb of God!” (John 1:35-36) Read: Job 15:1 – 18:21 Relate: In junior high track I don’t think there was a single thing coach had us working on as frequently as he did…

Jesus Is (John 1:34)

I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God. (John 1:34) Read: Job 12:1 – 14:22 Relate: The theology of Jesus’ identity is so rich in John. We have only worked our way through the first half of the first chapter but already we have seen that Jesus is… Pre-existent (1:1, 1:15, 1:30) The…

Peace Descending, Hope Rises (John 1:32,33)

Then John testified, “I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him. I didn’t know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy…

I Did Not Recognize Him (John 1:30-31)

He is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘A man is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’ I did not recognize him as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel.” (John 1:30-31)…

Lamb of God (John 1:29)

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29) Read: Job 1:1-4:21 Relate: The phrase “Lamb of God” seems so common in church culture and literature that I normally tend to breeze right by it. “Lamb of God.” Yup, right.…

Baptized (John 1:24;25)

Read: Genesis 45:16-47:27 Now the Pharisees who had been sent questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” (John 1:24-25) Relate:  React: The Pharisees ask why John is baptizing and in the gospel of John gives a shortened version.  In John’s response to this question in the…

The King’s Procession

  John replied in the words of the prophet Isaiah: “I am a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Clear the way for the Lord’s coming!’” (John 1:23) Read: Genesis 42:1-45:15 Relate: As I was chewing over this verse, the image kept coming back to me of a man with a trumpet who would blare it in the center…

It Isn’t Me (John 1:19-20)

This was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Temple assistants from Jerusalem to ask John, “Who are you?” He came right out and said, “I am not the Messiah.” (John 1:19-20) Read: Genesis 37:1-39:23, 1 Chronicles 2:3-8 Relate: I recently finished reading a very dry, academic work called Christian Missions and the Enlightenment. For some…