Bible Materials

WHAT DO YOU WANT?

by   08/24/2018   John 1:35~42

Message


First year students are coming to University of Toronto. They are young and full of desires and hopes. They are precious. But who has real concern for them? We believe that God is truly concerned about them, each of them, not just for their life at U of T but beyond. We want to participate in God’s heart for them, even a little bit, and know how to welcome them through the study of this passage. This passage of John 1:35-42 records Jesus’ conversation with his first two disciples. Their conversation was not like people’s casual greetings at a first meeting, “How are you? I am fine. Thank you. And you?” The conversation between Jesus and his first two disciples is profound, though short. In this study, may we receive his life-giving word and learn how to have conversation with the in-coming first-year U of T students. First, what do you want? (35-38). Look at verse 35. “The next day John was there again with two of his disciples.” According to John’s gospel the day was the third day of John’s public appearing and the second day of Jesus’ public life. John was in the same place where he was in the previous day. When John saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” In the previous day when John saw Jesus’ coming toward him, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” “Jesus is the Lamb of God” is John’s repeated, significant message, especially to his disciples. “Jesus is the Lamb of God” seems to be an unpopular, unimpressive, and even humiliating message. Most people want to hear something spectacular and awe-inspiring. However, John delivered this message repeatedly. To John, it was certain that Jesus was the Lamb of God, yesterday and today, and from the front and from the side. Jesus is the Lamb of God at all times and from every angle. “Look, the Lamb of God” is John’s unchanging and consistent message. This message was not a spontaneous message. It had deep historical foundations in the Old Testament. In order to give this short message to mankind, God prepared so much for so long. It took several thousands of years and required the sacrifice of numerous lambs. John gave his whole life to delivering this message. This message must be preached again and again. John’s repeated message that Jesus is the Lamb of God bore good fruit. In verse 37 when the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. Then what happened? In verse 38 it says, “Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?” First of all, we see that Jesus does not ignore those who follow him. He pays attention to those who follow him. He turned around and saw the two disciples of John following him. Yet, what he said is somewhat unexpected and surprising. Instead of saying, “You made a right decision to follow me. That’s really great”, or something like that, he asked, “What do you want?” In our society when people seem to be bothered by others’ demanding this or that, they say out of a kind of irritation, “What do you want?” Certainly, Jesus’ words are not like that. Actually, these words are the first words of Jesus written in John’s gospel, and particularly first words given to those who follow him. What is the significance of these words, “What do you want?”? Again, Jesus truly was attentive to them. So he asked, “What do you want?” What they want truly matters in their lives, especially in following Jesus. We can say that people become what they desire. People use their time and energy and all they have to pursue and attain what they desire. And they are frustrated when they do not obtain what they desire. But those who have no desire cannot do anything, good or bad. Their lives are like deadened, walking and moving, not truly alive. Again, desire is important for life. Some people seem to have too many desires, going here and there, but actually end up going nowhere. What we desire is very important, particularly in following Jesus. Among those who follow Jesus, many desire what the people of the world desire, such as recognition, fame, success and wealth of the world. Then they cannot truly follow Jesus. They become dropouts in following Jesus. When Jesus asked, “What do you want?” Jesus wanted the followers to be clear about what they desire in following Jesus. In John chapter 6, Jesus fed five thousand people with five loaves and two fish. They were satisfied with their full stomachs. However, when Jesus began to talk about himself in order to lead them to the right way of life, saying, “I am the bread of life”, many of his disciples went back and no longer followed Jesus. Then Jesus asked the Twelve, “You do not want to leave, do you?” At this Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” Some remained and many left, because their desires were different. Men are creatures of many desires. Since man’s fall, good and evil desires coexist in man’s heart. In fact two powers are there in the heart of man. We can say that there are various layers of desires in people’s hearts. Yet, the deepest desire is to know God and worship him, since they were made in the image of God. For example, in John chapter 4, a Samaritan woman, who had gone through five husbands and was now living with a boyfriend, seemed to have gone too far to talk about God and worship. It was likely that she had no desire at all to worship God. However, when Jesus had a conversation with her, it was revealed that her deepest desire was not to hunt a man to be her future husband, but to find the true object of her worship who could be everything to her. Also, at the time of Jesus’ birth, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him” (Mt 2:1-2). God gives hardships in life to change or purify our desires. The meaning of God’s wilderness training for the Israelites is written in Deuteronomy 8:2-3. Moses said, “Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna…to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.” God purifies our desires through failures, health problem, children problem, finance problem, marriage problem, etc. Jesus’ question, “What do you want?” can be a filter for all human desires so that we may truly know our deepest desire and lay it before him. Jesus asked, “What do you want?” It is also because he is the very one who can fulfill our true desires. A blind beggar came to Jesus by faith, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.” Then Jesus asked him, “What do you want me do to do for you?” Without hesitation the blind man said “Rabbi, I want to see.” Then Jesus gave him what he wanted. The man received the sight and followed Jesus. No one, but Jesus has power to give what we truly want. Before him we can present our many good desires. I want Sara to bear necessary trainings in Bonn UBF and be used by God for his gospel work in Germany and Europe. I want to see true fruitful gospel ministry here in Toronto through working together with our gospel coworkers and raising young spiritual leaders among U of T students for His Kingdom in his world mission purpose. We should all stand before this question, especially at the crucial time in life and give a personal answer to him. Then how did the two disciples respond, when Jesus asked them, “What do you want?” They said, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” At this point their eyes had not opened to see Jesus the Messiah. Yet, they said, “Rabbi.” And the author commented in parenthesis, “(which means Teachers.)” This implies that they showed their desire to learn. They expressed their learning mind. They would be teachable. In our society nowadays teachers are not respected. Most young people just want to be their own man. It is not easy to find those who are teachable. Without a learning mind one cannot truly grow. A learning or teachable mind is God’s blessing endowed to human beings so that they can grow constantly. After calling Jesus “Rabbi”, the two disciples said, “Where are you staying?” Apparently their answer is irrelevant to the question, “What do you want?” It seemed that they did not get the point of the question. That’s not the case. As Jesus’ question was profound, their answer was also profound. “When Jesus asked, “What do you want?” Jesus was interested in themselves, each of the two. Here when they said, “Where are you staying?” they were interested in Jesus himself. They did not say, “We want this and that.” Their focus shifted from themselves to Jesus. And also they did not just say, “Who are you?” Rather, they said, “Where are you staying?” This indicates that they were willing to spend enough time with him, for they really wanted to know him. In this way they showed their great pure desire for Jesus. Because of this desire they could follow Jesus to the end. One of the two was Andrew, and definitely the other was John himself. Otherwise he should have written the name. The Apostle John wrote John’s gospel in his very old age. In reminiscence he wrote about his first encounter with Jesus and his request, “Where are you staying?” at Jesus’ question, “What do you want?” Because of this desire their relationship with Jesus was beautiful. In John 6 when Jesus had a compassion for the five thousand hungry people and asked his disciples, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” no disciple could think of Jesus’ heart and know the point of the question. But Andrew got it and said, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two fish, but how far will they go among so many?” Jesus was pleased with Andrew’s faith and fed the five thousand with five barley loaves and two fish. In his gospel John introduced himself as the disciples whom Jesus loved (13:23; 20:2). We are sure that Jesus loved each of the Twelve equally. John felt Jesus’ special love because he was sure of his love relationship with Jesus. He was the one who stood beneath the cross of Jesus to the end and could hear the word of Jesus on the cross speaking to him, “Here is your mother” (19:27). From that time on John took Mary into his home. We also remember what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 2:2, “For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” And he also said even in his spiritual maturity and old age, “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death” (Phil. 3:10). Our holy desire to know Christ Jesus may grow more and more. Second, “Come and you will see” (39-42). Look at verse 39. “‘Come,’ he replied, ‘and you will see.’” People can be burdened with the request, “Where are you staying?” But Jesus was not. Rather in his reply we see that Jesus was very happy with their answer. Jesus knew that they were not asking for just information. So he gladly said, “Come and you will see.” Jesus never rejects anyone who wants to know him. “Come” is the divine invitation. Jesus said in John 6:35, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry.” And he said continually in 6:37, “whoever comes to me I will never drive away.” Jesus also said in Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” The Bible is full of the divine invitation. God said in Isaiah 55:1, “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.” Jesus also said in John 7:37, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.” Because of this invitation, we can come to him. Apostle Peter said to the suffering early Christians, “As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him” (1 Pe. 2:1). Peter encourage them to come to him. Christian life is to come to him. Yet, it is not easy to come to Jesus because of many distractions. Again, Christian life is to come to him from first to last. And Jesus promised, “and you will see.” Christian life is also experiencing him. “And you will sees” implies that Jesus is willing to reveal and show. We can know as much as he reveals. Jesus came to reveal God the Father. John 1:18 says, “No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known.” And Jesus said in Matthew 11:27 (also in Luke 10:22), “No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” God blesses the humble and seeking heart. Jesus said in Matthew 11:25 (also in Luke 10:21), “I praise you Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.” This is the reason Jesus said, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you” (Mt 7:7; Lk 10:9). According to Colossians 2:3, Christ Jesus is the mystery of God, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” “Come and you will see.” Jesus invites us to himself with the sure promise. Those who come to him will never be disappointed. In Revelation Jesus is a faithful witness. Jesus has many names, and one of them is Amen. So Revelation 3:14 says, “His words are the words of Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation.” We can believe in the words of Jesus’ promise, the words of Amen. Again, Christian life is to come to him and experience him. At Jesus’ invitation, “Come and you will see”, they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him. It was about the tenth hour.” We don’t know where they went. Jesus said in Matthew 8:20 (and also Luke 9:58), “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” Surely, Jesus had no house of his own. But he stayed somewhere. Certainly, he was staying in a very humble place, probably, a manger-like place. They went and saw where he was staying. They were not scared away by the humble circumstances of the place where Jesus was staying. They must have been very much impressed by the divine presence of God. So they spent that day with him. It was about the tenth hour (about four o’ clock in the afternoon in NET). Surely they had many hours of Bible study with Jesus until they were convinced who Jesus was. Definitely, it was a life-changing moment for them. As for us, where can we see his residence? We know that since Jesus died and rose again and was ascended to heaven, he had no earthly residency here on earth. Jesus’ earthly ministry has ended. But now he serves his heavenly ministry. As we studied in Hebrews, it is written in Hebrews 8:1-2, “We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, and serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man. He always lives to intercede for those who come to God through him (7:25). And Apostle Peter said in Acts 2:33, “Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.” And he said in John 16, “It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you (16:7)…When he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth” (16:13). Jesus once said that the Scriptures testify about him (Jn 5:39). The Holy Spirit Jesus sends make the written words of Bible alive to us. Through the work of the Holy Spirit Jesus’ early ministry written in the gospel stories is alive in any and every generation and thus permanent. So now we can spent time with Jesus at any place and at any time and as much as we want. What a blessing! So this Bible house where his people come can be the residence of Jesus when Bible study is done sincerely and truthfully by the Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of the truth. That’s why the church is the body of Christ. The church is to be the place or the fellowship where people can come and see Jesus. And Apostle Peter encourages us to pay attention to the word of God until the morning star rises in our hearts (1 Pe. 1:19). And Jesus said in John 8:31-32, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Then in verses 40-42, “Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus.” Jewish people waited for the Messiah, whom God promised to send as their Savour and Lord. Many had a wrong concept of the Messiah as the one who would save them from Roman occupation and raise the nation Israel as a super power nation over other nations, particularly, Rome. But the true Messiah is the one who would save them from sin and death and eternal punishment. The Samaritan woman was waiting for the Messiah, who would explain everything to her. Through spending that day with Jesus, Andrew was convinced and confessed, “We have found the Messiah.” As we thought of, all human beings seek God in their deepest hearts. They want to know where they came from and where they are going back after death. They want to be liberated from the bondage of sin and death, as Paul cried, “Who will rescue me from this body of death?” All men long for the Messiah, their Saviour and eternal King. Jesus is the Creator, through whom all things were made, without whom nothing was made that had been made. As the Lamb of God he died for our sins and rose again from the death. Thus he became our Saviour and the Lord, the eternal King. Those who have found the Messiah have a clear life direction. Then the first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and he brought him to Jesus. It is interesting that after having found the Messiah, he found his brother and brought him to Jesus. These two findings are meaningful in life. May each of us find one 1st year student whom we can bring to Jesus. Then in verse 42, “Jesus looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas’” (which, when translated, is Peter). Jesus not only spoke of Simon’s present but also of his future. Simon means sand. Jesus knew that Simon is a weak person with abrupt emotions and a fragile inner character as the son of John. But Jesus saw that he would be Cephas, Peter meaning rock. Surely under Jesus’ shepherding and care Simon would become a rock-like person. Who can speak definitely about one’s future? Nobody can be sure of his own future, not to mention another’s. But Jesus was assured of Simon’s future that he would be called Cephas. This also shows who Jesus is. He is the one who holds one’s future. He wants us to truly entrust our future to him. Here we see more the meaning of one person to Christ Jesus. It is even to entrust the person’s future to Jesus. Thank God for the precious words of Jesus, “What do you want?” and “Come and see.” May we respond to these words of Jesus personally and be able to welcome the incoming 1st year students at U of T with these words.



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