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Crescensio Ibarra made a video, inviting his family, friends, and neighbors to attend his daughter, Ruby’s, quinceañera; the equivalent of a “Sweet 16” bday party in our culture. It was to be a grand affair with food, music, and games – including a horse race with a 10,000 pesos (~$500) prize.

The catch is that in the father’s video he said, “Everyone is invited.” And what was meant to be a private party inadvertently became a public affair. The invite went viral with 1.2 million RSVPs, 978,000 shares and # XVdeRuby trending on social media. Mexican airline Interjet even offered a 30% discount for flights to the party in a 10,000-person village in N- Mexico. The party took place on Dec 26, 2016. Thousands of people showed up.
One young man even died in an accident during the horse race. Ruby’s mother, Anaeldo, told a local report, “My husband made the invitation, but to people who live in neighboring regions. I don’t know who copied it, but they posted it and it blew up, as if it were an invitation to the whole world.”

There are a few things more influential than an invitation.

• Recently, my son received an invite to a friend’s birthday party at a trampoline park, and he talked about it each day, so much that the day before I had to remind him not to wake up too early bc the party didn’t start until 11am.
• Proper etiquette of receiving an invite is to respond promptly and maintain your commitment except in emergencies, but…
• Invites are so influential that today’s generation receives invites and they may or not accept bc they wait until last minute in case they get a better invite.

There are a few things more influential than an invitation.

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Today we continue our Advent series in John 1 with a special invitation for the whole world.

EXAMINE           Born Lord (John 1:35-50)

³⁵ The next day (cf. vv. 1:29, 35, 43; 2:1

John is giving a bit of a chronology of Jesus’ public ministry. His reference to “next days” also gives hints to the climactic work of God at creation (Gen1).

³⁵ The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, ³⁶ and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!”

The Gospel writer reminds us of JB’s ministry having disciples. We’ll discover defining acts of discipleship in this passage; but simply a disciple is an apprentice – a follower of one’s lifestyle.

These mentioned two disciples of JB are Andrew, and the other unnamed, but is believed to be John the beloved (the Gospel writer).

JB sees Jesus in the crowd and shouts “Behold,” which is an antiquated but important word that shows up over 1,111 times in Bible. It means to call attention – like clapping or grabbing by collar and shouting, “look!”

• LJ8 squirrel runs & throws TD.
• Bases loaded, down-1 Gunnar grandslam. 
• child/grandson walking grad stage.
• bride walks down aisle, eyes meet
• hear screams, cranium surfaces…

BEHOLD

In JB’s case, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” about Jesus is claiming God’s promise is present. Hundreds of OT promises speak about God’s full and final deliverance to come, and Jesus’ presence is saying “God is with us.” You see, if the incarnation with Jesus’ ministry were among celebrities, we would say “God is removed from us.” Instead, the common nativity family with the unexceptional shepherds, and later ordinary and undistinguished disciples bring us to say, “Behold, God is revealed to us. God is with us.”

If the incarnation w/ Jesus’ ministry were among celebs, we would say “God is removed from us.” Instead, the common nativity family w/ the unexceptional shepherds, and later ordinary and undistinguished disciples bring us to say, “Behold, God is revealed to us. God is with us.”

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³⁷ The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.
Evidence of discipleship. (cf 1:43; 8:12; 12:26; 21:19, 20, 22).

³⁸ Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?”

People claim to follow Jesus but for the wrong reasons. They pray but not to change themselves but attempting to change God. They follow Jesus bc they think it will bring them safety and success. But Jesus asks, “What are you seeking?” to clarify their motivation.

> If Jesus were to ask you this question, how would you respond? Or, when you’re mindlessly scrolling your phone – what are you avoiding? And if we’re honest, deep down we’d express overcoming hardships and masking our hurts. But Jesus communicates we cannot overcome or find ourselves until we are willing to let go and follow.

And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” ³⁹ He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. ⁴⁰ One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.
⁴¹ He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). ⁴² He brought him to Jesus.

We noted the evidence of discipleship is following Jesus; it’s also finding others to bring to Jesus. One of Andrew’s first actions of following Jesus is to tell someone he loves and bring them to Jesus. One of the reasons our life faces spiritually dryness, emotional imbalance, or physical burn out is because we’re not balancing the Christian rhythms of “Come & see” with “Go & tell.”

> Who have you yet to tell about Jesus?

One of the reasons our life faces spiritually dryness, emotional imbalance, or physical burn out is because we’re not balancing the Christian rhythms of “Come & see” with “Go & tell.”

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Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter).

Isn’t that weird? The first time you meet someone, and they rename you?

Illus: We know people by nicknames

• George Herman Ruth = Babe (Great Bambino)
• Earvin Johnson = Magic
• Cal Ripken = Iron Man
• John Wayne = The Duke
• Ronald Reagan = The Gipper
• MD: old line state, free state, oyster state, queen state

Peter’s original name was Simon, son of Jonah, which speaks of his past family identity. But Jesus changes name to Cephas/Peter, which means rock, which speaks to what Jesus was going to make him in the family of faith. – – – The lesson is that when we come to faith in Jesus, we are no longer defined by past mistakes or present accomplishments, instead God defines us by what we are becoming by grace through faith – whom the Spirit is daily shaping.  
– – – What names/identities define your past or present? Disappointment. Failure. Addict. Unloved. Damaged goods. Stupid/Fool. Maybe even criminal… but now in Christ, you are: Chosen. Forgiven. Adopted. Redeemed. Righteous. Beloved.
Co-heir and brother/sister.
What’s your name in Christ?

The lesson is that when we come to faith in Jesus, we are no longer defined by past mistakes or present accomplishments, instead God defines us by what we are becoming by grace through faith – whom the Spirit is daily shaping.  What is your name in Christ?

⁴³ The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.”

So, Jesus arrived on earth and spent 30 years in anonymity as a village craftsman, and likely supporting his widow mother with other siblings (note: not perpetual virgin[1]). Then the last 3 years of His life he begins a public ministry and calls ordinary anybody’s from obscure anywhere to follow Him… Philip & Nathaniel…
*Philip is disciple who Jesus tested by asking, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” Then Philip responded, “It will take more than 200 denarii to feed all these people (Jn 6:5-7).

Later, Philip will ask Jesus, “Show us the Father, then we’ll believe.” And Jesus responds, “Have I been with you so long that you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (Jn 14:8-9).

Clearly, Philip lacked faith and wasn’t the brightest light bulb! But Jesus never excluded Philip from belonging as His disciple. Jesus loves Philips from each generation, and He loves to choose the world least expects to do amazing and mind-blowing work.

⁴⁴ Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. ⁴⁵ Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” ⁴⁶ Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”

Philip & Nathaniel are two additional disciples. Notice how Jesus is described by John, and these disciples:

• Fulfillment of OT. While this may not relate to many of us, it was relevant to 1^st C. Judaism. Just consider the passionate tone of Andrew, Peter, Philip, and Nathaniel: “We have found him! Come and see!” Their enthusiasm could not be suppressed or silenced.
  • Have you ever waited for something longer than a month or year… many years?? And when it finally emerges – or will occur, you can’t help but breathe a sigh of relief and share with everyone around you! That’s the context of these individuals discovering Jesus Messiah.

• Jesus of Nazareth, son of Joseph. Identifying Jesus with the town He grew up in was interesting for many reasons. Nazareth was a dismissed and despised community by many, likely from some sort of local rivalry.[2]  Nazareth was utterly insignificant; it has no mention in the OT, the Talmud or Midrash, or in any of its contemporary writings; the incarnation and Jesus’ life is an overall offense to the Jewish religious system.^[3]

Nonetheless, Nazareth roots Jesus in a setting for readers to sympathize; also John is writing with irony since Jesus is not truly the son of Joseph (Jn 6:42; 7:27). Additionally, Nathanael asks, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth” (Jn 1:46)? Nathanael’s mistake is one of stereotyping and making broad generalizations about a person’s character. Jesus responds to Nathanael by calling him an Israelite without deceit; perhaps either using sarcasm or indicating Nathanael is being brutally honest in his ignorance about Jesus’ identity. Therefore, Jesus compels Nathanael by telling him that he was seen before in his actions of sitting under a fig tree. Whenever this occurred and whatever else Nathanael was doing is unknown, but Jesus’ knowledge of it convinces Nathanael enough to profess faith in Jesus as the Son of God and King of Israel.

⁴⁷ Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” ⁴⁸ Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” ⁴⁹ Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” ⁵⁰ Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” ⁵¹ And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

APPLY/TAKEAWAY   

2 groups: Come & See / Go & Tell

Come & See…

• What do you seek?
  Whatever it is, it’s temporary compared to the treasure of a relationship with your Creator.
  You were made for more. Your purpose is to be fully known and freely loved. And that’s just it – when we are known, people don’t love us. But that’s what makes God unique: “God demonstrates His love for us in that even while we were sinners, Christ died for us.” (Ro 5:8)

• Commit to regular church participation. Arrive early. Linger late. Get to know names and families. Weep with problems and pains. Rejoice with celebrations and milestones.
• Over the course of time, keep taking next steps in Christian spiritual growth and involvement with church family.

Your purpose is to be fully known and freely loved. And that’s just it – when we are known, people don’t love us. But that’s what makes God unique: “God demonstrates His love for us in that even while we were sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

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Go & Tell…

• New Christians are at least twice as likely to share their faith than long-term believers. This means that believers need to spend time with new believers to avoid being spiritual numbness and to be inspired to share their faith
• New churches are at least twice is likely to be growing than long-term existing churches. This means that churches should consider ways to partner with church plants to grow God’s kingdom – – – Life Connection Odenton / Lake City TX.
• The sad reality about Christianity today is that many have lost the belief in the reality of hell. They believe God’s love will overshadow holiness and overlook repentance of sin and faith in Christ. So, Christians and churches infrequently evangelize, are uncommitted to missions, and are passive toward local outreach. And Christians/churches who don’t evangelize will fossilize; they will die within two generations.
• So Christian / SPBC member, one application as a follower of Jesus is to invest & invite. Don’t give the non-vite: “Hey, you should come to church with me sometime.” But, “sometime” is not on any calendar. Give a date. Make it specific, and then it’s an invite. But don’t just make it specific, make it special. Tell them you’ll meet them at the front door, and that afterwards you will take them to lunch.

One day a business man named Benjamin was traveling on an airplane. He introduced himself to the young man sitting in their seat, and his name was Gene. Ben made a few observations about Gene: fresh haircut, no facial hair, well built and must work out, and Gene kept calling Ben, “Sir.” Ben considered that Gene either thinks that he looks very old, or that Gene is from the south, or that he’s in the service. He decided the latter and asked, “Are you in the service?” “Yes, sir, I am.” “What branch?” “Marines. Call me Gene the marine.” “That’s funny, marine. From where you are traveling?” Gene pauses for a moment as if his breath is taken away, and says, “I’m traveling home after being deployed for 18 months. My family will be at the airport.” Ben commented that Gene must have thought about returning home every day while deployed. But Gene responded quickly: “No sir. We were taught never to think of what might never be, but to be fully focused on our present mission.”

When Christians call Jesus their Savior and LORD, this is what it means. We are to be fully focused on our present mission.

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[1] Cf. Mt 1:25 “until,” Mt 12:48-50; 13:55-56; Mk 3:32-35; 6:3; Lk 2:7 “firstborn” protokos not only monogenes; 8:19-21; Jn 7:5; Ac 1:14; Gal 1:19. Also see Tertullian (160-225 AD) On The Flesh Of Christ, ch.7.

[2] Andreas Kostenberger, The Pillar NT Commentary: John, p.160.

^[3] George R. Beasley-Murray, John, vol. 36, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1999), 27.