Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
—Acts 8:35
Key Verse Thought: Read today’s key verse. Understand the word preached means “to proclaim the good news; preach the gospel.” Keep in mind that the focus of the Gospel message is that Jesus died to pay the penalty for man’s sin – if they would only believe. Moreover, that Jesus is alive again. Can you think of a time that you told someone about Jesus? Do you think it is important for Christians to tell others about Jesus? In this lesson, we will learn that it is important to obey God when He tells us to share Jesus with someone else.
Emphasis: We are to understand the importance of obeying God’s command to tell others about Jesus – for if Philip had not obeyed, the Ethiopian Eunuch would not have understood he needed Jesus.
Lesson Summary: In our last lesson, we learned of the first person who was killed because they believed in and preached Jesus. Stephen preached Jesus from the Old Testament to the religious leaders, but instead of receiving the truths he taught, they rejected those Words and killed Stephen. We were also introduced to another of the religious men who was present at Stephen’s death – a young man named Saul.
In this lesson, we will learn a little more about Saul, and the persecution of Believers that caused many to scatter from Jerusalem into Judea and Samaria. This event was the beginning of the persecution against the church. It was also the beginnings of the spread of the gospel into the world.
We will look at what happened with Philip, another of the seven that had been called out to minister in the church to help the Apostles. Philip left Jerusalem and went to Samaria. While he preached Jesus to the people there, many believed – including a man called Simon who was a sorcerer. After many were saved, Peter and John came to Samaria.
The next event we will read today is a very familiar event many people may have heard before. An angel of the Lord told Philip to go to Gaza, the desert. Once he was there, the Spirit told Philip to go to the Ethiopian Eunuch who was riding in a chariot reading from the book of Isaiah. After helping this man understand Jesus was taught in the Old Testament book of Isaiah, the eunuch believed in Jesus and was saved. It would be good to understand the importance of Philip obeying the Lord – just so that one individual could be saved.
“Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.”
Acts 8:35
Philip went to Samaria to share the Gospel Message of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection. Many of the people believed in Jesus. Philip listened to God when He spoke to him – for when God sent him away from the many people who were being saved into a desert land, Philip went. While Philip was there, he met one man who was searching for the truth about Jesus. This man needed someone to teach him, and God sent Philip to be that one who could show him how to know Jesus.
An Ethiopian eunuch had been to Jerusalem. He was on his way home, reading the writings of Isaiah. (Isaiah is the Major Prophet in the Old Testament which includes the most prophecies of Jesus.) The Spirit told Philip to join that chariot (see Acts 8:27-29). When Philip ran to meet that chariot, he heard the man reading from Isaiah, which told of the Messiah (Jesus) who was to come. Philip asked the Ethiopian if he understood what he was reading. “And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him” (Acts 8:31). Philip immediately recognized that this man was open to hearing the message of Jesus. “32. The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: 33. In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth” (Acts 8:32-33). This Scripture is from Isaiah 53:7-8. The eunuch asked of whom this was speaking. “Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus” (Acts 8:35). Philip preached Jesus right out of Isaiah chapter 53. Preached means “to proclaim the good news; preach the gospel.” Philip told the Ethiopian Eunuch about Jesus. One can only imagine the message that Philip shared! The death and resurrection of Jesus was still recent enough that many people were still talking about the event, not fully understanding what had transpired. But Philip preached Jesus from the Old Testament Scriptures, revealing what had taken place.
What was the Ethiopian Eunuch’s response to this “good news?” “… And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God” (Acts 8:37). This man understood that Jesus had died for sin, was buried, and lived again. By the Scriptures in Isaiah and Philip’s preaching, this Ethiopian Eunuch believed in his heart that, “Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” How had this happened? “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). Because Philip was faithful to share the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ, the Ethiopian Eunuch found Jesus and believed upon Him – and was saved.
The Ethiopian Eunuch wanted to be baptized to identify his life with Jesus (see Romans 6:3-6). “And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him” (Acts 8:38). Read the interesting thing that happened next. “And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing” (Acts 8:39). Philip disappeared, but the Ethiopian Eunuch went on his way rejoicing.
Read what God had revealed to David, which he then recorded in the Psalms. “Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God” (Psalm 68:31). God knew that one day an Ethiopian Eunuch would go to Jerusalem to worship – searching for God (see Acts 8:27). (Also read Solomon’s prayer in 2 Chronicles 6:32-33 for God to hear a stranger calling to God.) God sent Philip to tell that Ethiopian Eunuch how to be saved. This should be an encouraging thing to understand that if someone is searching for God, God will send someone to show that person how to find Him. Just like God sent Philip to the Ethiopian Eunuch. Read what is specifically written for each Christian: “13. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:13-14). Preacher means “apostles and teachers to preach, publish, or announce religious truth; the gospel with its privileges and obligations.” Every Christian can teach someone else the truth about Jesus. These verses in Romans were quoted from the Old Testament book of Isaiah (Isaiah 52:7). Notice that these verses are found in the chapter right before Isaiah 53 that tells about Jesus’ suffering death – the very chapter that the Ethiopian Eunuch had been reading! And God sent him one, Philip, so that that man could be saved.
Believers are supposed to tell others about Jesus. Do you think that Ethiopian Eunuch who had been searching for Jesus, finally finding Him, told others how to meet Jesus? Imagine the people he was able to teach about Jesus once he returned home! Christians must understand the necessity of telling others about Jesus, so that that someone can tell can tell someone else. That is how the Gospel message has always been shared – from one person to another.
Do you know of someone special that you can tell about Jesus.
“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”
2 Peter 3:18
Jesus called twelve men to be His special disciples. We now call them Apostles. Each of these men were different from the others. These men had particular qualities and character traits that we can recognize about them. Why do you think that Jesus called such a diverse group to begin the spread of the Gospel message to the world?
Many children memorize the names of Jesus’ twelve disciples in a Sunday School Class. Do you remember their names, or even much about them? Read one listing of these men: “And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James” (Acts 1:13). In this listing, Judas Iscariot (which also was the traitor) is noticeably missing (see why in Matthew 27:3-5; and Acts 1:16-18). Almost everyone remembers about Judas Iscariot. Jesus knew Judas Iscariot would betray Him (see Matthew 26:21-25 and John 6:64).
Consider a few of the disciples:
Peter was called Cephas (which meas “a stone) by Jesus (see John 1:42). Peter mostly seemed to be bold, yet sometimes he appeared afraid (see Matthew 14:22-33). When Jesus asked His disciples who they said He was, Peter was the first to declare: “And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). Jesus blessed him for this (see Matthew 16:17). Peter is famous for proclaiming he would never deny Jesus. However, Jesus warned Peter that he would deny Him that very night. And he did.
James and John were brothers: “And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder” (Mark 3:17). Apparently, they were a bit fiery and defensive of Jesus when He was rejected by the Samaritans: “And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?” (Luke 9:54).
Andrew (Peter’s brother), was the first to follow Jesus, and he brought his brother, Peter, to meet Jesus (see John 1:40-42).
Philip, brought Bartholomew (Nathanael) to Jesus (see John 1:45-46).
Thomas will probably always be known as “doubting Thomas” (see John 20:24-29).
Bartholomew (Nathanael) was an honest man who was skeptical when he first heard of Jesus, but immediately recognized who Jesus is. “Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel” (John 1:49).
Matthew (also called Levi, the son of Alphaeus) left all and followed Jesus, however Jesus ate at his house first. “And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him” (Mark 2:15).
James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James about whom not much is known.
Was there anything special about these men? They appeared to be average men. Peter, Andrew, James and John were fishermen. Jesus called them from catching fish to becoming “fishers of men.” Jesus taught them to go tell others how to know Jesus. However, the same thing can happen to people today. One may not see Jesus walking down the road, calling an individual to follow Him, but one can understand the call upon the heart when hearing the Bible preached and taught. It is then that each individual who hears that call upon the heart should respond in affirmation. Yes! I will follow Jesus!
After Jesus resurrected and appeared to His disciples, He took time to speak personally with Peter, who had denied Jesus three times just before His death. Jesus wanted Peter to understand that even though he had failed in one area at that point in His commitment to Him; Jesus still had mighty plans for Him – if Peter was willing to do what Jesus asked of Him (see John 21:14-19). Even when a Christians fails, falling short of what Jesus would expect, if that one will return as Peter did (remember he was the first disciple to run to the tomb, and the first to jump out of the boat swimming to shore to see Jesus), Jesus can still use a repentant Christian. Peter grew in his Christian life. “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen” (2 Peter 3:18). Peter encouraged Christians to continue to grow.
As one reads the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), one can understand the growth of these men as they walked with Jesus. When Jesus ascended back into heaven after His resurrection, He entrusted these men to go forth, preaching the Gospel Message. When you read Acts, their growth continued as they understood how to live as disciples of Jesus. They were not the same men that we were introduced to when Jesus called them. It is because of their faithful witness (and many more like them) that we can know the Gospel Message, too. Although we may not know much about these men, we understand enough in that they followed Jesus to the end.
Christians should learn much from these men. None of them were perfect. None of them were known – until they responded in affirmation to the call of Jesus upon their lives. As Jesus called them, one by one, they each chose to follow Jesus.
Have you met Jesus, and then chosen to grow in your Christian life?
“And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles.”
Luke 6:13
John the Baptist taught repentance and introduced people to Jesus the Lamb of God. From John’s teachings, many learned they were to follow Jesus. Andrew, Peter (Simon), Philip, Nathanael, James, John, and Matthew were some of the first that Jesus called to follow Him, listening to His teachings. This was an important first step in understanding just who Jesus is.
There were many others who followed Jesus because they wanted to hear His teachings – so many that they crowded Him. Jesus saw the empty ships (for the fishermen had just come in after fishing all night), and asked Simon to thrust the ship out a little from the shore. Jesus taught the people from the ship (see Luke 5:1-3). Jesus finished teaching from the ship. “4. Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon,Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.5. And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. 6. And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. 7. And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink” (Luke 5:4-7). After finishing teaching, Jesus told Simon (Peter) to go out to the deep water and throw out their nets again to fish. Remember that Andrew was Peter’s brother, and he was most likely the other one on this ship. Notice that Simon (Peter) initially objected – but then he obeyed Jesus. Draught means “a catch of fish.” They caught so many fish that their nets broke, and then both ships began to sink because of the number of fish caught. It was at this point that Peter began to recognize who he was before Jesus (see Luke 5:8-9). However, Peter was not the only one affected by this. “10. And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.11. And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him” (Luke 5:10-11). (Read how Matthew phrased it: “19. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” Matthew 4:19). It was at this point that these four men forsook their old occupation as fishermen of fish, and followed Jesus as fishers of men. If you notice, it said, “they forsook all.” In Matthew chapter four it tells us that James and John were working with their father. They left him, too. They went from wanting to hear Jesus’ teachings and following Him some of the time, to becoming true disciples of Jesus’ who left all (their boats and nets) to follow Jesus. Disciple means “a pupil or learner; more in that it is one who adheres to and accepts the instruction given to him and makes it his rule of conduct.” Jesus called many to follow Him. Each one had to choose to follow or not.
It is after this time that Jesus calls out twelve men out of his many disciples, to become His Apostles. “12. And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. 13. And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles” (Luke 6:12-13). Apostle means “an ambassador; it indicates the distinctive relation of the 12 men Jesus chose to be His witnesses of Him before the world.” Read the names of the 12 Apostles: “14. Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, 15. Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes, 16. And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor” (Luke 6:14-16).
Notice something interesting:
There was a general call after they recognized who Jesus was where each man had to make a decision to follow Jesus.
Next, each one of them had to choose to forsake their old life and commit to a daily walk with Jesus.
Finally, we recognize that Jesus called these men to be His ambassadors to the world.
Recognize that these are the same callings given to each individual when he or she hears the Gospel message:
First, one must make a decision to follow Jesus be giving their heart and life to Him (see Romans 10:9: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
Next, one must forsake their old life and commit to a daily walk with Jesus (see 2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
Finally, remember that we are called to be Jesus’ ambassadors in this world: (see 2 Corinthians 5:20: “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.” Christians are to tell the world about Jesus so that they, too, can become His disciple (see Matthew 28:19-20).
Have you taken these three steps to fully follow Jesus daily in your life?
“The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him,Follow me.”
John 1:43
God’s people were to be watching and waiting for the day their Messiah would come. The last book of the Old Testament, Malachi, reminds us of that promise. “Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple…”(Malachi 3:1a). God revealed that He would send a special messenger to prepare the way before God, Himself, came born as Jesus. The book of John tells us of this messenger who prepared the way, and for whom that way was prepared. “6. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 8. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light” (John 1:6-8). The man we call John the Baptist was that man sent from God who was the witness who told others of the Light. That light is Jesus (see John 8:12).
John had baptized Jesus, recognizing that He was the Son of God (see John 1:34). “35. Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; 36. And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!” (John 1:35-36). Notice that John the Baptist declared Jesus as the Lamb of God. Not only that, but we see that John had disciples. Disciple means “a pupil or learner; more in that it is one who adheres to and accepts the instruction given to him and makes it his rule of conduct.” These men had heard John’s teachings of repentance and had obviously adhered to his teachings. Notice what we learn as we continue. “And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus” (John 1:37). From John’s teachings, they understood they were watching for the promised Messiah, and then John declared Jesus was the Messiah. So, they followed Jesus. “38. Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye?They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou? 39. He saith unto them, Come and see.They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour. 40. One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother” (John 1:38-40). Notice that these men left John to follow Jesus. John had done His job: he had directed the people’s attention to the Saviour of the world, Jesus. Notice that John’s disciples called Jesus Rabbi (Master); yet another indication that they had turned their focus from John to Jesus. They were ready to hear the teachings of Jesus now that they had met Him.
After hearing the good news that Jesus was the Lamb of God and spending the day with Him, read what Andrew did. “41. He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. 42. And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said,Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas,which is by interpretation, A stone” (John 1:41-42). After Andrew believed in Jesus, he immediately found his brother, Simon, and took him to meet Jesus. Today, when a person meets Jesus, becoming a Christian, the immediate response should be to introduce others to Jesus, too.
“The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him,Follow me” (John 1:43). Jesus called Philip, too. What did Philip do? “Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph” (John 1:45). Philip understood that Jesus was the Promised One that Moses and the prophets had written about in the Old Testament. Immediately he went and found Nathanael to bring him to Jesus. (Remember, that is what Andrew had done. Andrew immediately went and found his brother, Simon.) “46. And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. 47. Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!48. Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.49. Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. 50. Jesus answered and said unto him,Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these” (John 1:46-50). After Jesus told him where he had been, Nathanael believed. Why do you think he would believe after hearing what Jesus told him? (Remember what he must have learned from God’s Word – just as we have learned this from God’s Word. “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good” Proverbs 15:3.) Nathanael recognized that Jesus was the Lord. Remember that each person has the choice – to believe or not to believe. Nathanael believed.
Have you recognized Jesus and chosen to follow Him?
Have you then introduced your friends and family to Jesus?
“To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:”
Colossians 1:27
In the Old Testament, the Israelites were to reveal God to the world. All of the world was to recognize the Israelites belonged to God. One way this was revealed was that when the Israelites obeyed and followed God, they were blessed. However, when they walked contrary to God and His Word, the people would be cursed. This was displayed repeatedly in the Old Testament, especially during the times of the kings.
When David was king, Israel defeated many enemies and ruled over more land than any previous time in history. Remember how God described King David. “…to whom also he (God) gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will” (Acts 13:22). When David’s son, Solomon, became king, Israel became the wealthiest nation. Nevertheless, his son was foolish, forgot God, and the kingdom was divided. The nation of Israel did not recover during the Old Testament days. Instead, we discover a nation who, as a whole, continually forsook God, often walking contrary to God’s Word. The Israelites failed in their task to reveal God to the world.
In the New Testament, God sent His only Son to reveal Himself to the World. When Jesus came, He came to show God to the world. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Jesus not only showed the world the way in which God loved the world, but Jesus revealed God to the world.
However, He disclosed more than that. “6. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 7. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.” (John 14:6-7). Jesus then revealed what it takes not only to see God, but also to go and spend eternity with Him. Philip did not fully understand what Jesus was teaching him. “8. Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. 9. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thouthen,Shew us the Father? 10. Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works” (John 14:9-10). Jesus, God in the flesh, came to because He is the only avenue to reach God. Israel in the Old Testament not only failed to reveal God, but also the way to God.
We can remember one of Jesus’ Disciples, John. He recorded for us his eyewitness accounts of Jesus’ life. He understood the importance of just who Jesus is. He understood the importance of recording the life of Jesus. John had witnessed the events of His life – firsthand! He not only saw, but he understood and believed them. Read why he wanted to share his eyewitness account. “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; 2. (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) 3. That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full” (1 John 1:1-4). John understood the importance of not only knowing Jesus, but telling others the importance of knowing Jesus. He, and many like him, revealed Jesus to their world.
Remember, “6. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). Philip did not fully understand at first. But because of Jesus and the testimony of those who understood, Christians today can now understand the importance of Jesus. Once we do, it becomes our job to become a living witness to our world. The Israelites failed in the Old Testament. The first Christians succeeded in telling others about Jesus, that many today are Christians because of their testimony. Paul reminded the people that he had told them of Jesus and they had believed (see Colossians 1:4-22), he reminded them that was his ministry. “27. To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 28. Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus” (Colossians 1:27-28). Christians need to know that this should be our ministry as well. How are Christians doing today in the revealing of Jesus to those around us?
Are you a living witness that Christ is in you, the only hope of glory?
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10
John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus by preaching repentance. In
that message, John was preparing the people’s hearts to understand their need
for Jesus. After John the Baptist introduced the people to Jesus, read what
happened. “35. Again the next day after John stood, and two of his
disciples; 36. And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb
of God!” (John 1:35-36). John again declared Jesus as the Lamb of God. “And
the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus” (John 1:37). Recognize that these men left John the
Baptist to follow the One for which John had come to prepare the way. John had
done His job: he had directed the people’s attention to the Savior of the
world, Jesus. These men left John, and they followed Jesus.
“38. Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith
unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being
interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou? 39. He saith unto them, Come and
see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day … 40. One of
the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon
Peter’s brother” (John 1:38-40). John’s disciples called Jesus Rabbi
(Master); yet another indication that they had turned their focus from John to
Jesus. They were ready to hear the teachings of Jesus now that they had met
Him. Rabbi means “a doctor, teacher, master; a title of honor
in the Jewish schools.” After Andrew believed in Jesus, he immediately
found his brother, Simon (Peter), and took him to meet Jesus.
“The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee,
and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me” (John 1:43). Jesus called Philip, too. What did Philip
do? “Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of
whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth,
the son of Joseph” (John 1:45). Philip
recognized who this man was that called him. Philip understood that Jesus was
the Promised One that Moses and the prophets had written about in the Old
Testament. Immediately he went and found Nathanael to bring him to Jesus. (Remember,
that is what Andrew had done. Andrew immediately went and found his brother,
Simon.) Today, when a person meets Jesus, becoming a Christian, the immediate
response should be to introduce others to Jesus, too.
Nathanael was a skeptic – at first. Nevertheless, after Jesus told him
where he had been, Nathanael believed. Remember that each person has the choice
– to believe or not to believe. Nathanael believed.
Many people followed Jesus because they wanted to hear His
teachings – so many that they crowded Him. Jesus saw the empty ships, and asked
Simon to thrust the ship out a little from the shore. Jesus taught the people
from the ship. After finishing teaching, Jesus told Simon (Peter) to go out to
the deep water and throw out their nets again to fish. Simon (Peter) initially
objected – but then he obeyed Jesus. They caught so many fish that their nets
broke, and then both ships began to sink because of the number of fish caught.
How did Peter respond? “8. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at
Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. 9. For he
was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which
they had taken” (Luke 5:8-9). Especially notice that Peter was not the only
one affected by this miraculous catch of fish. “10. And so was also
James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus
said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. 11. And when
they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him” (Luke
5:10-11). It was at this point that
these four men forsook their old occupation as fishermen of fish, and followed
Jesus as fishers of men. If you notice, it said, “they forsook all.” In
Matthew, chapter four it tells us that James and John were working with their
father. They left him, too.
People were trying not only to hear Jesus’ teachings, but also to be
healed. Many people followed Jesus. He was drawing the people from a religious
practice to a commitment of the heart – a heart committed to Jesus. Jesus saw
the need of the people. Read what Jesus did. “12. And it came to pass in
those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night
in prayer to God. 13. And when it was day, he called unto him his
disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles” (Luke 6:12-13). Apostle
means “an ambassador; it indicates the
distinctive relation of the 12 men Jesus chose to be His witnesses of Him
before the world.” This was the third call of these men. They were initially
called to believe in Jesus. Then they were called to follow
Jesus. Finally, Jesus called them for a special purpose – to be
His apostles.
Just as Jesus called the twelve disciples (Apostles) for a
special purpose, when someone today is saved (asks Jesus into their heart),
Jesus has a special purpose for them as well. “8. For by grace are ye saved
through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 10.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God
hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:8, 10). Not
only are Christians His workmanship (workmanship
means “the result of work; something
produced; something made”),
but God has before ordained (before
ordained means “to make ready beforehand;
used of God’s foreordaining for good, referring to glory and good works”) that new Christian to walk in that
new life Jesus has for them. Jesus has a job for each Christian.
Have you believed
in Jesus, becoming a Christian?
Do you follow Jesus and His teachings?
Have you recognized the job that Jesus has for your life?
“For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments” Ezra 7:10
Today, not many people take time to study the Old Testament
Scriptures. They are old, you know! It is all in the past. Who needs to know
what happened hundreds of years ago? However, there are so many examples of
people in the Old Testament who reveal to us the importance of not only what
those words say, but also understanding how to implement the principles found
within to each Christian’s life.
Read what God told Joshua when He made Joshua the new leader
of His people: “7. Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest
observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee:
turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou
mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. 8. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but
thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do
according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way
prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success” (Joshua 1:7-8).
To meditate means “to ponder, to study; to speak and talk about.”
We can read that there are several times Joshua not only read God’s Word, but
he wrote it down, and even read it to God’s people. We can understand from
this, that knowing God’s Word was very important to him. God told Joshua to be
strong and very courageous. Sometimes it is hard to choose to do the right
thing according to God’s Word. But God also told him to not turn from the right
hand or to the left – encouraging Joshua to stay straight on in the Word of
God. When Joshua did this, his way would be prosperous and he would have good
success. When reading about Joshua’s life, he not only had a prosperous life
but great success in accomplishing the things God had for him (remember he led
God’s people into the Promised Land).
The urgency of Christians today should be to prepare our
hearts to seek and know God’s Word. With that preparation of the heart comes a
necessity to obey and live out God’s Word in our lives. Once we begin to
accomplish this in our life, we become a light in this world revealing Jesus in
our lives. It is then that it becomes much easier to tell others about Jesus.
That is exactly what Ezra 7:10 tells
us we should do: “For Ezra had
prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to
teach in Israel statutes and judgments”
Philip, who had grown up learning the Law and the Prophets
that make up the Old Testament, recognized Jesus when he met him. He
immediately found Nathanael and told him that he had found the one the Old
Testament said would come: Jesus. “Philip
findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the
law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph” (John 1:45).
Paul preached Jesus to the people from the Old Testament (the
Law and Prophets). “And when they
had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom
he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning
Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from
morning till evening” (Acts 28:23).
Can you see the importance of knowing and understanding the
Old Testament? It is all about Jesus.
Read what the wisest man, King Solomon, wrote for us to read.
“13. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his
commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 14. For God shall bring every work into
judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it
be evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).
Have you taken time to meditate upon (“ponder: study”)
the Old Testament?
Do you understand it prepares our hearts to receive
Jesus?
