There’s a constant sense of movement in these verses as people come and see Jesus. Some of the people said massive things about Jesus, but others just had a kind of curiosity.
Jesus’ first words in John’s gospel are especially interesting. He asked two men, “What are you looking for?” Sometimes in John’s gospel, someone will say something with layers of meaning – often not even understood by the person saying it.
But Jesus meant that question, and puts it to you now: In life, in work, at home, being here: What are you looking for?
These notes accompany a sermon on YouTube delivered in June 2024 at Bromborough Evangelical Church. You will find more in the series in our sermon index.
Listen to the prophet (19-28)
Last week we saw in John 1:7 how John the Baptist “came as a witness to testify about the light” – he was a witness of Jesus. It’s funny, but although John and Jesus were relatives, it seems John didn’t know that Jesus of Nazareth was to be the Messiah until after John began his baptising ministry. All John knew was that the Messiah was coming, and that it was John’s job (from God) to get people ready.
So he was baptising in the river Jordan, and we know from the other gospel writers that he was preaching repentance. To be ready for the coming of the Lord, the Messiah, hearts had to be turned from sin to receive him. And so John drew crowds – plus interest from Jerusalem.
Officials came along from Jerusalem to ask him who he is.
- “Are you the Messiah?” “Nope. Definitely not.”
- “What then? Are you Elijah?” “Nope.”
- Elijah was prophesied at the end of Malachi as one who would appear just before Messiah came.
- Jesus would later say that John was that Elijah!
- It seems that John’s focus was so strongly on telling people about Jesus that he didn’t really consider his own standing. And that is humility.
- “Are you the prophet?” “Wrong again.”
- The prophet was promised in Deuteronomy 18, a leader like Moses. (Jesus would fulfil that.)
The religious authorities would have had something to think about if John had claimed to be any of those.
But because he didn’t, they’re offended. “Who are you, then?” Read John 1:25. Who are you to be baptising Jews as if you had some kind of credibility or authority? You’re a nobody.
Now John was sent by God. He knew that. But he was in no mood to big himself up.
John’s humility
Read John 1:23. He’s not so much pointing to himself, as the one who’s coming after him.
Read John 1:26-27. It really doesn’t matter to John what they think of him. What does matter is that they realise that the Messiah is coming – the eternal Word who is God and who became human.
Can you imagine being so genuinely caught up in the news of Jesus that you really didn’t care what people thought of you? Imagine that you regarded the gospel of Christ as so important that you would put up with rudeness and disregard, in the hope that some might hear? It really shouldn’t be so hard.
John’s testimony was about Jesus, not himself.
And the next day his testimony notched up a level:
See the Lamb of God (29-34)
Read John 1:29.
John has already quoted from Isaiah, and it might be Isaiah’s mention of a lamb in Isaiah 53:7 that prompted this title. Later it would become clear that Jesus is our Passover lamb. What does that mean? He is the blood sacrifice that will protect his own people from God’s wrath. He takes the punishment others deserve. If you trust that his blood will save you, you will be saved.
And he’s the Lamb of God – God himself has sent this sacrifice into the world so that you might be saved to him, eternally.
He’s the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world – including you, if you will only come to him for forgiveness.
And he’s more.
Jesus’ Anointing
Read John 1:30-33. John baptised Jesus, and it was a spectacular moment.
For John, the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove was the signal to him that Jesus was the One. And the Spirit didn’t just descend: He remained on Jesus. This is a moment of anointing by the Spirit. Remember that “Messiah” means “anointed one” and you see the importance of the moment: This is when Jesus of Nazareth, the Word of God made flesh, became Messiah.
At his birth he was announced as “Christ, the Lord” or “Messiah, the Lord” – but the actual anointing happened at his baptism. And his ‘anointing oil’ was no less than the Holy Spirit of God.
In the Old Testament, the Spirit would sometimes come with power on certain people for specific moments and tasks. Like Samson, or Saul, or Elijah.
But the Spirit came and remained on Jesus, the truly anointed one. His full moment of coronation glory would have to wait until his ascension, but this is a stunning development.
It’s so stunning, that John had only one conclusion. Read John 1:34.
Son of God, Chosen One
He certainly knew that Jesus was the Son of God. “God of God, begotten not created.”
There’s a footnote in most modern translations that suggests that some ancient manuscripts say “the Chosen One of God”.
- He’s called the Son of God in v18 and v49, so there’s no doubt he’s that!
- If the original text did say “the Chosen One of God” then he’s probably referring to Isaiah 42:1, saying this is my chosen one; I delight in him. I have put my Spirit on him;
Either way, this Jesus is greater by far than anyone who has ever lived. No-one else has been anointed by the Spirit of God in that way, because no-one else is God’s eternal Messiah. Those men from Jerusalem had a mild interest in what John was doing. But John had a passionate interest in pointing people to Jesus, the Messiah, the eternal Son of God, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
Why? Because only through that Jesus can you know life and become a child of God (the very thing God wants for you).
A Jesus of your imagination is just a god in your own image. It won’t save you. Come and see Jesus as he truly is.
What are you looking for? (35-42)
Read John 1:35-38. At one level, this is quite funny.
These two disciples of John heard him say that Jesus is the Lamb of God and followed Jesus.
- When Jesus saw them, he asked “What are you looking for?”
- Their answer is pretty lame: “Rabbi, where are you staying?”
That’s no answer at all. It’s as if they’ve been caught nosing at Jesus and got all awkward and embarrassed when the questioned them.
And yet, it’s a searching question, isn’t it? What are you looking for? In life, in work, here?
If you ask yourself that question, what kind of answer might you get? You might be like those disciples. They barely knew what they were looking for, but they were curious. Or maybe you can’t even articulate your need, but you know you’re looking for something. Something’s missing, and you think Jesus might be it.
They called him Rabbi, meaning teacher, because that was all they could see of him initially. But they’d soon be giving him another title. Read John 1:39-42.
Did they go back to where he was staying to play dominoes? No, you can be sure that Jesus was teaching (hence, “Rabbi”). And having sat and listened closely to Jesus – really got near him and listened – they knew.
Andrew went and told his brother: “We have found the Messiah!” They might not have known what they were looking for, but that day they found the Messiah. It’s notable that when people come to understand who Jesus is they automatically want their friends and family to come and see Jesus too.
But there’s still a surprising dimension to the question, “What are you looking for?”
It surfaced on the next day.
Be found (43-51)
There’s another bit of humour in this passage. Read John 1:43-46.
Philip might as well have told Nathaniel that “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the law (and so did the prophets): Jesus the Son of Joseph, from New Ferry.” Or the North End of Birkenhead. Any of Wirral’s less fashionable areas would do. “Can anything good come out of there?”
“Come and see.”
The visitors from Jerusalem had asked John the Baptist if he was the Messiah, or Elijah, or the Prophet. Once Philip had met with Jesus he could see that Jesus was the one who was all those things, as foretold by Moses and the prophets.
Nazareth was not a cool place to live, and was looked down on by other people around Galilee.
And Nathaniel was clearly a man who spoke his mind!
Which is rather the point of what happened next: Read John 1:46-49.
Jesus is saying that Nathaniel is a man who spoke his mind! Nathaniel wouldn’t flatter to deceive, or hide his real feelings behind politeness. Even Nathaniel’s response is a bit blunt: “How do you know me?”
You might think that verse 49 is quite a jump, just because Jesus said he saw Nathaniel sitting under the fig tree.
But what has floored Nathaniel is the fact that Jesus really knew him. He knew where Nathaniel had been. But before they met, Jesus knew what kind of person Nathaniel was. Jesus knew him.
Liberating truth
And this is perhaps the most liberating truth when you’re trying to ask the question, “What are you looking for?”
- You might not really know what you’re looking for.
- But Jesus knows you, and he knows your deepest need.
- So ask this: “What is Jesus looking for?”
- The answer is: You.
And that is beyond glorious because of what he says next.
Read John 1:50-51.
- He’s alluding to a moment in Genesis 28.
- A man called Jacob (whose name was later changed to Israel), fell asleep.
- In his dream, he saw a stairway (or ladder) leading up to heaven, with angels ascending and descending on it.
- And God himself was there, promising blessing to Jacob.
- Jacob named the place Bethel, which means House of God.
So you see what Jesus is saying?
He’s saying that you will come to see how Jesus is that stairway to heaven.
Jesus himself is Bethel, the House of God.
He is the way, the stairway, the only means to come to God.
And he’s the truth because he is the Word, the Son of God.
And he’s the life, the end of the journey, Bethel, the house of God.
When you understand how spectacularly glorious Jesus is, and that he is the communication of the Father to you, and that he came so that you could enter into that life and love, it affects you:
- Your testimony is all about Jesus. You don’t care if people quiz you, or misunderstand you, or even misrepresent you. All you want is for people to know him.
- If you’re dogged by self-doubt, and are searching for something but you don’t know what, the answer will always be to come and see Jesus.
- When you realise that what Jesus is looking for is you, you do well to run to him, fall on your knees, and confess.
Titles of Jesus in John 1
There are seven titles given to Jesus in these verses:
- The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. He will atone for all your sin if you ask him; it’s why he came.
- The Chosen One of God, anointed with the Holy Spirit, ready to give you that same Spirit of adoption right now.
- Rabbi, teacher. Notice how affected those early disciples where when they heard him. Just as we still are today.
- Messiah – a rich word pointing to Jesus as prophet, priest and king
- Son of God, eternally of the Father, offering you adoption.
- King of Israel – as Nathaniel the Israelite confirmed his allegiance to his king.
- Son of Man – the man who is God who seeks you out to save you and bring you to life and light forever.
What are you looking for? Jesus. What are you waiting for? Pray