John 1:35-42

Order of Service

• Announcements
• Hymn — All Praise to God Who Reigns Above
• Call to Worship — Psalm 107:1-2, 8, 43
• Hymn — All Praise to God Who Reigns Above
• Prayer of Invocation
• Confession of Faith — Heidelberg Catechism, Question 1
• Scripture Reading — Acts 27:1-20
• Hymn — Eternal Father, Strong to Save
• Pastoral Prayer
• Offering
• Prayer
• Hymn — O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing
• Sermon
• Hymn — The Solid Rock
• Benediction — Numbers 6:24-26

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Sermon Title: Witnesses to the Messiah

Scripture: John 1:35-42

I. A Passing of the Torch Witness

A. John the Baptist models humble witness by pointing his own disciples to Jesus

1. The word "witness" (martyr in Greek) means to testify — every Christian is called to be a martyr, a witness to Christ
2. Tertullian: the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church; the veracity of a witness is displayed by staking one's life on it
3. John's act of stepping aside sets a precedent, just as George Washington's voluntary relinquishing of power was called the greatest act of any man in the world by King George III

B. Andrew embodies this humble witness

1. Andrew is always identified as "Simon Peter's brother" — never the reverse — yet it is Andrew who finds Peter and brings him to Jesus
2. Throughout John's Gospel, Andrew is consistently seen bringing others to Jesus: the boy with five loaves and two fish (John 6) and the Greeks who wished to see Jesus (John 12)
3. The name Andrew means "manly" — true manliness is not seeking the spotlight for oneself but directing all attention to Christ
4. When believers step off their own thrones and place Christ on them, the world glimpses the one who did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped but made himself nothing (Philippians 2:6-7)

II. A Prolonged Time Witness

A. Jesus's question — "What are you seeking?" — is an inviting, testing question, not an annoyed dismissal

1. The disciples' reply — "Where are you staying?" — reflects a desire for extended, deep fellowship with Jesus, not a brief exchange
2. They came and stayed with him that day; it was about the tenth hour (4 pm), suggesting they stayed the night

B. Extended time at Jesus's feet is the greatest preparation for witnessing

1. Like Moses, who spoke with God face to face and descended the mountain radiating God's glory, those who spend prolonged time with Christ radiate his love and warmth to the world
2. The best students are not those who merely attend class and leave, but those who linger, ask questions, and pursue the teacher
3. Jesus is not a burned-out or bad teacher — he is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8), and his heart is warmed when his disciples draw near
4. Sitting long at Christ's feet in prayer and in his Word equips believers to be effective witnesses

III. A Personal Transformation Witness

A. The first meeting of Jesus and Simon Peter anticipates a profound transformation

1. Jesus renames Simon "Cephas" (Aramaic) or "Peter" (Greek), both meaning rock — a name that carries the full weight of Jesus's authority over him
2. To rename someone in Jewish culture was an act of authority, declaring ownership and destiny

B. Peter on his own was anything but a rock

1. He confessed Jesus as the Christ, then in the next moment rebuked Christ's cross and was called Satan
2. He swore he would never deny Christ, then denied him three times
3. In contrast, Paul — rigorously trained under Gamaliel — might seem the more natural candidate for the name "Rock," yet Jesus gives it to Simon

C. The name Peter reflects what Christ will transform Simon into, not what Simon is in himself

1. In John 21 the post-resurrection exchange — "Do you love me? Feed my sheep" (three times, corresponding to the three denials) — restores and commissions Peter
2. Peter ultimately dies as a martyr, an unshakable witness to Christ
3. The right question for believers is not "Could I endure what the martyrs endured?" but "Do I trust that Jesus Christ can make me ready for whatever he calls me to?" — the answer is an unequivocal yes: Philippians 4:13

D. Conclusion: Sit often at Christ's feet, take yourself off your throne, and be a witness to Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit who indwells you