John saw Jesus coming and said, Behold the lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world.
John is a good example of a preacher who is always turning the attention of those who follow him to Jesus. His ministry did not lead people to admire him or their ministry but it drove people to Jesus Himself.
It's unfortunate that today most preachers lead people to admire them and their ministry and since God is a jealous God and will not share His glory with a human being, He withdraws His anointing from them and His presence.
John was faithfully fulfilling his ministry as Jesus came to Him.
We also must be found faithful fulfilling the task God called us to before He manifests Himself in our lives.
BE YE FOUND FAITHFUL
John was given a sign of recognising Jesus, and it was the Spirit descending on Him.
In the same way, God bears witness to those who are faithfully obeying Him in fulfilling their purpose. God doesn't bear witness to everyone one the same way, but in different ways as He decides.
Jesus was standing with His disciples and saw Jesus and said Behold the lamb of God and the two disciples left Him and followed Jesus.
John didn't get offended that two disciples left Him and followed Jesus.
It's a picture of a good preacher who preaches in such a way that those who listen to him will follow Jesus in their private lives.
It can be a picture also of a good preacher who when some followers join another church which can lead them to a higher life in their Christian walk, does not get offended.
It's unfortunate that preachers like John are rare in our generation. May God raise more of such quality.
Jesus went to them and saw where He stayed. One of them was Andrew, he went and brought Simon His brother to Jesus.
A picture of a disciple who experiences the presence of Jesus and is not selfish but shares with others and invites others to come and experience the same life he himself have experienced.
Jesus changed the name of Simon to Peter. He changed the name of Saul to Paul in the book of Acts. He changes the names of people.
He didn't change the name of all but only of one. Even today He does.
The next day Jesus found Philip and said to Him, "Follow me".
This is a call to all the disciples. A disciple is a learner and a follower. Now we learn from Jesus in the scriptures and especially the gospels. In the areas we see how He lived, we consequently adjust our lives to follow Him in those areas. Following is a conscious act. You cannot follow what you don't see and that is why we need to have a constant cry in our hearts that God may open our eyes to see the how Jesus lived so that we can follow Him.
Philip alsa invited Nathaniel to Jesus, the Messiah. He asked, can anything good come out of Nazareth?
This was the reputation of Nazareth, that no good thing came from there. Even today, there many places and families with the same reputation. But God choses from such and brings our His best. Don't worry even if you have had a bad reputation in the past; God can change that and bring something good out of your life.
Jesus recommended appreciated Nathaniel that there was no hypocrisy in him. Can Jesus say that about you, that there is no hypocrisy in you?
We also learn that Jesus was good in appreciating something good in others. The children of Adam are quick to spot something wrong with others and are quick to criticise. Learn from Jesus and don't be a fault-finder. Seek to see something good in others and appreciate that.
Nathaniel asked Jesus how He knew Him and said that He saw Him before Philip called Him under a tree.
Nathaniel called Him the Son of God and the king of Israel. Jesus told Him that He will see heavens opened and angels ascending and descending on the Son of man.
Heavens open to when we recognise and acknowledge Jesus is the Son of God and is the king of kings. He is reigning over everything and we need not fear.
Its God will that you always be under open heavens. The heavens over you should not be closed or as brass. Don't be satisfied until you live under open heavens.
You are blessed to be a blessing
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@Blessed Mshindi Mambo
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