Living Words
"Living Words" is a weekly podcast that explores the transformative power of scripture across a diverse range of Biblical books, guided by insightful devotionals from the author's own works. Each episode seeks to deepen faith and understanding, connecting listeners with the enduring wisdom and relevance of the Bible in their daily lives.
Living Words
In His Footsteps Week 4: John the Baptist and the First Disciples
In the latest episode of the "Living Word Podcast," hosted by Charles Vance, we explore the early chapters of John's Gospel, focusing on John the Baptist and the first disciples of Jesus Christ. This episode, part of the "In His Footsteps" series, dives into John 1:19-51, bridging the Christological themes of the Gospel's Prologue with the beginnings of Jesus' earthly ministry. Vance sets the scene with a reading from the King James Version, highlighting John the Baptist's pivotal role as a herald, not the Messiah, but the voice in the wilderness preparing the way for Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
The narrative continues as we witness the first disciples being drawn to Jesus, starting with Andrew and his brother Simon, whom Jesus renames Cephas (Peter), indicating the transformative journey awaiting them. The episode beautifully contrasts Philip's immediate following with Nathanael's initial skepticism, which turns into belief upon meeting Jesus. This personal and transformative discipleship journey is underscored by promises of greater revelations, symbolized by the vision of angels ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.
I invite you to join us on this enlightening journey through these profound scriptures. Reflect on the multifaceted identity of Jesus—Messiah, Lamb of God, Son of God, King of Israel—and consider the implications of each title for His mission and character. Tune in to the "Living Word Podcast" for a rich exploration of faith, identity, and witness, and let it be an invitation to deepen your own relationship with the divine. Join us to uncover new insights and embrace the transformative power of Jesus Christ. See you there!
For those looking to enrich their journey, consider purchasing the devotional book "In His Footsteps" available on Amazon. Find it here: In His Footsteps on Amazon.
Good morning and Shabbat Shalom. I'm Charles Vance, your host on this episode of Living Words Podcast. We're in our fourth week of In His Footsteps devotional, which you can purchase on Amazon at the link in the show notes Not required, but you can do it if you want to. Now in this week, which is week four, we're going to talk about John the Baptist and his first disciples. The text for the week is John 1, 19-51. And this introduces us to the early ministry of Yeshua, focusing on the testimonies about him and his first encounters with the disciples. The passage is pivotal. It bridges the prologue's high Christological themes to the narrative of Yeshua's earthly ministry. It is rich with themes of identity, witness and fulfillment of Scripture, and here's a breakdown. Before we go into that, I'm going to read the passage from King James and then we'll pray and we'll go into the commentary.
Speaker 1:And this is the record of John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him who art thou? And he confessed and denied not, but confessed I am not the Christ. And they asked him what then? Art thou Elias? And he said I am not him. And art thou that prophet? And he saith I am not him. Art thou that prophet? And he answered no. And they said unto him who art thou that we may give answer to them? That sent us and what sayest thou of thyself? And he said I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness. Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Isaiah. And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. And they asked him and said unto him why baptize you then, if you be not that Christ nor Elias? Neither that prophet and John answered them, saying I baptize with water, but there standeth one among you whom ye know not. He it is who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose shoes latch it I am not worthy to unloose. And these things were done in Beth-berah, beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing. The next day, john seeth Jesus coming unto him and says Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world. And this is he of whom I said After taketh away the sin of the world. And this is he of whom I said After me, cometh the man which is preferred before me, for he was before me and I knew him not, but that he should be made manifest to Israel. And therefore I am come, baptizing with water and John bare record saying I saw the Spirit descending upon. This is the Son of God.
Speaker 1:Again, the next day, after, John stood and two of his disciples looking upon Jesus as he walked and saith Behold the Lamb of God. And the two disciples heard him speak and they followed Jesus. And then Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them what seek you? And they said unto him, rabbi, which is to say being master, where dwellest thou? And he said to them Come and see. And they came and saw where he dwelt and abode with him.
Speaker 1:That day, for it was about the tenth hour, and one of the two which heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, simon, peter's brother. He first finds his own brother, simon, and says to him we have found the Messiah which is being interpreted, the Christ. And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him he said Thou art Simon, the son of Jonah, and thou shalt be called Cephas, which is a stone. And the day following, jesus would go forth to Galilee and finds Philip and said to him Follow me.
Speaker 1:And now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew, and Peter and Philip, finding Nathanael, said to him we have found him. Of whom Moses in the law and the prophets did write. Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. And Nathanael said to him Can there be any good thing that comes from Nazareth? And Philip said to him Come and see. And Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree. Believe you, you have seen greater than these and these you shall see. And he said to him Verily, verily, I say to you, after you shall see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man. Let's pray, abba. Father, we just come before you this Sabbath morning. We praise your name. We thank you that you've given us the opportunity to hear your word, that you would open our eyes and our ears and our heart to perceive the truth. Pray for all those who are listening that you would touch their heart and give them the power to be called your child and that you would transform them, transform their life into something that is meaningful and glorious. In Yeshua's name, I pray amen.
Speaker 1:So the first aspect was John the Baptist's testimony, that's verse 19-34. Now John the Baptist denies being Christ, elijah or the prophet that Jews were expecting, asserting instead that he's the voice of one crying in the wilderness, as prophesied in Isaiah 40, verse 3. His role is to prepare the way for someone greater than himself, whose sandals he is not worthy to untie. And this moment sets the stage for the revelation of Jesus as the Lamb of God. John identifies Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Entitles rich in meaning, alluding to the sacrificial system of the book of the law in the Old Testament and foreshadowing Jesus' atoning death. John testifies that he saw the Spirit descend on Jesus like a dove, confirming Jesus as the chosen one of God. And this section emphasizes the role of the Holy Spirit in identifying and empowering Jesus for his ministry. Now the other thing that he made several references to the fact that he baptizes in water, but the one that follows him baptizes fire on the Holy Ghost. He's the one that brings the Holy Spirit.
Speaker 1:Now the first disciples. This is verses 35 through 51. The next day, two of John's disciples follow Jesus. After John again identifies him as the Lamb of God, jesus invites them to come and see where he's staying An invitation to personal encounter and discipleship. Simon Peter is introduced to Jesus through his brother, andrew, one of the two who first followed Jesus. Jesus gives Simon the name, cephas Peter, indicating a new identity that reflects the transformative discipleship rings.
Speaker 1:Philip and Nathanael, also known as Bartholomew in other Gospels, become disciples. Philip follows Jesus without hesitation, while Nathanael is initially skeptical. Yet, upon meeting Jesus, nathanael recognizes him as the Son of God and the King of Israel. Jesus promises that they will see greater things, including heaven, open angels of God ascending and descending, referencing Jacob's dream of Bethel and signifying Jesus as the connection between heaven and earth. You know one interesting thing too uh, whenever they said he told Jesus, told him, come and see. Well, when, uh, and when Philip and Nathanael were invited, the response was come and see, see. They had already begun the nature of disciple, which is to follow and imitate the leadership of their master. The other interesting thing to note is that Nathanael, while skeptical, the reason he said you are the king of Israel, you're the son of God, is because Jesus said well, I saw you under the fig tree and I knew you then. And he's like whoa, you saw me under the fig tree, wow, you're God. And he said oh, you marvel, because I saw you under the fig tree. Greater things than that are you going to do. That's nothing compared to what's going to happen once the Holy Spirit comes.
Speaker 1:Now the lessons are the multifaceted identity of Jesus, the role of witness and testimony in faith, and invitation to personal and transformative discipleship. Jesus is revealed as the Messiah, the Lamb of God, the Son of God and the King of Israel. Each title underscores a unique aspect of His mission, character and the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies, pointing to His central role in God's redemptive plan. The next day, john saw Jesus coming toward him and said Look the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. I have seen and I testify that this is God's chosen one. And then Nathanielanael declared Rabbi, you are the Son of God, you are the King of Israel.
Speaker 1:The role of testimony and witness in faith. John the Baptist serves as a primary witness to Jesus and the first disciples embody the call to witness by inviting others to come and see Jesus. This emphasis on witness and testimony is foundational for the spread of the gospel, illustrating the importance of personal encounters with Christ in fostering faith and discipleship. The next day, john was there again with two of his disciples and when he first saw Jesus passing by, he said Look the Lamb of God and Philip found Nathanael and told him we have found the oneoses. Wrote about in the law and about him. The prophets also wrote jesus of nazareth, the son of joseph. Invitation to personal and transformative discipleship. The call to come and see extends an invitation to personal discipleship that is initiated by an encounter with jesus. This journey of discipleship is marked by living in a transformative relationship with him, highlighting the personal nature of faith that moves beyond mere belief to active following and engagement. Come, he replied, and you will see. So they went and saw where he was staying and they spent the day with him. It's interesting, like I just commented a moment ago, it's like he said come and see and then, when Peter was talking to Nathaniel and Philip, he said come and see. He was already passing that on. That come and see is the invitation to come be my disciple. Come, stay with me, make your abode with me and I'll make my abode with you. That's the open invitation to Jesus he's asking you today. Come and see.
Speaker 1:Let's go into some questions for reflection and discussion. Reflect on John the Baptist's role as a witness to Jesus. How does his example inspire you to bear witness to Christ in your own life? This is interesting because John was truly a witness for Jesus, but he wasn't, you know, going out and preaching on the street. He was baptizing people into the kingdom of God in such a way that they didn't you know, they didn't even know who he was baptizing for. He said you know, are you the Christ? Are you the God? Are you the prophet that Moses spoke of? No, I'm none of these, but I am a voice in the wilderness and I'm making the way straight for him when he comes. And it's interesting to note, john baptized in water, jesus baptized in fire, he brought forth the Holy Spirit.
Speaker 1:And another thing to note and I know this goes a little bit against the grain of what popular belief is In the modern church today the popular belief is that the ministry of Jesus Christ is three and a half years. There's absolutely no biblical evidence that that's true. That's really a product of Constantinianism trying to bring forth a completion of Daniel's prophecies. But when you look at the record, and thoroughly, and do a chronological study of all four Gospels together, taking out some things that don't belong, we see that the ministry of Jesus Christ was actually 70 weeks, 490 days, from the baptism of Jesus by John in Jordan River until the baptism of the Holy Spirit on Shavuot is 490 days, exactly 70 weeks, which is the Daniel 9, 24 prophecy, where he talks about 70 weeks are determined upon thy people. So to answer the question, how does this example inspire you to bear witness to Christ in your own life is to live your life. Just live your life and live it fully, with the Spirit of God directing you, and you will bear witness of Jesus.
Speaker 1:Consider the different responses of the first disciples to Jesus' call. What does this teach us about the personal nature of discipleship and following Jesus? Well, the two different responses were first Philip, who was immediate and just followed him, had no questions, no skepticism. And then Nathaniel, who had the skepticism, but once it was revealed to him, once he saw the Spirit of Jesus, he realized that he was the king. But it had to be revealed by the Holy Spirit. You know, flesh and blood doesn't tell you who I am, but the Spirit of God. How do the various titles given to Jesus in this passage deepen your understanding of his mission and identity? Well, we see that his mission was to take away the sin of the world. Mission and identity, but we see that his mission was to take away the sin of the world, and that's what's foretold in Daniel 9.24 when he talks about 70 weeks are determined to remove the sin. There were other things he did. He also healed the transgression of a golden calf. There were six things that he had mission purposes which you can talk about in more detail later. Mission purposes which you can talk about in more detail later.
Speaker 1:Discuss the significance of personal testimony in sharing the gospel. Share experiences where someone's testimony impacted your faith journey. I think we all should have a testimony. Everybody has a testimony. It's what your life is. It's how you came to know him, how you came to be convicted, how you came to surrender. Those are the elements of who you are and what your testimony is. But I think more important than anything is that your testimony is unique. It's organic. It's who you are. It's just your story.
Speaker 1:How does recognizing Jesus as a fulfillment of prophecy strengthen your faith? Are there specific prophecies that have deepened your understanding of Jesus' role in the Messiah? I think the fact that he's fulfilled the prophecies is extremely important because it's evidence that he is who he says he is. For me, the prophecy that has had the most impact, I think, on my life lately was the sign of Jonah. He said this nation demands a sign. He said I'll give them no sign except the sign of Jonah. Right, and the sign of Jonah is that he was three days and three nights in the grave, raised on the third day. And for me that year it was in 2015,. That was the first year that I recognized that Passover and Easter were completely different, that they were a month apart. I always thought growing up that Easter and Passover was the same thing. Passover is when they came out of Egypt, the death angel passed over those who had the blood of the Lamb applied to the doorpost. It's a picture of salvation. It's the crucifixion. It's also the day Yeshua Jesus was crucified on the Passover.
Speaker 1:Well, in modern Roman Catholicism and Constantinianism and Christianity, jesus crucified on Friday, raised on Sunday, but there's not three days and three nights there. You can't get three days and three nights from Good Friday to Easter Sunday, and the reason is because that's a pagan holiday. It has nothing to do with the Hebrew Messiah and his resurrection and death and it's a completely parallel story. So for me, that's a sign that had impact on my life, because if it's not Good Friday to Easter Sunday and you have the sign of Jonah. It has to be three days and three nights. Well, how do we work that out? And the way you work it out is you have to understand the chronology of the Bible. You have to understand the Creator's timeline. You have to understand that he was crucified on a Wednesday, rose on a Sabbath, actually before sunset, and you can get three biblical days and three biblical nights in that period. Now let's move to our suggested prayers for the week in that period. Now let's move to our suggested prayers for the week.
Speaker 1:This is a prayer for faithful witness. Heavenly Father, just as John the Baptist bore witness to your son Jesus, the Lamb of God, grant us the courage and clarity to testify to his light in our lives. Help us to be bold in sharing the truth of your love and the redemption offered through Jesus. Lord Jesus, you extended the invitation to the first disciples to come and see, and they followed, embarking on a journey of transformation and discovery. Amen.
Speaker 1:Here's a prayer for recognizing Jesus in our lives. Holy Spirit, open our eyes to recognize Jesus in our lives, just as Nathanael came to see him as the Son of God and the King of Israel. In moments of skepticism or doubt. Remind us of the truth of Jesus' identity and His presence with us. Help us to see the greater things he has promised, the signs of your kingdom all around us and the bridge he has become between heaven and earth. May our hearts always be open to the revelations of His love and grace, transforming our relationships and our way of living. Amen, I hope you have a good week this week. I hope this something I've said, something in God's word has touched your heart and helped you to find a new piece of the puzzle, to unlock some mysteries and to reveal new truth, to help you in a transformative walk this week, and I just pray that you'll have blessings upon you as you go forth in this Sabbath. See you next time.
