Philip said to Nathanael, “Come and see”
John 1:43 – 51
(Short Message)
In v43 – 45, Jesus found and called Philip to follow Him (43). Philip told Nathanael a great news that he has found the Christ, who is Jesus of Nazareth (45).
But Nathanael was sceptical about “Nazareth” (46a).
What is the answer of Philip? See v46b.
‘Come and see’, said Philip.
Philip didn’t argue about Nathanael’s doubt. He simply invited him to see Jesus.
What is the result of the invitation? See v47 – 51.
When Nathanael came to Jesus, Jesus showed his omnipotence to know about Nathanael (47, 48b). As a result, Nathanael believed Jesus being the Son of God (49). Further Jesus gave him vision to experience what would be greater than what he just experienced (51).
In various reasons, people could be sceptical. Only Jesus can clear their doubt and give them faith. Their faith depends on His power and grace. Therefore, they need to come and see Jesus. How they respond to this invitation will determine their destiny. In other words, our invitation to “come and see” has great role and impact on the eternal future of invitees.
% Also, how they deal with His believers will determine their destiny (Matthew 25:31 – 46).
Greetings from new students
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We are at Upper Walkway in the 2nd & 3rd day of O-Week 2017
Come and See takes no-nonsense approach to realise the best potential in you.
Join our club where slave turns into freeman and beggar prince/princess.
We write short messages and make short animation films.
Our Fun Activities include
- Turning photos to 3D characters
- Adding our voice and action to the characters
- Creating short animation films that contain meaningful scenarios
- Creating Virtual Studio using Green Screen
- Creating short, fun, easy-made & memorable self-talk video
- Riding our own people mover for outings
- You could choose to be just a participant or you could handle our own full-frame camera, lights, green/white screens, software/laptop, or cars.
In Come & See
- Create cartoonized 3D character of yourself in a few minutes that can also be used as your profile image in many places in the internet.
- Take time together to review & analyze life style, time management and habbits to project the future, and make necessary & on-going change
- Write biblical messages & scripts
- We may cover more things than any one club could afford within your limited time commitment (practice public speech in our meetings, play sports, and learn selected essential life skills)
Develop presentation skills, cultivate leadership skills and research the Word of God.
What the cross tells us
- Sin has consequence.
God told Adam there would certainly be consequence of sin.
17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.’ (Genesis 2:17)
Romans 6:23a says 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Hebrews 9:22 22 In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
… and Jesus had to bleed, suffer and die on the cross to pay for our sins to save us.
The devil, the liar, wants you to think that sin has no consequence.
4 ‘You will not certainly die,’ the snake said to the woman (Genesis 3:4).
- Jesus paid for our sins.
4 Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
(Isaiah 53:4 – 6)
No one else but Jesus paid for your sins and there is no other name but Jesus to save you on the earth.
12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.’ (Acts 2:12)
Guideline to Salvation: Believe and confess.
9 if you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, ‘Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.’ (Romans 10:9 – 11)
- God loves us.
10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. (1 John 4:10)
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).
13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends (John 15:13).
The devil wants you to doubt the love of God.
5 ‘For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’ (Genesis 3:5)
Trust God, He loves you, and there is surely a future hope for you.
17 Do not let your heart envy sinners,
but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord.
18 There is surely a future hope for you,
and your hope will not be cut off.
(Proverbs 23:17 – 18)
- God’s Power & Wisdom
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God (1 Corinthians 1:18).
25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. (1 Corinthians 1:25)
THE FOOLISHNESS OF GOD IS WISER THAN HUMAN WISDOM, AND THE WEAKNESS OF GOD IS STRONGER THAN HUMAN STRENGTH
You will be better off by serving God first.
- Obedience & Trust
7 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8 Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him (Hebrews 5:7 – 9)
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! (Philippians 2:8)
23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly (1 Peter 2:23).
Second Adam (Jesus)’s obedience contrasts with First Adam’s disobedience. Therefore, let us fix our eyes on Jesus.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy that was set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
(Hebrews 12:1–3)
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
(Romans 12:1 – 2)
- God wants us to die to sins and live for the righteousness.
24 ‘He himself bore our sins’ in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; ‘by his wounds you have been healed.’ (1 Peter 2:24)
Apostle Paul confessed as below:
20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)
Message to youths
Ecclesiastes 11:9-10, 12:1
9 You who are young, be happy while you are young,
and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth.
Follow the ways of your heart
and whatever your eyes see,
but know that for all these things
God will bring you into judgment.
10 So then, banish anxiety from your heart
and cast off the troubles of your body,
for youth and vigor are meaningless.
1Remember your Creator
in the days of your youth,
before the days of trouble come
and the years approach when you will say,
“I find no pleasure in them”—
(Message)
These verses were written for youths.
Youths tend to follow the ways of their heart and whatever their eyes see, as shown in v9a.
But, the command to be happy (9a) does not mean an endorsement of sinful life.
What youths do not know or experience yet is “God will bring you into judgement for all these things” (9b).
As growing old, people know or experience the reality that God exists and judges.
And, the warning of God’s judgement (9b) does not mean an objection to a happy life.
Then, how to be happy and away from judgement?
Let us read Ecclesiastes 12:1.
1Remember your Creator
in the days of your youth,
before the days of trouble come
and the years approach when you will say,
“I find no pleasure in them”—
Youths who remember their Creator will make a difference as they grow old.
Those who fear God will lead wise life (Proverbs 9:10).
For through wisdom your days will be many,
and years will be added to your life. (Proverbs 9:11)
The righteous will stay fresh and green in old age (Psalm 92:14).
Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength (Isaiah 40:31a).
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
(Isaiah 40:30 – 31)
The image on it tells where it belongs
Luke 20:20 – 26
(Short Message)
The same event is also written in Matthew 22:15 – 22 and Mark 12:13 – 17.
Differently to Matthew and Mark, Luke expressed them as “spies” (20, 21).
Sending spies to the ministry of God is clearly wrong and a serious misconduct that will also bring God’s judgement.
To hide their evil, they disguised to be sincere (20). It is a great sin to lie to God (Acts 5:4 – 5)
Jesus knew their duplicity (23). Jesus is the Word of God (John 1:14, Revelation 19:13).
Regarding to the Word of God, Hebrews 4:12 says
12 For the Word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account (Hebrews 4:13).
Their question on tax was a trap (20 – 22). But Jesus astonished them by His answer (24 – 26).
Jesus didn’t say “Pay tax”, which expression would make Israelites disagree or upset. Instead, based on the image of Caesar in the coin, money belonged to Ceasar, so Jesus asked them to give back what was Ceasar’s. No one could disagree or upset.
After this, Jesus added, “and to God what is God’s.”
Genesis 1:27 says
27 So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.
Mankind have the image of God, therefore mankind belong to God and have obligation to God.
Then, what is our obligation to God?
Ecclesiastes 12:13b says
Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the duty of all mankind.
Finally, let us read Ecclesiastes 12:1a together.
“Remember your Creator in the days of your youth”
Summary
A coin has the image of governor on it and we know the coin belongs to the government.
Likewise, we have the image of God in us, and we know we belong to God.
The Parable of the Minas
Luke 19:11 – 27
This parable is similar to the Parable of the Talents written in Matthew 25:14-30.
Here, a man of noble birth (12) represents Jesus (Son of David).
Ten Servants received ten minas (13a). Their mission was “putting the money to work” (13b).
Here, the servants are stewards. They do not own the minas. Therefore, it is not allowed “to hide the mina and do nothing”, as the wicked servant in the parable did (20). Putting the money in bank saving account for interest (23) is minimum that a responsible and reasonable servant should do on behalf of the owner of the money. We could interpret “bank” (or, where we deposit) as someone/something that knows how to utilize and will utilize “the money”.
We received health, time, possession, ability, faith and many other things from God to make it work. And we will be accountable to God for what we have done with them. We are not owners of them but we are simply stewards of them. Therefore, it is not allowed to hide them away and do nothing. Instead, we have to put them to work. Based on verse 23, we can know what we should at least do for easiest but guaranteed profit.
Obstacle, Faith, and Healing
35 As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36 When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. 37 They told him, ‘Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.’
38 He called out, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’
39 Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’
40 Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, 41 ‘What do you want me to do for you?’
‘Lord, I want to see,’ he replied.
42 Jesus said to him, ‘Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.’ 43 Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.
Message
A blind man was sitting by the roadside begging (35).
According to Mark 10:46, his name was Bartimaeus (which means son of Timaeus).
Sight is important and blindness is inconvenient. Due to blindness, he wasn’t very useful for any job. How hopeless. It forced him to be a beggar, who had to heavily rely on people’s mercy & help.
When he found out that Jesus was passing by (36, 37), he called out for Jesus to have mercy on him (38).
Jesus was the only hope for his healing & new life. But, he couldn’t see or walk to Jesus. Therefore, he had to shout aloud to be heard by Jesus.
Surprisingly, those who led the way rebuked his shout (39a).
Maybe they were too busy in business to lead the parade but forgot humanity …? This rebuke was the same mistake made in Luke 18:15, regarding little children. This time, it was a blind man. They rebuked helpless people who needed Jesus the most. It was against His will as well as freewill of those helpless people.
Here, we can learn people’s objection can be an obstacle in the journey of our faith in Jesus.
But he shouted all the more, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’ (39b).
He was persistent despite of people’s objection. His persistence showed his faith.
As a result, Jesus healed him and his new life began (40 – 43).
Summary
People working for the parade of Jesus did not stand in this man’s shoe. Instead they played an obstacle for this man to experience Jesus. It was his own faith in Jesus and his persistence that healed him (42).
The Kingdom of God belongs to the little children
Luke 18:15-17
15 People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
The disciples rebuked people who were bringing babies to Jesus to bless them (15).
Mark 10:14 shows Jesus was indignant for their rebuke.
14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
See v16 – 17.
First of all, Jesus called the children to him (16a).
Previously, Jesus called 12 disciples who were all adults. Is Jesus only for adults? No, here, Jesus calls children to Him (16a).
Second, Jesus advocated children’s right against the hindrance (16b).
Jesus commanded them to let the little children come to Him and not to hinder them (16b).
Third, Jesus said the kingdom of God belongs to the little children (16c).
Forth, Jesus said anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it (17).
How are children better than adults?
- I. A little child is innocent
A little child is innocent while an adult is contaminated.
The adult needs to repent the sin to restore the innocence.
- II. A little child receives the kingdom of God (17)
A little child is humble, obedient and trusts. This appears in the fact that a little child receives the kingdom of God as it is.
“will never enter it” (17) gives serious warning to adults who lack the characteristics of a little child (e.g., innocence, humility, obedience, faith).
