The eternal Son of God was conceived and born in human form to be a bridge for us. He is there where you are and offers himself as your Savior. It’s not by chance that any of us are here today. You were brought.
John 1:35 “Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; 36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! 37 And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38 Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou? 39 He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour. 40 One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. 42 And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.”
In this portion of scripture Jesus presented himself as the Messiah. After the star, the singing, and all the glory surrounding his birth, Jesus grew up relatively unknown in Nazareth of Galilee. When the time came for him to reveal and present himself as the Christ, he was about to become what we need. When John the Baptist saw him he said “behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” The one they needed and had been looking and longing for was there, and they looked at him.
The next day John the Baptist was teaching two of his disciples, John and Andrew, about how God sent the Savior as the Son of Man but also as the Son of God. These men made a living by fishing on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus came back to the river that day, and looking at him John the Baptist told them “behold the Lamb of God.”
You’ve heard about Jesus. You learned about him in Sunday school and church. He’s within your reach today just as he was with John and Andrew. He’s not only within reaching distance; he’s within having distance. What we can’t figure out for ourselves, Jesus can. We’re sinners and can’t do anything about it in and by ourselves. That’s always been the main problem. John and Andrew realized it. To present himself in totality, Jesus did everything just right so we could have a Savior. That’s why he asked John to baptize him. That’s also why John said he was not worthy to do it. He realized it too.
Jesus the Christ, the Messiah, suffered as an innocent man. He took the cross to Calvary and was nailed there in our place. He took our sins. That what we failed to do Jesus succeeded in. There has only been one man who didn’t need a Savior, and he was the Savior. He was brought and every drop of blood and breath in his body was squeezed out of him so we could have a Savior. On the third day he rose successfully from the grave. He won the victory that none had ever won.
We all fail, but yet having failed we’ve been brought to Jesus. John the Baptist told John and Andrew to follow Jesus. I can’t, water can’t, church can’t, and rituals can’t save you. Only one person can save and that person is Jesus. John brought the two men to Jesus, and the best advice they had ever received was to take Jesus and follow him. They asked Jesus where he was staying, and he said “come and see.” He says that to each of us. We have needs we’re too ashamed to reveal to others. We’ll share physical needs, but we don’t dare share our sins. When this voice asks you to come, you can tell him what you dare not tell someone else. You don’t have to explain; there is no pre-formed prayer. You ask for forgiveness and get it. As we go through our day, the devil is there BUT so is Jesus. John and Andrew asked Jesus where he lived. When you’re willing to leave where you are, when you’re willing to leave the quicksand you’ve gotten your life into, Jesus can put you in the place where he is. He comes to our mud holes.
They stayed with Jesus. The next day Andrew went to his brother Simon, his out of control brother, and told him he had found the Messiah. The one they were looking for had come. I don’t know how much convincing Andrew had to do, but he brought Simon to Jesus. What brought you here today? Did you come because it’s Sunday or someone invited you? The bottom line is that Jesus brought us all here.
Andrew could only bring Simon so far; the rest he had to do for himself. Jesus looked at Simon and said “thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.” Simon’s Hebrew name was Cephas, and it meant Peter in the Greek. This uncontrollable man was named a stone by the Savior. His life apart from Jesus was like sands scattered on the Sea of Galilee where he fished. Jesus brought it all together and made a stone. Simon accepted. He was known as Simon Peter till he died. Two thousand years later and miles away from Galilee, we are all familiar with him because he was brought to Jesus.
It is a privilege to come. The fact that you’re here means Jesus will accept you. As you are at this very moment, he’ll take and fix what you cannot. Your presence acknowledges the intent of Jesus. You don’t have to be lost in sins. You can follow Jesus just like John, Andrew and Peter did.
Being brought, what will you do? It’s a shame to be so close to the Savior and leave just as you came—without him. Take the next step and be brought to the Lord; you too can become a stone as Jesus puts your life together.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 