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Introducing the Savior

CONNIE: Hello, I'm Connie Jeffery.

LONNIE: And I'm Lonnie Melashenko. Welcome to Voice of Prophecy.

LONNIE: Connie, a couple of weeks ago we talked a bit about winning the lottery-- and what could be better than that

CONNIE: That was the week we were looking at how deeply two of Jesus' disciples' lives were changed by meeting Him.

LONNIE: That's right, we told the story of John and Andrew, who were originally disciples of John the Baptist, and how they really "struck it rich" the day they met Jesus. It changed their lives in ways that winning a million dollars could never do.

CONNIE: It certainly did. In Jesus they found a treasure trove of wisdom and love, and a new sense of purpose in their lives.

LONNIE: Well, today we're going to follow up on that story with a look at what happened next--especially for Andrew. What would he do with the greatest discovery of his life? Rush to the bank or maybe the patent office? Or would he share it with the world?

CONNIE: If I remember my Bible stories right, Andrew went right out and shared what he had discovered. And sharing what we know of Jesus is an important part of Christian living.

LONNIE: One man I know who makes that a VERY important part of his Christian life is Samuel Monnier [Mon-YAY], and I had a chance to speak with him recently.

CONNIE: And I'm sure you wouldn't mind if we listened in on that conversation!

LONNIE: Certainly not.

CONNIE: Let's listen.

CONNIE: Samuel Monnier, welcome to the Voice of Prophecy.
SAMUEL: Thank you.

LONNIE: You are Swiss, born in Algeria, the son of a missionary, but your, parents placed the love of Jesus in your heart so that you just made it a practice to share something about Jesus everyday

SAMUEL: Exactly

LONNIE: Tell us about one particular instance, (and by the way Samuel if Samuel has a bit of an accent, know that he speaks six different languages.) But one night somewhere between 10:00 11:00 o'clock what happened.

SAMUEL: Well first let me tell you that my first language is French, and this is the accent that you may recognize. Well, the day was over. I was leaning down before going to bed with my wife, and suddenly I remembered that I had not been able to speak with someone about my love for Jesus that day, and I told my wife, "Sweetheart I'm getting dressed. I go in the street. The Lord will send someone, and she said "Oh please, please you do it twice tomorrow but now it's time to go to bed and to sleep." And I said, "No I'm sorry. You know I decided this and it's a commitment with my Lord and I'm leaving, and so I left, but there was no one in the street and I walked I was not ready to knock on a door, but finally down on the street on the sidewalk I heard the noise of vomiting. And I said "No God. Please not this individual. One that is normal. But I went closer and he was a drunken man vomiting, and I said "Sir, sir where is your home? I want to help you." I washed him a little bit and he spoke in a mumbled voice "Let me down." I said " No sir I want I want to bring you I'm sure you have a wife and probably children" I brought him to the home that he indicated to me. The wife opened the door, and she was so scared. "has he had an accident?" I said "No Madam, but it's not the first time you husband is coming back this way I think." And I said "Madam let me help you to wash him." He was very strong and she was very small and I placed him in bed, gave the calling card to the lady I said "Madam I think you may need sooner or later some help and the real help that you can get, it's Jesus, I don't know if you're a Christian or not, but it's Jesus" She said "Oh Thank you. Thank you Sir"

LONNIE: Was there anyone else in the house there. Were any of the children watching this?

SAMUEL: Yes, a little girl, a little six year old girl, completely scared looking at me as someone that she had never seen and was afraid.

LONNIE: And embarrassed because her Daddy was inebriated.

SAMUEL: Absolutely, absolutely I could see it in her eyes. She had had this opportunity to see him in this way many times.

LONNIE: So you were being Christ-like in reaching out here. Does the story end there?

SAMUEL: Well, a few days later I was in my office. My wife called and she said to me "Sweetheart, your midnight girlfriend has come."

LONNIE: hmm wow

SAMUEL: My girl friend? Then she laughed and she said, "You know the lady that you have brought her husband back." Oh yes. My wife said " and she is nice and she really needs some help" so we arranged an interview and she told me when in the week he systematically was using his money to go and to drink. So I went to their home and I spoke to them and I said "Sir let me bring you home" and he said, "well no one has ever" and I said, " Sir let me bring you home." It was usually Friday evening and I brought him home for weeks and weeks and we started talking about Jesus and we started about his work in the factory. We invited them for a meal, built a relationship. It took two years, but you know my wife became the friend of this lady. I became the friend of all three of them, and what's tying us together is really the love of Jesus. I just wanted to bring in their heart because I knew that Jesus and only Him would make the changes that this man needed so badly.

LONNIE: That's so touching Sam

SAMUEL: Yes

LONNIE: To make a long story short, you became close to them. You had a rapporr with them, then what happened?

SAMUEL: Well, it took about three years, but after a number of months we started to study the word of God. You should have seen the changes and the happiness coming and the changes in the life of the man and one day it has been my privilege to find myself in the baptistery, baptizing this man and this woman. Watching the little girl with a big smile and later after the Baptism, she just jumped in my arms, and was so grateful. I said " Lord Jesus all this happened because you entered in the life of these people and because I really had decided that that night I really could not miss my commitment with the Lord.

LONNIE: Thank you Sam Monnier

CONNIE: Samuel's stories certainly are inspirational.

LONNIE: They certainly are, Connie. His whole life has been dedicated to introducing people to Jesus. He's supposedly retired now, but he'll never quit sharing his faith.

CONNIE: Well, that's an important key isn't it--his focus is on Jesus. And introducing people to Jesus is the greatest way to share your faith.

LONNIE: A point well taken.

CONNIE: And that's what our first song today is about. It's titled "Only Jesus." Let's listen as Merilou Luthas sings.

"Only Jesus", Merilou Luthas, from Trust His Heart CD.

That was Merilou Luthas, singing "Only Jesus."
What a powerful message in song--Jesus really is the answer to the world's needs. But how can we best introduce people to Him?

Here's an idea: Share a copy of our little magazine-format booklet called "The Invitation." Read it yourself, first, then pass it on to a friend, with your recommendation. It has great articles about how to meet Jesus, and how He can help make life better. We'll be glad to send you a copy of "The Invitation." Just call 1-800-872-0055 and ask for it. The number again: 1-800-872-0055.

Introducing people to Jesus can be an exciting thing to do. But it can be challenging as well--as our next segment points out. Let me introduce you to Tim and Tina. Let's listen in as Tina tries to share her faith with a good friend:

TINA: Hey, Tim. Long time no see. How's it going?

TIM: Hi Tina…OK I guess.

TINA: Just OK? Wow! What's wrong? You look like you just lost your best friend!

TIM: Well, I kinda did.

TINA: Sherry's not leaving you, is she?

TIM: She already did--two weeks ago--took off with a guy on a Harley. I guess my mped just didn't cut it with her anymore.

TINA: Gee Tim, that's too bad. I'm really sorry to hear it.

TIM: Yeah, it's a real bummer.

TINA: You know what you need Tim, is a new best friend.

TIM: I dunno. I'm kinda burned out on friends right now. Not sure I'm ready for any new relationships.

TINA: Oh, but you'd like the friend I'm thinking of. His name is Jesus. Why don't you come to church with me this week, and I'll introduce you to Him.

TIM: You still going to the same church you were last time you tried to introduce me to Jesus?

TINA: Yeah. . . . Why?

TIM: No thanks, then.

TINA: Tim, what's the matter? Don't you like my church?

TIM: Oh, it was a nice building and everything. . . . But I don't think the people there liked me very well.

TINA: What do you mean?

TIM: You don't remember? . . .

TINA: Oh, I guess I kinda forgot.

TIM: About the lady with the pillbox hat who tried to pull out my nose ring?

TINA: That kinda hurt, didn't it?

TIM: And about that old guy with bad breath who backed me into a corner in the men's room and insisted on showing me all his scars where he'd had his tattoos sandpapered off after he became a Christian.

TINA: Yeah, I almost sent in a search party to find you.

TIM: And the lady in the pew in front of us, who kept turning around and looking at me, then whispering to her kids about how bad people who smoke smell.

TINA But Tim, that was just the people in the church. I want to introduce you to Jesus!

TIM: So, where do you suggest I go to meet Him?

CONNIE: Hmmm…that's a very good question, isn't it.

LONNIE: It certainly is, Connie. All-too-often it's hard for people to see past Christians when they're looking for Jesus.

CONNIE: You've titled your message today "Come and See!" Do you have some suggestions for overcoming that problem?

LONNIE: Well, Connie, as usual, the best solution is to keep looking to Jesus--to His example. And the story of how He responded to Andrew and John and Philip and Nathanael has some great pointers for us.
We're picking up from where we left off two weeks ago, with the story of how John and Andrew first met Jesus.

SERMON

Come and See!
John and Andrew's lives were changed in an instant, the moment they decided to follow Jesus. They hurried after Him that day when they heard John the Baptist say "Behold the Lamb of God!"
And then, when they were right behind Him, He suddenly turned and looked at them.

They had noticed the determination--the certainty--the sense of spiritual power that radiated from His eyes. And now He turned and looked right at them--right through them, it seemed. "What do you seek?" He asked. In other words, "What are you looking for that you're running after me so fast?!"
"What…do…you…seek?" "What are you looking for in life?" "What is it that's worth running after?"

What would you say if you were put on the spot that way by a Man who you were sure could look right down into the depths of your soul? "What are you running after here in this life?"

Maybe you don't have an answer right now. But it's a question worth thinking about when you have a quiet moment alone.

But for right now, let's just notice what we can learn from Jesus' response to Andrew and John: He didn't mind asking them hard questions: Not confrontational really, but the kind of question that demanded honesty and some serious thought.

For John and Andrew, the answer was simple. They'd set out at double-time march with one goal in mind: To follow Jesus. To find out what this Man--this Lamb of God--had to offer.

They responded to Jesus' question with a question of their own: Rabbi . . . where are You staying? That, incidentally is found in the Gospel of John, chapter 1, verse 38. The story we're looking at today is told by John himself in John 1:35-51.

"Where are You staying?" they asked. Almost as if to invite themselves home with Him.

But Jesus wasn't offended. He didn't try to put them off. He welcomed them with three simple words: "Come and see." But they were also three challenging words: "Come with Me, take time to get to know Me. Find out what I'm really like."

And that's what they did--they went and spent the rest of the day with Him. And then notice what happened next. It's found in verses 40 & 41:

One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, "We have found the Messiah.". . . And he brought him to Jesus.

Andrew accepted the invitation to "Come and see." And he liked what he saw. He liked Jesus' warm, accepting attitude toward those who wanted to follow Him. And the next thing he did was invite someone else to "come and see" Jesus.

Now, this story of Andrew has often been used by Christian preachers to remind people of how important it is for us to share our faith--to invite other people to meet Jesus. And that's an important point. But I'd like to go a step further--look at another lesson we can learn. Because it wasn't enough for Jesus to simply invite Andrew and John to "come and see." There had to be something attractive to be seen.

When they met Jesus on that up-close-and-personal level, it had to be a positive, helpful experience that they WANTED to share with others.
When we share our faith, when we invite others to meet Jesus, we need to consider what it is we're inviting them to "come and see." Not that we have to be perfect representatives of Jesus before we can invite others to meet Him. But we need to have that close, personal, daily contact with Jesus that will help us to be warm... loving... accepting... affirming... and helpful as He was.
The way Jesus treated people--even difficult people--who wanted to meet Him comes out really clearly in the next story in John 1. In verse 42 we read that Jesus found a man named Philip and invited him to "Follow Me." Then Philip went out and found Nathanael.

Now, here's where the story really becomes fascinating. Philip announces to Nathanael, "We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets wrote--Jesus of Nazareth."

But this fellow Nathanael isn't going to be an easy convert. He's got some serious questions, and worse yet, he turns out to be a bit of a bigot--a bit critical or judgmental--not a real warm and accepting sort of fellow. How does he respond to Philip's announcement? Listen: "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" he asks.

Let's try and put that question in modern terms. What would it sound like today?

"What? You expect me to come hear some redneck preacher from out in the hills!"

Or maybe, "You really expect me to believe that some slum-baby has got the truth that I need to hear?"

Now, those sorts of expressions might seem harsh, but they're just an updated version of Nathanael's judgmental first reaction to hearing of Jesus of NAZARETH.

But notice. How did Philip respond to Nathanael? Did he get offended? Did he say, "Well, if that's the way you're going to be, just forget it!"?

No. Look at John 1:46. Philip simply said the same thing Jesus had said to John and Andrew: "Come and see!"

Come and see for yourself. Find out what Jesus is really like by spending some time with Him.

And that leads to what I think is the punch-line of the whole story. Jesus had already seen Nathanael. Jesus already knew all about him in fact. So, how did Jesus receive this judgmental man who had insulted not only Him, but His whole family--his whole village? Let's read John 1:47 from the New International Version:
When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, "Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false."

Nathanael was an outspoken fellow who didn't mince words and sometimes expressed opinions in unkind terms. We might even call him a redneck or a bigot. But how did Jesus receive him?

Jesus received him, accepted him for who he was, looked at the positive side of his character--at least he was HONEST--and welcomed him as a disciple. Nathanael would have a lot of learning--and unlearning--to do as Jesus molded his character to a more tolerant and loving type of honesty. But for now, Jesus was willing to accept him and love him just as he was.

That's why His disciples felt comfortable going out to others and inviting them to meet Jesus. "Just come and see Him for yourself!" they'd say.

And when people came and met Jesus, they couldn't help but be attracted to Him, because He always saw their good side and brought out the best in them.

Andrew and Philip challenge us in this story. They challenge us to go out and invite others to meet Jesus.

And Jesus challenges us even more. He challenges us to be warm, accepting, and loving toward those whom we want to win. To see the best in them, and then help them learn, day by day, to be more like Jesus.
In short, Jesus challenges us every day to be more like Him.