Jesus' First Disciples/Peter the Stone John 1:35-39

35 The next day (after the Spirit came down on Jesus) the *third day; John was there again (by the Jordan) with two of his disciples. 36 When John saw Jesus passing by, he said "look, the Lamb of God!"



37 When John's two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38 Turning around Jesus saw them following and asked, "what do you want?" They said, "Rabbi (Teacher), where are you staying?"



39 "Come," He replied, "and you will see." {Even today Jesus is saying to us- come and you will see where I live}. So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with Him. It was about the tenth hour. 40 Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. {who was the other one and what happened to him?}. 41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, "we have found the Messiah. 42 And he brought him to Jesus. {Andrew did this when he just met Jesus-how many of us run to tell our brothers and sisters, friends etc about Jesus even after knowing His goodness?} Jesus looked at him and said, you are Simon son of John or (Jona). You will be called Cephas (which when translated is Peter which means rock/stone). {Why did Jesus change Simon's name to Cephas/ Peter?}



Lets look at 1 Peter 2:4 and 5

4 As you come to Him, the living stone- rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to Him- 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For in scripture it says:

"See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone and the one who trusts in Him will never be put to shame."

7 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,

"the stone the builders rejected has become the capstone (main cornerstone)

and

"a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.

They stumble because they disobey the message- which is also what they were destined for.

9But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 11 Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.

Other supporting scriptures about the symbol of a stone

Psalm 118:22 The stone the builders (the Pharisees) rejected has become the capstone.

Isaiah 28:16 So this is what the Sovereign Lord says: "See I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed."

cornerstone
1 : a stone forming a part of a corner or angle in a wall; specifically : such a stone laid at a formal ceremony2 : a basic element: foundation

Amen- till next time

Jesus the Lamb of God- John 1:29-34

The next day (after John talked to the Pharisees by the Jordan) John saw Jesus coming toward him and John said, "Look, the lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" He takes away the sin of everyone not just certain people.

30 This is the one I meant when I said, "A man comes after me who has surpassed me because He was before me." I myself did not know Him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that He might be revealed to Israel.

32 Then John (the Baptist) gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on Him. 33 I would not have known Him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, "The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is He who will baptize with the Holy Spirit. 34 I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God." {Since we previously learned that we are the Sons of God we know that we are co-heirs with Christ}.

Children of God John 1:12

12 Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God. 13 Children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.



Prior to this was anyone called a child of God?

Genesis 1:26, then God said, Let us make man in our image, in our likeness (not like our child)

Genesis 2:16, To the woman He said; "I'll greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband and he will rule over you."

Genes 2:22 And the Lord God said, "the man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take from the tree of life.

From my brief research in the beginning man was not called a child of God....but I'll continue to research this.



Back to John 1:12 the KJV- But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the Sons of God, even to them that believe on His name,

Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the spirit of sonship/ adoption. And by Him we cry, "Abba Father". 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our own spirit (assuring us) that we are God's children. 17 Now if we are children, than we are heirs- heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory.



Romans 9 (Amplified)

1 I am speaking the truth in Christ. I am not lying; my conscience (enlightened and prompted) by the Holy Spirit bearing witness with me. 2 That I have bitter grief and incessant anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cutoff and banished from Christ for the sake of my brethren and instead of them, my natural kinsmen and my fellow countrymen.



4 For they are Israelites and to them belong God's adoption (as a nation) and the glorious presence (Shekinah). With them were the special covenants made, to them was the law given. 5 To them belong the patriachs and as far as His natural descent was concerned, from them is the Christ, who is exalted and supreme over all, God blessed forever! Amen. 6 However, it is not as though God's word has failed. For it is not everybody who is a descendant of Jacob (Israel) who belongs to (the true) Israel.



7 And they are not all the children of Abraham because they are by blood his descendants. No, (the promise was) your descendants will be called and counted through the line of Isaac (though Abraham had an older son). Just because you are related to a believer does not mean you are a child of God. You have to know Jesus for yourself. 8 That is to say, it is not the children of the body (of Abraham) who are made God's children, but it is the offspring to whom the promise applies that shall be counted (as Abraham's true) descendants.



9 For this is what the promise said, about this time (next year) will I return and Sarah shall have a son (Genesis 18:10). 10 And not only that, but this too: Rebecca conceived (two sons under exactly the same circumstances) by our forefather Isaac [whom the promise was made to]. 11 And the children were yet unborn and had so far done nothing either good or evil. Even so, in order to further carry out God's purpose of selection (election, choice) which depends not on works or what men can do, but on Him who calls (them), 12 it was said to her that the elder (son) should serve the younger (son) (Genesis 25:21-23).



13 As it is written Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated (Malachi 1:2,3) 14 what shall we conclude then? Is there injustice upon God's part? Certainly not!



15 For He says to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I'll have mercy and I'll have compassion on whom I'll have compassion. 16 So then (God's gift) is not a question of human will and human effort, but of God's mercy. (It depends not on one's own willingness nor on his strenous exertion as in running a race, but on God having mercy on him). 17 For the scripture says to Pharoah, I have raised you up for this very purpose of displaying my power in (dealing with) you, so that my name may be proclaimed the whole world over.



18 So then He has mercy on whomever He wills (chooses) and He hardens whomever He wills. 19 You will say to me, why then does He still find fault and blame us (for sinning)? For who can resist and withstand His will?

20 But who are you, a mere man to criticize and contradict and answer back to God? Will what is formed say to Him that formed it, why have you made me thus? 21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same mass (lump) one vessel for beauty and distinction and honourable use, and another for menial or ignoble and dishonorable use? 22 What if God, although fully intending to show (the awfulness of) His wrath and to make known His power and authority, has tolerated with much patience the vessels of His mercy which He has prepared beforehand for glory, 24 Even including ourselves whom He has called, not only from among the Jews but also from among the Gentiles (heathen)?

25 Just as He says in Hosea, "Those who were not my people I'll call my people, they shall be called sons of the Living God." So whether or not we were intended to be God's people or not we can all be called sons of the Living God-do not let your circumstances deter you and fool you into thinking you are not a son of God.

27 And Isaiah calls out over Israel: Though the number of the sons of Israel "Jacob" be like the sand of the sea, only a small part of them will be saved!

1 John 2:29 If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of Him.

1 John 3:1-2 How Great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we sould be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world doesn't know us is that it didn't know him. 2 Dear friends, now we are children of God and what we will be has not yet been made known.

9 No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God, nor is anyone who does not love his brother.

Is John Elijah? Why are the Jews still Waiting for Elijah to Come?

Vs 6 There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. 8 He himself was not the light. 9 The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. 19 Now this was John's testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and levites to ask him who he was. 20 He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, "I am not the Christ." 21 They asked him, "then who are you? Are you Elijah?"

Why did the Jews ask if he was Elijah?

The answer can be found in Malachi 4:5. It's important or interesting to point out that this is the last verse in the old testament- this is where the Jews stop in their faith. It says, see I'll send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse. (So the Jews are still waiting for Elijah).
*Side mark- notice the importance of Fathers!!

Back to John 1:21
"Are you Elijah?"
He said, "I am not."
"Are you the prophet?"
He answered, "no"
22 who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?
23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the Prophet, "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, 'make straight the way for the Lord.' Isaiah 40:3.

More support on John being Elijah
Luke 1: 11-17
"Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah: your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son and you are to give him the name John (God is favorable). He will be a joy and delight to you and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth.

16 Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous- to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
18 Zechariah asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this?" He doubted so he was made mute. Zechariah probably doubted because all the Jews were waiting for this Elijah to come and he could not fathom that God would choose him and his wife to have a child that goes before the Lord- goes to show God can use any of us for Great things!!

Additional support for John being Elijah.
Matthew 11:7-19
7 As John's disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 8 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? There are palaces for that. A prophet? Yes, I tell you and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written:
"I'll send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you."
Malachi 3:1 "I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist. 13 For all the Prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. 15 He who has ears, let him hear.

*Interesting fact vs 18. For John came neither eating nor drinking and they say, "He has a demon." 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking and they say, "Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners. But wisdom is proved right by her actions. People will always talk but if you are wise you will prove it by your actions.

Striving for Excellence!!!!! More insight on John 1:3

John 1:3 Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. Amplified: All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being. My version: There is nothing on this earth that exists without Jesus creating it!! This is very powerful because it shows that everything on this earth and everyone on this earth regardless of their title was created by Jesus including ourselves. If I believe that Jesus Christ created everything then I must believe that He has authority over everything since He created it.

I will pose a question to you; do we actually live each day as though we are sons and daughters of the one who created everything? Do we live our lives like we serve the one who has authority over all things and all people.

In fact there is scripture that supports this thought process- Matthew 11:27a “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.
Matthew 28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

Now that we possess this knowledge what are we to do with it? Lets go back to Matthew 28:18-20 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always to the very end of the age.” God is calling us to do this in all aspects of our lives.

Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer 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.

John 15:19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.

John 14:12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.

Sons and daughters of the most high take your positions!!!!
So as we start planning for another year- lets strive for excellence. Let us cause Jesus’ light to shine fully in each one of us.

Jesus is Life- without Him nothing would exist!!!

The book of John lets us know the attributes of Jesus Christ.

We continue from John 1:4

John 1:4 In Him was life and that life was the light of men. John 5:26 for as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself. John 5:39 You diligently study the scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life. John 11:25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies.” John 12:50 “I know that His command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”

Jesus Christ, who is the Word of God and who is also God; is life and light to men. Jesus Christ is light that shines in darkness; however, our deeds, our distractions etc dull His light. When light comes in darkness is supposed to be removed; but we still have darkness because we do not understand the light.

Vs 6-7. God sent John as a witness to testify of the light; Christ Jesus so that we all might believe in the light, for the light was coming. Vs 10 Jesus was now in the world and though the world was made through Him, the world {we} didn’t and still don’t recognize Him. He came to that which was His own, but His own didn’t receive Him. Our earthly parents gave birth to us but sometimes we act like we don’t recognize them or even receive them. {Christians do we really behave like this world was created by Jesus- if we did we would have more confidence in facing issues and would have no heartaches because Jesus overcame the world and left us His peace}.

Vs 3. Through Jesus all things were made. If I bake a cake and people eat it I want to hear thanks, great job etc. But what about the person that created everything- how much more thanks does He deserve/ require? That’s why there is no limit to thanking God because He has done soooo much for us already and He still does a lot for us. How come I can use the air, wake up every morning and not say thank you; not acknowledge Him in anyway. At church I find myself getting stuck why they say thank God. I should be able to thank Him very easily because everything that exists was created through Jesus Christ- there is nothing on this earth that exists without Jesus creating it!

My parents, my parent’s education, my waking up, the air I breath, the flour to make the cakes i bake and take credit for; the talent to make the cakes and the ability to do everything I do are all a gift from God. I did not get them because of my personality, beauty or behaviors. Instead I got them because God chose me- he chose to give me all these attributes to use them to serve Him. Nothing that was created including me was made without Christ Jesus. I need to stop taking things like my beauty, studiousness, etc for granted and thinking they are of my own doing instead I will thank God for each one of them

John 1 The Word Became Flesh

1 In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. What is the Word of God- scripture or a person- Jesus Christ?


According to BibleGateway.com dictionaries: "the Word" is one of the titles of our Lord, found only in the writings of John (John 1:1-14; 1 John 1:1, Revelation 19:13). As such, Christ is the revealer of God. His office is to make God known. So thus far we know that Jesus Christ is the Word. Jesus Christ was there in the beginnig; He was with God and He is God.


Lets look at the individual scriptures listed above to see if we can get more understanding on the Word:

John 1:3,4,14. Vs 3 Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In Him was life. 14 The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. Confirmation that Jesu is the Word. The Word was Him in Spirit).


1 John 1:1 Amplified.

We are writing about the Word of life (in) Him who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard, whom we have seen with our (own) eyes, whom we have gazed upon (for ourselves) and have touched with our (own) hands. Jesus Christ.


Revelation 19:13

He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood and His name is the Word of God. Jesus Christ.