What do you want?

John 1:35–51

1. A Witness Who Points (vv. 35–37)

• John the Baptist identifies Jesus as “the Lamb of God.”

• True witness points away from self toward Christ.

• Disciples follow because of testimony, not coercion.

Key Insight: Faith often begins when someone points, not when someone pushes.

2. The Question of Desire (vv. 38–39)

• Jesus’ first words: “What are you looking for?”

• Addresses longing, not intellect.

• Invitation: “Come and see.”

Key Insight: Jesus invites exploration before explanation.

3. Discovery That Spreads (vv. 40–42)

• Andrew brings Simon to Jesus.

• Testimony precedes theology.

• Jesus renames Simon—grace sees potential before performance.

Key Insight: Encounter with Christ naturally leads to witness.

4. The Risk of Following (vv. 43–46)

• Philip follows; Nathanael doubts.

• Skepticism meets invitation, not argument.

• “Come and see.” repeated.

Key Insight: Faith grows through relationship, not debate.

5. Known and Called (vv. 47–51)

• Jesus knows Nathanael before meeting him.

• Reference to Jacob’s ladder: Jesus is the connection between heaven and earth.

Key Insight: Discipleship begins with being fully known and still fully called.

Theological Emphasis

• Christ-centered witness

• Invitation-based discipleship

• Jesus as the meeting point of heaven and earth

• Grace that precedes understanding

Applications

• Examine Desire

What are you truly seeking beneath your surface questions?

• Respond to the Invitation

Faith begins with staying, not certainty.

• Practice Invitational Witness

Point others to Christ; let Jesus do the convincing.

• Rest in Being Known

Jesus sees us fully and still calls us to follow.

The Christian life does not begin with having all the answers—it begins with accepting the invitation:

“Come and see.”