What will you tell your children? Your grandchildren? Your nieces? Your nephews?
What will be your legacy?
This is a question we must all must face.
And one that’s raised by Day Three of the Lent Challenge. In John 1:35-51, we stand wide-eyed as Jesus issues a holy ruckus of an invitation to the first disciples.
Followers like Andrew. Simon Peter. Philip. Ornery Nathanael (my personal fave).
The passage lit up like as I circled the verbs, underlined the names, and followed the places using the Color Method.
That’s when I began to see.
No, really see.
Did you see?
Did you notice all the references to eyes being opened and looking and seeing?
Jesus turned and saw them…
“Come and see.”
They came and saw…
Jesus looked at him…
“Come and see.”
When you were under the fig tree, I saw you.
You will see heaven opened…
All the open eye begin with Jesus…He turned and saw them.
Today, Jesus sees you.
Those words are rich invitation to embark on the adventure of the God-life today. To live wide-eyed for the ways the Holy Spirit may be leading and nudging you.
The other detail I couldn’t help but notice was the wide spectrum of ways Jesus met each person.
With the words, “Behold the Lamb of God!”, two of John the Baptizer’s disciples become follower of Jesus.
When Andrews “brought him to Jesus,” Simon Peter becomes a follower of Jesus.
When Jesus invites, “Follow me,” Philip becomes a follower of Jesus.
When Jesus reveals an intimate moment, Nathanael becomes a disciple.
The stories of beginning to follow Jesus differ from each other. Jesus uses different means to draw the disciples to Himself.
What does this say to you and me?
We all have a story of how Jesus met us. We all have been seen by God. Some of us were introduced to Christ by family or friends. Others by a divine moment in time. Others in a place or like Nathanael, prophetic moment.
Your story matters because it brags on God’s goodness and faithfulness and intimate involvement in our lives.
Have you told your story recently to your kids? Your grandkids? Your friends? Your neighbors? Your small group?
Have you written your story down so a generation or two from now they will know too? This is something you need to pass down before it’s too late.
Let future generations know of your rich legacy of faith.
Now let me ask you:
What did you least want to read but most need to hear in today’s reading?
(If you have any questions post them below. We’ll be collecting and gathering responses for insight from New Testament scholar, Craig Blomberg in the upcoming weeks).
Day Two: John 1:35-51 Discussion Questions:
How many mentions of “seeing” did you find in this passage?
Do you tend to feel fear or comfort in the knowledge that God sees you? Explain.
In what area of your life, do you most need God to open your eyes to see clearly? Turn this into a prayer.
How did you come to know Jesus? Who was involved in that process?
What do you find most challenging about today’s reading? What do you find most comforting about today’s reading?
Recommended Resources:
Day 1 | John 1:1-18 | Ash Wednesday: Your Invitation to Discover the Beloved
Day 2 | John 1:19-34 | This One Question Will Leave You Undone
Day 3 | John 1: 35-51 | What to Tell Your Children Before It’s Too Late
Day 4 | John 2:1-12 | The Shocking Miracle of Water Becoming Wine
Day 7 | John 3:22-36 | There’s a Hidden Slip N’ Slide in the Bible — I Found It!
Day 9 | John 5:1-17 | How to Overcome Jealousy
Day 12 | John 6:15-35 | What to Do When You Doubt God
Day 14 | John 7:1-39 | What’s the Difference Between Dead and Living Water?
Day 16 | John 8:1-1 | You Stumped Me… Again
Day 17 | John 8:12-59 | 7 Surprises in the Gospel of John
Day 18 | John 9 | What does spiritual blindness really cost you?
Day 22 | John 12:1-11 | What’s Your Signature Spiritual Scent?
Day 23 | John 12:12-50 | Here is a Method That is Helping Me Relinquish Control
Day 25 | John 15:1-11 | What Does a Vinter See in John 15?
Day 29 | John 16:1-15 | Little Known Ways to Be of Good Cheer
Day 31 | John 17 | The Truth About Soul Talk
Day 33 | John 18:12-40 | Was it Judas or Satan Working through Judas?
Day 35 | John 19:16-30 | What’s a Woman’s Role?
Day 39 | John 21:1-14 | Why is the Weight of the Wait So Heavy on Good Friday?
Day 40 | John 21:15-25 | The Most Powerful Lesson I Learned During Lent
Thank you for posting your pages!! I like seeing how you have marked your pages. It helps me to have a better understanding. 🙂 Enjoying the study and following, reading along with you and others.
So glad it is helpful to you, Kim! I’d love to see your pages, too! Post them on Facebook!!
thank you for sharing your pages I enjoyed seeing the mark ups. I have recommended this book to a friend, I am enjoying so much and enjoying Flourish.
Love that! Please share your pages with us on social media!
“Your story matters because it brags on God’s goodness and faithfulness and intimate involvement in our lives.” YESSSSS!!!!!!!!!!! God is so deserving of our brags and storytelling – it’s HIS story anyway.
A few things that stuck out to me today (Day 3):
• “The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. (They heard and followed, but do they BELIEVE Jesus is who he says he is?)
• Ongoing, holy, and interactive conversations throughout today’s reading passage remind me of the intentional dialogue in relationships with words like turned, said, heard, looked, called, and answered. Jesus came so we might have a better example of HOW to engage in holy conversations with our Heavenly Father AND with others!
• Jesus offers grand invitations with “come and see” and “follow me.”
• Throughout Scripture, a name change is a new beginning, transformation, or the foreshadowing that something big is about to happen! (Simon’s name is changed to Peter.)
• Nathanael is wearing his sassy pants then (OH!!!) realizes Jesus really IS who He said he was! Totally priceless, totally human moment there. And then those three VERY POWERFUL words, “I saw you,” whispered by Jesus. (Chills.) Jesus sees me too. He knows me. And I am blessed because of Him.
I’m really loving this study, thank you!!!!
Hugs,
Nicole
Love these reflections, Nicole! Thank you for sharing! Hugs!
Hey Margaret!
Something has been bugging me since yesterday’s reading and I was hoping to get some more input from you.
Why were the Pharisees so intent on placing John as the Messiah? It seemed like they were more willing to believe John was the Messiah rather than Jesus. Also why ask John if he was Elijah?
Thanks for the Beloved study!
Great questions, Madeleine! I have some thoughts, but I’m going to add these to questions we’ll be asking New Testament scholar, Dr. Craig Blomberg. Stay tuned for his response!
I too am happy that you post your pages. They have really helped me along in how to connect things together. Today I am doing better with the crayons. I have a bit of colorblindness so it is a challenge for me. After awhile I have trouble distinguishing the colors apart. As I get further along I will color the images. I’m enjoying the study & today’s reading always amazed me at how these men just dropped everything & followed Jesus. What faith they had in believing that he was the Messiah in their first encounter with Him!
Yes! Their faith strikes me as amazing! Happy to have you join us!
What was Nathaniel doing under the fig tree?? Was he sleeping and safe? Was he sinning somehow? Ws he praying for God to make Himself real I some way? Any of these (and more) options strike me. God knows. Yet, He still loves and calls me to be His and to follow Him. He knows where I have been, yet accepts me and uses unique personality and gifting. I LOVE this reminder!
It is a wonderful reminder, Ruth! Hugs!
Wow, I actually never picked up on the “see”reference. The disciples believed and chose to follow Jesus after they saw him and he affirmed them that they too were seen. To be seen and heard is what every human being craves. It makes us feel valued. The disciples simply responded to the need to be seen that Jesus fulfilled. Take Philip for example, he easily believed Jesus when Jesus told him that He had seen Philip whilst still under the fig tree. Something that Jesus had seen in Philip or had possibly seen him doing under that fig tree spoke volumes about Philip’s character. That is what ought to happen to us, people that we work with, or share life with in general should be able to tell our noble character from seeing us during our still moments or when we are active in the pursuance of life. This will make it possible for them to be drawn closer to Jesus as their curiosity draws them in. One can hear about Jesus from friends and family or complete strangers but unless they see this Jesus portrayed by you in your everyday living, they are not likely to believe. What will strengthen their belief and cement their decision to stay with Jesus is having an encounter with Jesus where they personally get affirmation from Jesus that they are seen.
Two questions though, the two disciples who had been followers of John and had responded to John’s command to see Jesus, why was their response in the form of asking Jesus where he was staying when Jesus asked them what they wanted?
Secondly, we are told that it was about 4 in the afternoon in the NIV or the tenth hour in the KJV, what is the relevance of this detail?
Sorry, that should have been Nathanael instead of Philip
Great questions! I can’t wait to ask Dr. Blomberg and see what he says!
Why does John refer to Jesus as the Lamb of God? Does he know about Jesus’ destiny as the sacrificial Lamb?
Wonderful observation, Arlene! Looking forward to asking Dr. Blomberg!
Hi Margaret
I look forward each day to read, color and pray in Beloved.
Thanks so much for your posts.
Thanks so much for joining us, Sandy! Hugs!
Wow! I am so amazed by your word. I read it 14 times. I feel comfort when God sees me. I would love for God to heal my family and let me be an example of God’s love for us. He loved us so much that he sacrificed his life for us so that we can have eternal life with him. He is coming soon! All of these storms that are happenning. I have met Jesus the first time when I was at camp with my friend that I grew up with. God has whispered to me, “Come. I have accepted Christ into my life 3 times because of my response to him and I heard his voice. I felt the holy spirit come upon me. The challenging part was when they were following Jesus to Galilee. I find comfort knowing that when he returns, I’ll be ready and I hope to bring others to Christ. Sometimes it is hard for me to preach the bible to people cuz I don’t want to offend them. I pray about it but don’t feel God is leading to me to do that. Although I have shared my faith and testemony. I have saved 1 person and feel so honored and privelaged to be part of God’s Kindgdom. I hope I can be an example of others in their lives as well. Thank you so much for putting this together. I hope all women dive into the word of God and apply it to others as the Holy Spirit draws near to them. I am blessed by people.
I love your heart for people, Nicole! May God continue to move in and through you! Hugs!