Are You Lost or Found?
Have you ever wondered what it truly means to be "found" by Jesus?
In our fast-paced world, many of us feel lost—searching for purpose, meaning, and direction. Some follow influencers, chase success, or pursue relationships, hoping to find fulfillment. But what if what we're really searching for is to be found ourselves?
The Gospel of John reveals a fascinating pattern that answers this very question. When Jesus began His ministry, He didn't just randomly collect followers—He intentionally found them, and then commissioned them to find others.
The Divine Pattern of Finding
In John 1:40-51, we discover the beautiful chain reaction that starts when Jesus finds someone:
"One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias..." (John 1:40-41)
This passage reveals a profound truth about Christianity: when Jesus finds you, He expects you to find others.
Consider the contrast described in the sermon:
In the Old Testament, the first recorded instance of someone finding their brother was Cain finding Abel—to kill him
In the New Testament, the first recorded instance of someone finding their brother was Andrew finding Peter—to offer him life through Jesus Christ
The pattern continues when Jesus finds Philip and simply says, "Follow me." Philip then finds Nathanael and invites him to "come and see" Jesus for himself.
The Simple Call to Follow
What strikes me most about this passage is the simplicity of Jesus' invitation: "Follow me."
In today's digital age, we understand what it means to "follow" someone on social media. We click a button, and over time, we learn more about the person or brand we're following.
As the sermon points out:
"All Jesus said is just hit the follow button, just follow me, and you'll be surprised after a year how far He'll take you. But you just have to be willing to follow. That's it. Its simple Christianity lived in simple childlike faith."
The beauty of this call is that you don't need theological degrees, perfect understanding, or a flawless past. You simply need to respond to the invitation.
Beyond Circumstances: The Heart That Follows
One powerful insight from this sermon is that our circumstances don't determine our ability to follow Jesus. The sermon references several biblical examples:
Samuel grew up in a corrupt religious environment under poor leadership, yet remained faithful
Moses was raised in Pharaoh's educational system, yet led God's people
Jesus Himself grew up in Nazareth, a place so disreputable that Nathanael asked, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"
The message is clear: it's not your environment, but your heart that determines whether you'll truly follow Jesus.
As the sermon states:
"You can grow up in a drunkard's home, you can grow up in an abuser's home, and you can go all out for God right now today if you get your heart right. That's what this thing's about—getting your heart right with God."
Speaking Truth Without Guile
When Jesus saw Nathanael, He declared: "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!" (John 1:47)
The sermon unpacks this powerful characteristic—speaking truth without deception or hidden agendas. Guile represents those moments when we technically don't lie, but intentionally mislead to protect ourselves or harm others.
Nathanael spoke honestly about Nazareth's reputation, and Jesus commended him for it. This challenges us to examine our own communication: Do we speak with transparency and honesty, or do we manipulate words to serve our own purposes?
The Greatest Miracle: Jacob's Ladder
The passage concludes with Jesus making an extraordinary promise:
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man." (John 1:51)
This reference to Jacob's ladder from Genesis 28 reveals Jesus' true identity and mission. He is the ultimate connection between heaven and earth—greater than any miracle He would perform.
As the sermon powerfully concludes:
"What's greater than healing the blind and curing all sickness? There's something greater: I'm the Jacob's Ladder that was talked about in Genesis. What's greater? Getting from Earth to Heaven—that's the greater miracle."
The Call Remains: Come and See
The invitation Jesus gave 2,000 years ago still stands today: "Follow me."
No matter your past, your doubts, or your circumstances, Jesus is calling you to come and see for yourself who He is. Like Andrew, Philip, and Nathanael, you can experience the life-changing reality of being found by the Savior.
The pattern continues today: when Jesus finds you, you find others. This is the essence of Christianity—finding one person at a time and bringing them to Jesus.
🎧 Want to dive deeper into this powerful passage? Listen to the complete sermon with verse-by-verse Bible teaching that unpacks even more insights from John 1:40-51. Our expository preaching helps you understand Scripture in its proper context while applying timeless truths to your daily life. Click here to listen to the full message 📖