Master's Men: James and John

AUGUST 24, 2009

3^RD LESSON: ANDREW, JAMES THE SON OF ZEBEDEE AND JOHN

(John MacArthur)

Text: Matthew 10:2

 

I. ANDREW

-       Peter’s brother, always known as Simon Peter’s brother

-       name means MANLY

-       native of Bethsaida, little village in Galilee

-       appears Jesus in Matthew 4: 18-20, already believed

 

Matthew 4:18-20

English Standard Version (ESV)

Jesus Calls the First Disciples

 ¹⁸ While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. ¹⁹ And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”^[a] 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him.

 

-       godly Jew, God-fearing Jew

-       disciple of John the Baptist

 

John 1:35-42

English Standard Version (ESV)

Jesus Calls the First Disciples

 ³⁵ The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, ³⁶ and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” ³⁷ The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. ³⁸ Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” ³⁹ He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.^[a] 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus^[b] was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. ⁴¹ He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). ⁴² He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter^[c]).

 

-       lived together with Peter

 

Mark 1:29

English Standard Version (ESV)

Jesus Heals Many

 ²⁹ And immediately he^[a] left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.

 

-       greatly respected

 

John 12:20-22

English Standard Version (ESV)

Some Greeks Seek Jesus

 ²⁰ Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. ²¹ So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” ²² Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.

 

CHARACTER OF ANDREW:

the one who was always bringing people to Jesus

 

first:

John 1:40

English Standard Version (ESV)

⁴⁰ One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus^[a] was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.

 

second:

John 6:8-9

English Standard Version (ESV)

⁸ One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, ⁹ “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?”

 

third:

John 12:20-22

English Standard Version (ESV)

Some Greeks Seek Jesus

 ²⁰ Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. ²¹ So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” ²² Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.

 

POINTS TO PONDER ABOUT THE 3 INCIDENTS:

1.    Andrew’s Openness

-       knew that they were to got to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, knew that it was the Jew first and then to the Gentiles

-       there wasn’t anybody that he didn’t think Jesus would not want to see

 

2.    his faith

-       Andrew must have thought the Lord could make a whole lot out of a very little.

 

3.    his humility

-       telling to Peter that he had found the Messiah

-       labored quietly in humble places

-       humbler stone

 

·         willing to take second place

·         rare people who wants to be in “support”

·         doesn’t mind being hidden as long as the work is done

·         kind of man that all leaders depend on

·         backbone of every ministry

·         content to occupy a small sphere and obscure places, free form self-seeking ambition and yet will sit on the throne judging the tribes of Israel

IT TAKES AN “ANDREW” TO REACH “PETER”

GOD NEEDS ANREWS, PEOPLE WHO QUIETLY OBSCURELY BRING OTHERS TO JESUS

 

AUGUST 29, 2009

 

II. JAMES THE SON OF ZEBEDEE

 

-       appears from John, his brother, in any incident

-       older brother of John

-       leader of the 2, the strength, zeal and passion

-       fisherman, father was Zebedee

-       Jesus named him BOANERGES- SONS OF THUNDER

 

Mark 3:17

English Standard Version (ESV)

¹⁷ James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder);

 

-       1^ST disciple to be martyred

-       zealous:           aggressive, charged up, who wants to get the job done but very often along with zeal comes a “lack of wisdom”

INCIDENTS OF BEING ZEALOUS

Luke 9:51-54

English Standard Version (ESV)

A Samaritan Village Rejects Jesus

 ⁵¹ When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. ⁵²And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him. ⁵³ But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. ⁵⁴ And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?”^[a]

 

-       They were hateful, intolerant, so much zeal and so little sensitivity and yet there’s nobility in it.

-       got mad when the Lord was dishonored

-       zealous, explosive, fervent, passionate, won’t just sit and watch it happen

 

Matthew 20:20-26

English Standard Version (ESV)

A Mother's Request

 ²⁰ Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. ²¹ And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” ²² Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” ²³ He said to them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” ²⁴ And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. ²⁵ But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. ²⁶ It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,^[a]

 

-       zealous people are also ambitious people, but good-oriented, task oriented

-       ambition: gong all the way for the kingdom, not only to the kingdom but right to the right hand

-       14 years, his request was granted

§  he wanted a crown, but Jesus gave him a cup

§  he wanted power, Jesus gave him servanthood

§  he wanted to rule, Jesus gave him a martyr’s grave

 

Acts 12:1-5

English Standard Version (ESV)

James Killed and Peter Imprisoned

 ¹ About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. ²He killed James the brother of John with the sword, ³ and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. ⁴And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people. ⁵ So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.

-       James killed, Peter prisoned

-       filled with zeal, filled with ambition, filled with strong and intolerant feelings

 

GOD USES BRASH, COURAGEOUS, AMBITIOUS, ZEALOUS, SOMETIMES LOVELESS, INSENSITIVE SELFISH PEOPLE LIKE JAMES.

Christ brought his temper under control, bridled his tongue, clinched his zeal, taught him to seek no revenge and to desire no honor for himself

September 05, 2009

 

III. JOHN

 

-       wrote 1 John,  2 John, 3 John and Revelation

-       James’ brother

-       just like brother James- zealous, but not quite it

-       lived nearly the year 100, outlived everybody

-       appears alone by name in Mark 9:38-39, his mad at somebody – “narrow-minded”

 

Mark 9:38-39

English Standard Version (ESV)

Anyone Not Against Us Is for Us

 ³⁸ John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name,^[a] and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” ³⁹ But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me.

 

-       tremendous capacity for love, love took him down he road of sentimentalism

 

2 THINGS THAT STAND OUT IN JOHN’S LIFE

1. love

2. witness

 

-       80x used the word love

-       70x used the word witness in one form or another

-       always witness to the truth and always the teacher of love

-       personification of spaking the truth in “love”

-       truth seeker

-       discoverer, visionary

-       2st who recognized the Lord at the lakesifde of Galilee

-       whom God reveqaled the future in apocalypse

 

his books: JOHN 1-3

-       denounces those who are anti-chirst and those who will stand up in church – in the church to twist and pervert- he’s firm and strong

-       sets the people of God against the people of Satan, eh redeemd agaist the lost, how he talks about the judgment of the righteous and the unrighteous.

JOHN is characterized by LOVE

-       own Gospel- appears always the same

 

John 13:23

English Standard Version (ESV)

²³ One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table at Jesus' side,^[a]

 

-       “whom Jesus loved”. never uses his name

-       has a heart of love and understands love- a great capacity to give and receive love

-       people who can love greatly can be loved greatly because they understand

-       john took literally in the love of Christ and gave out the love of Crist so ha called himself the disciple whom Jesus loved.

-        

John 19:26

English Standard Version (ESV)

²⁶ When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!”

 

John 20:2

English Standard Version (ESV)

² So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.”

 

John 21:7

English Standard Version (ESV)

⁷ That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, andthrew himself into the sea.

 

John 21:20

English Standard Version (ESV)

Jesus and the Beloved Apostle

 ²⁰ Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?”

 

John 21:24

English Standard Version (ESV)

 ²⁴ This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true.

-       literally was in “awe” that Jesus loved him

 

Jesus never asked John if he loved Him

            but He asked Peter that

 

Jesus never had to ask John to follow Him

            But He did have to ask Peter that

 

He said to Peter- feed my sheep

            but to John- take care of my mother

 

THERE WAS SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT JOHN.

 

10 STATEMENTS ABOUT LOVE

 

1.    God is love

 

1 John 4:8

English Standard Version (ESV)

⁸ Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

 

2.    God loved His Son

 

John 17:24

English Standard Version (ESV)

²⁴ Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.

 

3.    God loved the disciples

 

John 13:34

English Standard Version (ESV)

³⁴ A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.

 

4.    God loves all men

 

John 3:16

English Standard Version (ESV)

For God So Loved the World

    ¹⁶ “For God so loved the world,^[a] that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

 

5.    God is loved By Christ

 

John 17:4-5

English Standard Version (ESV)

⁴ I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. ⁵ And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

 

 

6.    Christ loved the disciples in general

 

John 17:26

English Standard Version (ESV)

²⁶ I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

 

7.    Christ loved individuals

 

1 John 4:10

English Standard Version (ESV)

¹⁰ In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

 

 

8.    Christ expected all men to love Him

 

9.     love one another

 

1 John 3:11

English Standard Version (ESV)

Love One Another

 

¹¹ For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

 

 

10.  Christ emphasized that love is the fulfilling of the law.

 

John 19:28-30

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Death of Jesus

 ²⁸ After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” ²⁹ A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. ³⁰ When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said,“It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

 

HE SPEAKS OF WITNESS”

            Witness of John the Baptist, Scripture, Faith, of Christ, the miracles, of Holy Spirit, of the Apostles… always speaking in truth.. speaking truth in LOVE.

 

·         GOD USES JOHN WHO CAN HARNESS THE TRUTH IN LOVE

·         GOD USES ALL KINDS.. FIREY LOVER WHOSE LOVE WAS PASSIONATE DEVOTION TO THE TRUTH.

WHAT KIND OF PEOPL DOES JESUS USE?

·         One was dynamic, strong, bold, a leader like Peter, who took charge, who initiated, who planned, who strategized, who confronted, who commanded people to Christ. And very often blew it.

 

·         Another was humble, gentle, inconspicuous, Andrew who didn't see the crowds but saw the individuals in the crowds. And while he never attracted a mob he kept bringing people to Jesus.

 

·         And then He picked a man who was zealous, passionate, uncompromising, insensitive at first, ambitious, who could see a goal and go for it with all his might and die in the process...James.

 

·         And then there was sensitive, loving, believing, intimate John, every bit a truth seeker. Who spoke the truth in love so that he attracted people to himself.

 

GOD USES ANY KIND, IT IS NOT WHAT YOU ARE, IT IS WHAT YOU ARE WILLING TO BECOME

CHRIST CAN TAKE A VERY COMMON PERSON AND MAKE THEM VERY UNCOMMON APOSTLE

ARE YOU AVAILABLE FOR THAT?

Thank You, Father, for a Andrew, James and John. How they were willing to become. us hope that You can make us We pray, Lord, that we might Christ's name and His glory. glimpse of these dear men; Peter, special.. .not what they were but what We see ourselves in them and it gives what You want us to be and use us. be available to be discipled... in Amen.

 

REFERENCE: http://www.ondoctrine.com/2mac0117.htm