The episode offers a compelling look into the authority and respect commanded by Christ as highlighted in the scriptures. From the initial call to the significant interactions between Jesus and His disciples, we unravel the influential role of the Messiah as both a spiritual teacher and an authoritative figure. Gain insights into how these ancient stories apply to modern believers’ lives and encourage us to fully embrace and respond to Jesus’s teachings.
Behold the Lamb of God! Words from John the Baptist that garnered attention, and it also gets our attention today. And from the International Gospel Hour, we will study Jesus the Master Teacher just ahead.
SPEAKER 02 :
Hi, this is Jay Webb for International Gospel Hour. Welcome to our broadcast today. For over 90 years, Churches of Christ have proclaimed God’s Word through our broadcasts. Just ahead is another Bible-based lesson with Jeff Archie of International Gospel Hour. Let’s begin.
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Well, thank you to our J-Web always for his good words. And J will have some information about our work throughout our broadcast. And we are always grateful for you, our listeners. My, how we love your pursuit of truth as Jesus commanded in John 8, 31 and 32. We can know the truth, friends, and the truth will make us free. And we must begin within that truth as we consider our text today of John 1, verses 37 through 49. After John the Baptist’s declaration, Behold the Lamb of God, we read, The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, What do you seek? They said to him, Rabbi, which is to say, when translated teacher, where are you staying? He said to them, Come and see. They came and saw where he was staying, and remained with him that day. Now it was about the tenth hour. One of the two which heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, We have found the Messiah, which is translated the Christ. And he brought him to Jesus. Now when Jesus looked at him, he said, You are Simon, the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas, which is translated a stone. The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and he found Philip and said to him, Follow me. Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. And Nathanael said to him, Can anything good come out of Nazareth? Philip said to him, Come and see. Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, Behold, an Israelite indeed in whom is no deceit. Nathanael said to him, How do you know me? Jesus answered and said to him, Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you. Nathanael answered and said to him, Rabbi, you are the Son of God. You are the King of Israel. From this text, friends, let’s look at the joy of the response of others. Andrew and the other disciple of John followed Jesus and spent that day with Jesus. What a wonderful conversation that must have been. And then Andrew shared that joy with his brother Simon Peter. And aren’t you glad? For this same Peter that penned two wonderful books of the New Testament also encourages the Christian’s faith and proclaimed the stirring gospel lesson on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2. And Philip responded when Jesus said, Follow me, as we noted in verse 43. Of the same city as Andrew and Peter, surely Philip had heard of this man, Jesus. And in turn, Philip found Nathanael, who declared him as Rabbi, the Son of God, the King of Israel. Now, from this text, we also note people simply following Jesus out of curiosity. people bringing others to Jesus, people finding others specifically to tell them of Jesus, and people willingly coming to Jesus based on what they had heard. In other words, with Christ as the Master Teacher, the Messiah, people responded. Today, friends, let us make certain we are responding to the Master Teacher. Let’s take this text and let’s apply some lessons within for ourselves. But first, a few words from our J-Web, and we’ll be back in about 30 seconds.
SPEAKER 02 :
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SPEAKER 01 :
Jesus the Master Teacher. Let us listen to Him. The word master is used in this text, defined as a teacher, one that would teach, a title or an address. And it is interesting that a certain scribe, a commentator of the law, if you will, acknowledged Christ that very way in Matthew 8 and verse 19. Now that would make sense, for the scribe would be looking for something to write about, would he not? The people of that day recognized Christ as the master or teacher of the apostles, Matthew 17 and verse 24. In the washing of the disciples’ feet in John 13, 13 and 14, they expressed Jesus or called him master or in this text, teacher. When the storm came upon the sea, Jesus was called master in this sense, as a teacher, but he was asked, do you not care that we perish, Mark 4, 38. And you know, that’s impressive because it tells us how Christ was unlike any other teacher, Matthew 7, 28 and 29. So friends, when you see the response of people in the New Testament of the Christ, then let’s do some application for ourselves. Will we listen and respond to Christ as our master and teacher? Are we learning about the master all that we can learn so our lives can be better and Are we learning more of Jesus through his word? Let’s continue. With Jesus as the master teacher, not only let us listen to him, but let us embrace his authority that we may obey. You know, master is used in other places as one who exercises power, authority. Let’s go to Luke 5 and verse 5 where Simon answered him and said, Master, we have told all the night and have taken nothing. Nevertheless, at thy word I will let down the net. Now note that simply because the Lord said do it, Simon did it. Lord, we’ve been going all night, but because you said it, we’re going to do it. In Mark 9 and verse 17, one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto you my son which has a dumb spirit or a demon within. Now no question this man had done much for his son from a child. Let me back up, friends. Not the demon, but the child could not speak. And the man had done everything he knew for his son. Now he brings him to the Christ because Christ is the only one with true authority to address his need, and that he did. In Matthew 6, 24, Jesus said no man can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. You must make a choice. There is only one master that we can follow, friends, and a choice must be made. To halfway serve God and Christ is not a choice, but rather a compromise. Friends, we want to listen to the master teacher, but we want to embrace his authority that we may obey. Friends, God and man, how we can be saved from sin comes from God. How excited we are to offer unto you an additional Bible study option to help you seek the commands and to follow the Master Teacher, Jesus Christ. Here it once again is our J-Web with our study offered by mail, God and Man, How to be Saved from Sin.
SPEAKER 02 :
An additional Bible study by mail is now available from International Gospel Hour. It’s titled, God and Man, How to be Saved from Sin. This study booklet addresses a number of questions about the salvation from God to man. And friends, like all materials, it’s free. Call us toll-free at 855-444-6988 and leave your name, address, and just say, God and Man. Or you can go to our website at internationalgospelhour.com, click on the Contact tab, and leave us the same information, name, address, and type God and man in the message box. Another Bible study that is free from IGH. And our friends at godandman.com. That’s god-and-man.com. And, you know, since you can’t see it, let me just spell that out for you. god-and-man.com We’d love to hear from you.
SPEAKER 01 :
Now, friends, let’s continue with some thoughts of Jesus the Master Teacher as the only Rabbi. From this, friends, let us profess true respect. Now, Master in this case is a title of a respectful address to the Jewish teachers. Rabbi A response given by Andrew and the other disciple of John in our lesson text. No man can adequately have the title of rabbi, friends. In Matthew 23, verse 8, Jesus says, But you do not be called rabbi, for one is your teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. But it can be used as a matter of convenience or insincerity, as we note this with Judas at the Last Supper table when he would call him Rabbi or Master, Matthew 26, 25, even those that came to take Jesus in Matthew 26 and verse 49. So friends, is Christ mentioned in a sincere way, a believing way? Some claim to follow Christ and then turn right around and hold to a doctrine or live a life that is rather embarrassing. If we are to follow Him, we must follow up with the true respect with our behavior. So, friends, Jesus Christ is THE Master. In teaching, no other instruction is valid, for it is His word that will judge, John 12, 48. Christ is the master in authority, and no one else has that authority, only God has granted Jesus that authority, Matthew 17, verse 5, Matthew 28, 18, as well as Ephesians 1, 22 and 23. And Christ is the master in respect. Respect that will lead to response in obedience to His will through faith, repentance, confession, and baptism into Christ. Friends, is He our Master? Let’s continue these studies at another time, but thank you for joining me today on the International Gospel Hour broadcast. I’m Jeff Archie, and friends, keep listening.
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God be with you till we meet again.
SPEAKER 02 :
Thank you for listening to our broadcast today, and we hope you continue onward with your search and study of God’s Word. Please join us next time and visit our website at internationalgospelhour.com.
