This is a lesson I prepared for a Sunday School class series on Encounters with Jesus in the Book of John during the Fall of 2025. The lessons are meant to be a mix of teaching and interactive discussion in the group. This is an outline of my presentation that guided the teaching and discussion.
View Encounters with Jesus Lesson Series
John 1:35-42
FOLLOW 1:35-37
John 1:35 / The next day AGAIN John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!”
- These two disciples are Andrew and John.
- They were both consistently around John the Baptist.
- John the Baptist was consistently pointing people to Jesus.
- 1:26-28 / One who stands among you
- 1:29 / Behold, the Lamb of God
- Thoughts
- It intrigued me this week to think about Andrew and John being committed to the preaching and teaching of John the Baptist. Here is this Old Testament prophet coming on the scene after 400 years of silence and they are excited about the Word of God being given once again.
- Now all of the sudden, the prophet is pointing out that the Messiah has not only come on the scene but is literally walking among us.
- 1:37 / The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.
- Jesus was a unknown at this time. No crowds. No followers. Andrew and John decided to leave the comfortable and known for the uncomfortable and unknown.
- They were the first to follow Jesus.
- Questions
- What are Andrew and John are thinking and feeling at this moment?
- How difficult is it to make this move of allegiance?
- Would anyone like to share their decision point when you started following Jesus?
REMAIN 1:38-39
What is Jesus’ Response?
- Jesus notices them following him and of course, he asks them a question
- 1:38 / “What are you seeking?”
- What are some of the answers you would expect to hear?
- How would you have answered Jesus?
- They answer this question with a question of their own.
- “Where are you staying?” Elsewhere in John this verb is translated as “remain” or “abide.”
- They didn’t just want a chance encounter or a one-time conversation. They want to spend time with Jesus. They wanted to abide with him. They want to learn from him.
- Jesus’ response is “Come and see.”
- Jesus encourages them to come and abide with him.
What are some of the ways you personally abide with Jesus?
Are there other ways we can abide with Jesus? Where else does he say, “Come and see.”
FIND 1:40-42
What is Andrew’s response? He goes and tells his brother.
- First he finds his own brother
- “We have found the Messiah” and then he “Brought him to Jesus.”
The natural result of following and abiding with Jesus is that we will seek out others to invite them to “Behold the Lamb of God.”
For me, this is the dashboard light indicator of abiding with Christ. If we are following him, if we are abiding with him, then we will want to talk about Jesus with our friends and family, with our co-workers, with anybody that will listen!