John 1:50-51 -- Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

I. JESUS IS THE REVELATION OF GOD

A. Jesus Responds to Nathanael

B. Jesus is the One Who Reveals Greater Things

(1) Jesus is the Embodiment of Revelation

(2) Jesus is the Communicator of Revelation

(3) Jesus is the Liberator of Revelation

II. JESUS IS THE MEDIATOR

A. Ability: We Can Approach God through Christ

B. Exclusivity: We Can Approach God Only through Christ

C. Constancy: We Can Constantly Approach God through Christ

III. JESUS IS THE SON OF MAN

A. He is Fully Man

B. He is the Ideal Man

John 1:46-49 -- 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.” 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 there is no deceit!” Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”

I. NATHANAEL'S EXPERIENCE

A. He was a Man of Despair and Prejudice

B. He was Invited to Follow Jesus Despite His Attitude

II. NATHANAEL'S CONFRONTATION WITH JESUS

A. Jesus Knew His Beliefs and His Character

B. Jesus Knew His Innermost Being

III. NATHANEL'S CONVICTION

A. Jesus is More than a Rabbi

B. Jesus is the Son of God

C. Jesus is the King of Israel

John 1:43-45 -- The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. 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.”

I. PHILIP'S EXPERIENCE

A. He was Sought by Jesus

B. He was Called by Jesus

C. He was a friend of Peter and Andrew

II. PHILIP'S FIRST CONCERN: To Share with Nathaniel

III. PHILIP'S CONVICTION: that Jesus was the Messiah

A. 44 Old Testament prophesies fulfilled by Jesus

B. C.S. Lewis' thoughts on Jesus' Claim to be the Son of God

John 1:35-42 -- 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!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 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?” 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. One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). 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).

I. ANDREW'S EXPERIENCE: He Heard John's Preaching

II. ANDREW'S CRITICAL HOUR: Jesus Did Three Things

III. ANDREW'S GREAT DECISION: He Accepted Jesus' Invitation

IV. ANDREW'S FIRST CONCERN: His Own Brother, Simon

V. ANDREW'S CONVICTION: That Jesus is the Messiah

VI. ANDREW'S FRUIT: He Brought Simon to Jesus

John 1:29-34 -- The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”

I. JESUS IS THE LAMB OF GOD

II. JESUS IS THE PREEMINENT ONE

A. He Was Before John; Pre-Existent

B. John Did Not Know Him, Only that He was to Come

III. JESUS IS THE MESSIAH

A. John Did Not Know the Messiah at First

B. John was Given a Sign to Identify the Messiah

IV. JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD

John 1:19-28 -- And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.” (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

I. JOHN WAS QUESTIONED BY RELIGIOUS LEADERS WHO WERE SUSPICIOUS OF HIM

II. JOHN WAS A MAN WHO KNEW WHO HE WAS

III. JOHN WAS ONLY A VOICE, A FORERUNNER FOR THE LORD

IV. JOHN WAS A BAPTIZER

V. JOHN WAS AN UNWORTHY SERVANT OF THE ONE WHOM HE PROCLAIMED

VI. JOHN WAS A MAN WHO BROUGHT HONOR TO THE PLACE WHERE HE MINISTERED

John 1:19-28 -- And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.” (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

I. JOHN WAS QUESTIONED BY RELIGIOUS LEADERS WHO WERE SUSPICIOUS OF HIM

II. JOHN WAS A MAN WHO KNEW WHO HE WAS

III. JOHN WAS ONLY A VOICE, A FORERUNNER FOR THE LORD

IV. JOHN WAS A BAPTIZER

V. JOHN WAS AN UNWORTHY SERVANT OF THE ONE WHOM HE PROCLAIMED

VI. JOHN WAS A MAN WHO BROUGHT HONOR TO THE PLACE WHERE HE MINISTERED

John 1:14-18 -- And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.

I. PROOF 1: CHRIST DWELT VISIBLY AMONG US

A. Christ Became Flesh

(1) The Flesh is Corruptible

(2) The Flesh is Dishonorable

(3) The Flesh is Weak

(4) The Flesh is a Natural Body

B. Christ and His Glory Were Seen

C. Christ was Full of Grace and Truth

(1) Grace

(2) Truth

[a] Sets Us Free from the Shadow of Doubt and Despair

[b] Sets Us Free from the Bondages of Sin

[c] Sets Us Free from the Bondage of Death

[d] Sets Us Free from the Bondage of Judgment and Hell

[e] Sets Us Free to be Saved to the Uttermost

II. PROOF 2: JOHN THE BAPTIST BORE WITNESS OF THE SUPERIORITY OF CHRIST

III. PROOF 3: WE HAVE RECEIVED HIS GRACE AND BLESSING

A. God's Grace and Blessing Do Not Come by the Law

B. God's Grace and Blessing Come Only through Jesus Christ

IV. PROOF 4: GOD HAS REVEALED HIMSELF THROUGH CHRIST

John 1:14-18 -- And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.

I. PROOF 1: CHRIST DWELT VISIBLY AMONG US

A. Christ Became Flesh

(1) The Flesh is Corruptible

(2) The Flesh is Dishonorable

(3) The Flesh is Weak

(4) The Flesh is a Natural Body

B. Christ and His Glory Were Seen

C. Christ was Full of Grace and Truth

(1) Grace

(2) Truth

[a] Sets Us Free from the Shadow of Doubt and Despair

[b] Sets Us Free from the Bondages of Sin

[c] Sets Us Free from the Bondage of Death

[d] Sets Us Free from the Bondage of Judgment and Hell

[e] Sets Us Free to be Saved to the Uttermost

II. PROOF 2: JOHN THE BAPTIST BORE WITNESS OF THE SUPERIORITY OF CHRIST

III. PROOF 3: WE HAVE RECEIVED HIS GRACE AND BLESSING

A. God's Grace and Blessing Do Not Come by the Law

B. God's Grace and Blessing Come Only through Jesus Christ

IV. PROOF 4: GOD HAS REVEALED HIMSELF THROUGH CHRIST

John 1:14-18 -- And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.

I. PROOF 1: CHRIST DWELT VISIBLY AMONG US

A. Christ Became Flesh

(1) The Flesh is Corruptible

(2) The Flesh is Dishonorable

(3) The Flesh is Weak

(4) The Flesh is a Natural Body

B. Christ and His Glory Were Seen

C. Christ was Full of Grace and Truth

(1) Grace

(2) Truth

[a] Sets Us Free from the Shadow of Doubt and Despair

[b] Sets Us Free from the Bondages of Sin

[c] Sets Us Free from the Bondage of Death

[d] Sets Us Free from the Bondage of Judgment and Hell

[e] Sets Us Free to be Saved to the Uttermost

II. PROOF 2: JOHN THE BAPTIST BORE WITNESS OF THE SUPERIORITY OF CHRIST

III. PROOF 3: WE HAVE RECEIVED HIS GRACE AND BLESSING

A. God's Grace and Blessing Do Not Come by the Law

B. God's Grace and Blessing Come Only through Jesus Christ

IV. PROOF 4: GOD HAS REVEALED HIMSELF THROUGH CHRIST