One of the coolest words in the English dictionary is “Eureka!” During the goldrush era, when gold was discovered along the coast of California, settlers quickly formed a settlement and named it. . . Eureka! EUREKA is what you shout when all your hopes and dreams appear to becoming true! There is a vacuum company named Eureka. Finally, “I’ve found the vacuum sweeper of my dreams!” There is a college named Eureka College. Casinos. Restaurants. A data company. “Where did I save that lost file.” The TV show Eureka is about a small town where great minds come together and make famous discoveries and inventions.
Long before Eureka was an English word, it was a Biblical word. Eureka is what the woman in Luke 14 exclaims when she finds her lost coin, its what the shepherd exclaims when he’s found the one lost sheep, and the father exclaims when he recovers his lost son. And what did Jesus say in Luke 19:10, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost.” Eureka is what all heaven exclaims, it’s what the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit jubilantly shouts when one lost sinner returns.
Someone has titled the Gospel of John, and John 1 in particular, Eureka! I never realized this. But in John 1, you have more names, titles, and statements about Jesus being jammed into one chapter than any other chapter in your Bible. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God! Eureka! All things were created through him. In him was life, and that life was the light of men! The light shines in the darkness! The light that gives light to all men was coming in to the world. The Word became flesh and tabernacled or dwelt among us. Jesus is the One and Only Son, from the Father, whose come full of grace and truth. No one has ever seen God, but the One and Only Son who is himself God and at the Father’s side exegetes or reveals God! **If John 1 is true, and everything John says about Jesus is true, this is the Eureka of all Eurekas!**
In John 1, Jesus is introduced as Messiah (vv. 20, 41), the Prophet (v. 21), Jesus (v. 29), the Lamb of God (v. 29, 36), one who baptizes with the Spirit (v. 33), chosen [Son] of God (v. 34), rabbi/teacher/master (vv. 38, 49), the Christ /Messiah/ anointed one (v. 41), son of Joseph (v. 45), Nazarene (v. 45), Son of God (v. 49), King of Israel (v. 49), the Son of Man (v. 51).
We ended last week with John 1:35-36, “The next day, John was standing with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” Think of Abraham and Isaac. They prepare the wood, the build the fire, Abraham binds Isaac. Abraham prepares to sacrifice his One and Only Son. Genesis 22:7, “Then Isaac spoke to his father Abraham and said, “My father.” And he replied, “Here I am, my son.” Isaac said, “The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” But then, Eureka! God provides a Ram, a blood sacrifice, a substitute, and Isaac is spared. Phew!
When God’s righteous anger burned against the Israelites in the wilderness, and God’s fire literally consumed the edges of Israel’s camp. . . How could they be spared the death they deserved for the wages of their sin? The priests sacrificed lambs, as a blood substitute, to atone for the sin of Israel. The lamb would die, but Israel would live. But all of this was just a dry rehearsal for that moment when God would send forth a lamb from heaven who would once and for all atone for the sin of sinful mankind. His body would be broken, his blood shed, his body nailed to a cross. He become a curse to free us from the curse. His life for our life.
Isaiah the prophet. Isaiah 9. The people walking in darkness will see a great light. A light will dawn! Their oppressive yoke, the rod on their shoulders, the staff of their oppressor will be smashed. Isaiah 9:6-7, “For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on his shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. 7 The dominion will be vast, and its prosperity will never end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from now on and forever. The zeal of the Lord of Armies will accomplish this.”
Isaiah the prophet. Isaiah 11:1-3a, “Then a shoot will grow from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots will bear fruit. 2 The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—a Spirit of wisdom and understanding, a Spirit of counsel and strength, a Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. 3 His delight will be in the fear of the Lord. . .”
Isaiah the prophet. Isaiah 53:1-12, “Who has believed what we have heard? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 2 He grew up before him like a young plant and like a root out of dry ground. He didn’t have an impressive form or majesty that we should look at him, no appearance that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of suffering who knew what sickness was. He was like someone people turned away from; he was despised, and we didn’t value him. 4 Yet he himself bore our sicknesses, and he carried our pains; but we in turn regarded him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced because of our rebellion, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on him, and we are healed by his wounds. 6 We all went astray like sheep; we all have turned to our own way; and the Lord has punished him for the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth. Like a lamb led to the slaughter and like a sheep silent before her shearers, he did not open his mouth. 8 He was taken away because of oppression and judgment, and who considered his fate? For he was cut off from the land of the living; he was struck because of my people’s rebellion. 9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked, but he was with a rich man at his death, because he had done no violence and had not spoken deceitfully. 10 Yet the Lord was pleased to crush him severely. When you make him a guilt offering, he will see his seed, he will prolong his days, and by his hand, the Lord’s pleasure will be accomplished. 11 After his anguish, he will see light and be satisfied. By his knowledge, my righteous servant will justify many, and he will carry their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will give him the many as a portion, and he will receive the mighty as spoil, because he willingly submitted to death, and was counted among the rebels; yet he bore the sin of many and interceded for the rebels.”
John 1:35-36, “The next day, John was standing with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” For generations, people longed for God’s Lamb to appear… and this was their Eureka moment! What a powerful invitation! “LOOK!” “SEE!” “BEHOLD!” At the end of the day, your allegiance isn’t to some preacher. It’s not the preachers image that you must behold. It’s not his personhood that’s owed your allegiance. The preacher's essential work is cry out to people, that they behold the Lamb of God, Jesus! People come to Christ through us, not by us, and certainly not to us.
And none of you should suppose that because the preacher shouts “Behold” that your work is done either. For its up to you to raise your eyes and look, see, behold! No one can do your beholding. You must see and worship for yourself!
John 1:37-39, “The two disciples heard him say this and followed Jesus. 38 When Jesus turned and noticed them following him, he asked them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” 39 “Come and you’ll see,” he replied. So they went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about four in the afternoon.”
Such an amazing moment. In Romans 10, Paul asks, “how will people hear if Christ isn’t preached?” These two disciples heard and followed Jesus. And its such an amazing thing. The split second they turn to follow Jesus, Jesus turns on a dime, and notices them! What an incredible thing to contemplate. That the Creator God of the Universe is instantly aware that you have begun to seek him!
Jesus question is not to be taken lightly. He asks these two, “What are you looking for?” A new vacuum sweeper? A better data recovery service? New gizmos and technological gadgets to improve your life? Knowledge? Jackpot? Gold?
These disciples immediately recognize Jesus’ authority. They ask, “Rabbi. Teacher. Master. Where are you staying?” They realize that Jesus isn’t someone you can just be transactional with. To really know Jesus, yes, they would need to come and see. Yes, they would need to follow Jesus. But they would also need to stay with Jesus, and remain with Jesus, and abide with Jesus. They would need to log the evening, a few days, even a lifetime with Jesus. I don’t think Jesus rewards casual engagement, nor casual curiosity. “What is that you guys really want to Eureka? If it’s the Lamb of God you want to Eureka, I’ll show you where I’m staying. Come and see. Seek and you will find.”
John 1:40-42, “40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard John and followed him. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah”, (which is translated “the Christ”), 42 and he brought Simon to Jesus. When Jesus saw him, he said, “You are Simon, son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which is translated “Peter”).
Andrew had a Eureka moment, and as a first order of business, he goes and finds his brother Simon! “Guess what! We’ve found the Messiah!” Now there is something interesting going on here. In Genesis, one of Jacob’s son’s name was Simon. Simon and his brother Levi ruthlessly, rashly, and impulsively avenged the violation of their sister. In the Gospel, Simon reflects that same reckless tendency when he draws his sword to cut off the ear of the temple guard soldier in John 18:10. But here Jesus says, “I’m going to make you a rock.”
John 1:43-51, “43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. He found Philip and told him, “Follow me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the hometown of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the law (and so did the prophets): Jesus the son of Joseph, from Nazareth.” 46 “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Nathanael asked him. “Come and see,” Philip answered.
Philips testimony is Look! Behold! See! We’ve found the one Moses wrote about in the law. Deuteronomy 18:15-18! We’ve found the one written about in the Prophets. Isaiah 9, 11, 53! In John 5:39-40, Jesus would say to the Pharisees, “You pore over the Scriptures because you think you have eternal life in them, and yet they testify about me. 40 But you are not willing to come to me so that you may have life.” Here was Nathaniel, filled with Jewish pride. A man of the Word. Philip’s testimony is “Eureka!” We’ve found the One testified about in Moses, Law, Prophets. He’s the son of Joseph. He’s from Nazareth. Come and See for yourself!
John 1:47-51, “47 Then Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said about him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” 48 “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you,” Jesus answered. 49 “Rabbi,” Nathanael replied, “You are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel!” 50 Jesus responded to him, “Do you believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” 51 Then he said, “Truly I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
This is quite a profound interaction. Jesus addresses Nathaniel as a “true Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” You might remember that “Israel” was name given to “Jacob… Jacob the Deceiver.” In Genesis, Jacob had to lie, cheat, and deceive his own father, his own brother, to steal God’s blessing. But here is a Jacobite (an Israelite) in whom there is no deceit. Day after day, Nathanael sought after God under a fig tree. A fig tree was a place of study and deep meditation. Short of air conditioning, the shade of the fig tree was one of the most comfortable places you could recline.
There is a famous story in the Confessions of Saint Augustine, when he describes reclining under a fig tree, to seek God. He recounts, “I cast myself down, I know not how, under a certain fig-tree, giving full vent to my tears; and the floods of mine eyes gushed out, an acceptable sacrifice to Thee [God].” When have you ever cried your eyes out seeking to find the Living God of Universe? What Jesus tells Nathaniel is, “While you were searching hard after me… I’d already found you! I saw you under that fig tree! You wanted to behold me, but I was already beholding you!”
In the Greek, the word “deceive” is the same word for bait, as in fish bait. When you fish, you use bait to conceal the hook. You have to trick the fish to catch the fish. Jacob the baiter had to trick his father and brother to catch God’s blessing. But what Jesus is telling Nathaniel is no bait and switch trickery is needed. You sat under that fig tree honestly, openly, seeking me. Well, now here I am.
At once Nathaniel confesses Jesus as “Rabbi” (Master), as the “Son of God”, as the “King of Israel.” And Jesus says, you are amazed because I saw you. You're going to see even greater things. Remember how Jacob saw angels descending and ascending from heaven on that ladder…” (Genesis 28:12, 16-19)… one greater than Jacob is here! One greater than Abraham, than Moses. One whose sandals your not even worthy to untie. One greater, because he was before us. EUREKA! John 1:14, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” EUREKA John 1:18, “No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side—he has revealed him.” EUREKA! John 1:36, “When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”