Based on John 1:35-42 (New King James Version)
“Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, ‘Behold the Lamb of God!’ 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 who 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).”
Have you ever been able to compare a copy to its original? For example, when you see an original painting and its copy, side-by-side, you are able to see the many details that distinguish the one from the other. Maybe at first glance you can’t tell, but after a while, and of course, having some experience in viewing certain things, you can start noticing all the imperfections. And of course, no matter how good the copy is, it will always be inferior to the original. Now, have you ever been able to see the copy of a copy of an original? If there are differences between the original and the first generation copy, could you imagine the differences between the second generation copy and the original, especially if there are differences between the copies themselves? Basically, when there are copies of copies, the quality, the detail, and the value of something is meaningless when compared to the original. That’s why copies don’t have much value, even if they are copies of priceless originals.
During the past few weeks, we have been seeing the importance and significance of John the Baptist and the Apostle John. But also, even though they might be very special, there should only be one focus: Jesus. Our attention should never deviate to other people, no matter what they do, especially when we refer to spiritual things. We see in today’s passage that when Jesus showed up, John’s disciples left John and started following the Lord. When the Lord appears, all of our attention should be on the Lord. Many times, whether it be because a person is used in the life of another, or because we see virtues and characteristics that stand out in a person, or simply because we like or admire someone, our attention deviates, and our eyes are taken off the Lord. We can see in the church of the Corinthians that divisions began to happen because of this deviation, as the following tells us: “Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you. Now I say this, that each of you says, ‘I am of Paul,’ or ‘I am of Apollos,’ or ‘I am of Cephas,’ or ‘I am of Christ.’ Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?” 1 Corinthians 1:10-13. Our eyes cannot depart from the Lord, because if it happens, then deviation, division, and spiritual fall will occur.
The Biblical heroes (per se) themselves taught that the focus should always be on the Lord. For example, the Apostle Paul said this: “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” 1 Corinthians 1:11. The Lord’s carnal mother (Mary) also gave us this directive: “His mother (Mary) said to the servants, ‘Whatever He says to you, do it.’” John 2:5. So, if they themselves gave the command to imitate the Lord, and to do “whatever” He says, then putting our eyes on them would be completely contrary. The only way that a person can be honored is by doing what they tell you to do. It would be absurd to say that you love someone and do the contrary of what they ask you to do, right?
Continuing on this point, God, from the heavens themselves, gave the command that our eyes should only be on the Lord. We see this in the following passage: “Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray. As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening. And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. But Peter and those with him were heavy with sleep; and when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men who stood with Him. Then it happened, as they were parting from Him, that Peter said to Jesus, ‘Master, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah’—not knowing what he said. While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were fearful as they entered the cloud. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!’ When the voice had ceased, Jesus was found alone. But they kept quiet, and told no one in those days any of the things they had seen.” Luke 9:28-36. So then, neither the Apostle Paul, nor Mary, nor John the Baptist, nor the Apostle John, nor Moses, nor Elijah, nor anyone else should be the example we follow. The only one we should look to and imitate is the original, the prototype, to the One that is the Beginning and End, the Lord Jesus.
What is the practical side to all of this? And here we come back to where we started today, the issue that occurs when you make a copy from another copy. If we follow other people outside of the Lord (no matter how significant or special they may have been), we become those very imperfect copies. We become those copies of copies that completely lose their likeness with the original, with the Lord. And by losing that likeness with the original, we lose all value. We become worthless, especially before the eyes of God.
And finally, the Word teaches us this: “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.” 1 Timothy 2:5. “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” John 14:6. The only mediator is Christ. And, the only way we have to get to the Father is through the Lord. So, if you put your eyes on someone else, then you have no mediator or access to the Father. So then, are you a disciple or follower of the Lord, or are you a disciple or follower of someone else? Lord bless! John