Today, the word of God given to us is from John 1:1. I will read it. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Amen.
Last Wednesday, our Pastor Han spoke about the Trinity during the Wednesday service. He mentioned that the most difficult doctrine in Christianity is the doctrine of the Trinity. That's right. The most difficult doctrine is indeed the Trinity. However, John 1 discusses this doctrine of the Trinity.
Why is this difficult doctrine discussed in John 1? In addition to the Trinity, John 1 also talks about the choosing of disciples. This means that the choosing of disciples is connected to the doctrine of the Trinity. So, what is so important that He discusses the Trinity while talking about choosing disciples? The reason is that our Father God did not create the heavens and the earth alone.
Not only in the creation of the world but also in all His works, our God, the Father, the Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit do not desire to work alone. This is what He wants to convey by discussing the doctrine of the Trinity. In today’s passage, John 1:14 states, "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." Here, it speaks of the one who became flesh, Jesus. It mentions the Father, right?
The reason He is talking about the Trinity is that just as our Son and Holy Spirit do not work alone, we too, as disciples, should not work alone. This is so important that He even discusses the doctrine of the Trinity while speaking to us. In today’s message, Jesus shows us that He chooses disciples. But why did He choose disciples?
In Mark 3:14, it says, "Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him." This is the most important reason that comes first. "That they might be with Him." This is the most important message. The reason He appointed disciples is to be with them. Many people might mistakenly think that Jesus chose us to use us as servants, but that’s not true. The greatest reason is to be with us. To have fellowship together. To play together. To read the Word and pray together. That is the greatest reason our Lord chose us as His disciples.
Of course, it goes on to say that He also sends them out to preach and gives them the power to cast out demons. Of course, you might say, "Oh, that’s right. It’s written later." No, the most important thing is that He wants to be with us and that we must be together. However, while choosing disciples, it is most important to be with them, but there were some disciples whom He used in a special way. Today, I want to look at that part. Specifically, the disciples whom He especially wants to be with. Particularly, the disciples who are used.
That is what we also desire. We all want to find joy in being with the Lord, and we want to experience the blessing of being together, but beyond that, we especially want to become disciples who are used by God. So, how can we become disciples who are especially used? I want to look at that through John 1 today. So, the title of today’s sermon is 'Disciples Whom He Especially Wants to Be With.'
In today’s text, right? But what are the characteristics of those disciples whom He especially wants to be with? First, they are disciples who must ask questions. The disciples mentioned here ask questions. The same goes for us. Believing in Jesus means asking the right questions. This is the appearance of a saint who serves Jesus properly. You know, even people in the world like to ask questions.
So, in verse 19, we see that the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask John, "Who are you?" Here, they ask questions. People in the world also like to ask questions. "This is the testimony of John. He confessed and did not deny, but confessed, 'I am not the Christ.'" They respond. Since people in the world like to ask questions, we must always be prepared to answer them.
However, it is not only that; when we ask the right questions within ourselves, our faith grows. You know, asking the right questions is extremely important in our spiritual lives. Nowadays, many people talk about the importance of asking the right questions while using AI, but what is even more important is that when we ask the right questions before God in our spiritual lives, our faith becomes properly established. In today’s passage, verse 35 says, "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!'" John tells his disciples, "Hey, that person is the Lamb of God. You should have followed Him, not me." The two disciples hear his words and immediately follow Jesus. In worldly terms, it seems like they have no loyalty or attachment. Right? They just shake off John the Baptist and go. But in matters of salvation and spiritual issues, loyalty is not what matters. The most important thing is the question. The question.
Hearing this, in verse 38, they ask, "Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, 'What do you seek?'" Jesus also asks them a question. When He asks, "What do you want?" the disciples of John throw out their question. "Rabbi, where are You staying?" This question encompasses many things. Because they still call Jesus Rabbi, it shows that they do not yet fully understand who Jesus is. Nevertheless, when they ask, "Rabbi, where are You staying?" they are expressing their desire for a teacher who will guide them properly. "Rabbi, where are You staying?" This indicates that they are asking, "What does it mean to live a proper faith?" "What is a proper spiritual life?" This is a huge question for them.
Through this question, they eventually come to follow Jesus. Through this question, they find the one they should worship. Through this question, they come to know the Lamb, Jesus, more deeply. Right? But the important thing is that in verse 36, when John sees Jesus walking, he says, "Behold the Lamb of God!" They receive such an answer. They ask questions, but they receive the answer, "The Lamb of God." This is an immensely significant answer. "Behold the Lamb of God." When you receive that answer, what do you realize you should do? Many saints, because that answer is so tremendous, start to ponder, "Oh, then where is He? What should I do from now on?" They begin to worry about how to respond to that answer.
So, when you read John 1, you see that this answer is reiterated in other places. It is mentioned again. In verse 36, it says, "The next day, John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, 'Behold the Lamb of God!'" They receive that answer again. Some questions are difficult to digest with just one answer. Nevertheless, to worship God properly, we need to keep asking questions.
"Is He the Lamb? How do I serve Him? How do I worship? What does the Old Testament say? Where did this Lamb come from?" By seeking these answers, we can stand properly in our faith. When you ask the right questions, you will find yourself in a position where "our faith can grow." So, while they are pondering, Jesus gives them this answer. In John 1:39, Jesus says, "Come and see." This is His answer. "Come and see." The question you have about the Lamb of God is a heavy and difficult question for you to bear, but the first thing you need to do is "Come and see. Come and be with Me and see My works." This is the answer the Lord gives. "Come and see."
Sometimes, the answers the Lord gives can be surprisingly simple. However, we need to open our ears and listen to that answer. But the important thing is this. You asked a question, right? If you asked a question, you need to receive an answer about how you should live your life. You need to apply that answer to your life. If you ask a question and receive an answer but do not act on it, if He says, "Come and see," and you don’t go, saying, "I don’t have time," then that means nothing. The important thing is that if you asked a question, your focus should be on how to live your life in accordance with the answer the Lord gives you. You should not deceive yourself into thinking that the answer is unrelated to your life and live without applying it. "Asking the right question" and "applying the answer to your life" is ultimately the process of becoming a special disciple.
However, sometimes when you ask questions, you may ask very blunt questions. Blunt questions are those that make you wonder how a believer can ask Jesus such a question. Why? Because it is a question that seeks the truth. Who asked a blunt question in today’s passage? In John 1:46, Nathanael says about Jesus, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Can anything good come out of Nazareth? To others, it might sound like he is insulting Jesus. He was told to come and see Jesus from Nazareth, but he concludes, "Hey, nothing good can come from Nazareth. That person cannot be good." Right? But we need to ask such questions in our spiritual lives. Because that way, we can avoid standing in the wrong place and stand in the truth.
Not long ago, I honestly don’t like to talk about politics during sermons. I don’t like to take sides or get involved in political matters. However, I thought Trump was doing well for a while. I thought so because he made good political decisions from a conservative standpoint. But recently, I saw on YouTube that Trump has someone he spiritually trusts, a female pastor named Polly White Cane. This person is the head of the White House Faith and Opportunity Initiative. In other words, when decisions about religion are made in the U.S., Trump consults this person.
However, I found out that in August 2015, she spoke at a conference hosted by the Unification Church, which is led by Moon Sun-myung's wife after his death. She referred to Moon Sun-myung's wife as "Holy Mother Han." This means she acknowledges that religion and somewhat follows their thoughts. In other words, this person can be seen as someone associated with Moon Sun-myung. If you do some research, you will find that this is true.
If this person is chosen as a spiritual leader and decisions are made based on her advice, then we can see that "Trump cannot be a proper Christian." We need to ask questions in our spiritual lives. Where does this person come from? What is this person’s background? What do they acknowledge? These questions are crucial for us to avoid falling into heresy and to stand in the truth. So sometimes, these blunt questions are necessary.
And Jesus acknowledges and even praises those who ask such questions. Look at John 1:47. Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!" What does this mean? Because he is pure, he asks such questions. Right? And 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 recognizes this and stands with Jesus. Right? Therefore, asking questions to stand in the truth is absolutely necessary. Only then can you become a proper disciple. That is what I desire for you.
Secondly, a proper disciple shows a change and loyalty until the end after being chosen by Jesus. You might not understand what prophecy means. Right? Let me explain. Jesus chooses specifically and tells you what you will become. And when you hear that, you must remain loyal until the end, saying, "Yes, Jesus has chosen me to be this person. I will live as this person until the end." That is what it means to be a proper disciple.
To explain it more simply, let’s take the example of Peter. Peter. In John 1:42, it says, "You are Simon, the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas," which is translated as Peter. Cephas means rock, and Peter also means rock. However, his original name is Simon. When Jesus first meets him, He says, "You are a rock. You will be a person of unwavering faith." He probably didn’t think of himself as a rock. He might have thought of himself as someone who wavers. But when Jesus declares it, he begins to think, "I am a rock, I am a rock." Eventually, he lives like a rock and dies as a martyr, showing the transformation of a disciple who faithfully follows Jesus’ choice.
You know, when Jesus calls you, it may seem spontaneous, but it is not. Jesus sees everything and says, "You will be this kind of person." This is not just passing words; it is something the Lord will accomplish. Therefore, when we hear that word, we must believe it, stand on it, and change accordingly. Honestly, from the moment Peter first met Jesus, he did not seem like a rock. Because he and his brother met Jesus together. His brother told people, "Hey, come and see Jesus. This is the Messiah." But Peter disappeared. At some point, he vanished. Why did Peter disappear? Because he thought, "I know Jesus, but my life is worse than His. I have a boat, but He has nothing. He is poor and has no family." So when Jesus says to him, "You are Peter," Peter thinks, "Who are you?" and leaves.
But later, he meets Jesus again while fishing. At that time, he didn’t even need a boat. Just one word from Jesus is enough. What is it? "Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." At that word, his boat is filled to overflowing. At that moment, Peter begins to change. What does he say? "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord." It seems that fishermen need to catch a lot of fish to change. Anyway, Peter is that kind of person. Honestly, he is greedy, but he begins to change. Of course, later he denies Jesus three times. However, Peter eventually becomes like a rock and walks the path of martyrdom. He changes according to Jesus’ words.
In today’s message, Nathanael is the same. Jesus says to him in verse 47, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!" When Jesus sees through people and says, "You are not deceitful," Nathanael looks at himself and thinks, "Yes, the Lord’s words are true." He lives without gratitude. Right? Because he is recognized. And as he is recognized, Nathanael changes. The Apostle Paul also changes in the Bible. In 1 Timothy 1:12, he says, "I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry." Right? When the Lord recognizes him and entrusts him with a ministry, Paul acknowledges, "Ah, He counted me faithful and entrusted me with this ministry," and ultimately shows his loyalty to the end. You see, we are the same. We are the same. When our Lord recognizes us and says, "You will be this kind of person," we must hold onto that word and continue to change. That is the appearance of a proper special disciple.
At that time, we open the way and ask, "Lord, how do You want to use me?" Such questions are necessary. So when we receive a mission and live out that mission, we will ultimately be used as special disciples. Right? Nathanael is also the same. In verse 50, Jesus answered and said to him, "Because I said to you, 'I saw you under the fig tree,' do you believe? You will see greater things than these." He tells Nathanael about his future, saying, "You will not end here; you will become a greater person." He continues, "Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man." He tells him that he will be a tool to connect others to God. He is saying, "You will become this kind of person." Right? We also want to hear the Lord say, "Ah, God wants to use me this way. I must stand as this kind of person until the end."
Thirdly, we need to consider whether there are many disciples who are truly used. In Aesop's fables, there is a story where a master tells his servant to go to the bathhouse and find out how many people are there. The servant comes back and says there is only one person. The master, excited, says, "Great, let’s go in quickly." But when they enter, there are people everywhere. Angry, the master asks the servant, "You said there was only one person. Why are there so many?" The servant replies, "When I went, I saw a stone in the hallway where people were tripping and falling, but not one person moved it. There was only one person who moved it, so I said there was one person." After hearing this, the master had nothing to say.
You see, we believers need to think about this. There are many people in the world, but it is hard to find useful people. Just like there is no water on the beach, can we find truly good Christians among believers? Many Christians think, "As long as I believe in Jesus and go to heaven, that’s enough," and no one thinks about becoming the best Christian. It seems that our hearts should ache. God has chosen us as the best children and the best disciples, yet no one wants to be the best. They just want to live passively and go. When we see this, we should think, "How sorrowful must our God be?"
It is not enough to just complain, "There are no proper Christians. Why are there no good candidates?" We must reflect on ourselves and ask, "Am I living to become the best disciple in the eyes of the Lord?" You must think about this. When I first came to Youngnak Church and took on the role of pastor, do you know what I was most afraid of? I was most afraid because it is the body of Christ. Since it is the body of Christ, nothing can be done carelessly. If I do something carelessly, it cannot be done. However, I felt that God had given me the gift of preaching. I thought I could do well if I worked hard. But the problem is that I lack the gift of administration. I see that clearly. If I had to pay the bills at home, I would have had a lot of problems. I have no concept of that at all. I have no concept of administration. What happens if someone like me does church administration? It would be a disaster. Moreover, I am not very good at visiting or comforting people. I should be able to cry with them, feel their pain, and share their burdens, but I can’t do it even though I know I should. So, I was afraid. I seriously thought, "Is it really pastoring to just give up on the shortcomings of the body of Christ?"
So, when I first came, I told the elders that I wouldn’t take on the role of chairperson. Why? Because there were too many empty spots, and if I couldn’t do it, how could I be the chairperson? The elders came to me and begged me to please take on the role of chairperson. Why? Because they had brought in a pastor in his thirties, and rumors were already spreading. They thought they had brought in a young pastor to take control, and if the pastor didn’t take on the role of chairperson, what would happen to them? They asked me to at least be the chairperson. So, I told the elders, "It’s not about whether I take on the role of chairperson or not; I really cannot do administration. I cannot visit and comfort people. I cannot do that. The empty spots must be filled for the body of Christ to function properly."
And since I wanted to do team ministry, I asked the elders to take care of the administration. But they did it so well. Later, I even thought, "Ah, now I understand why they sent the pastor away." Why? Because not every pastor can do everything well. Right? But if a pastor who is not good at administration is doing the job, that is neglecting the body of Christ. God gives gifts for a reason. The body of Christ must function through those gifts. When we move according to the gifts given by the Holy Spirit, the body of Christ stands properly. That is why He gives us gifts. He wants us to move according to those gifts. Ignoring the gifts is not the role of a pastor. The church must function through the gifts.
I may seem gentle to you. You might think, "Oh, Pastor Myung is gentle, not scary, and just a nice person." But I am not that kind of person. I can be quite harsh. There was an incident in our church where a department head came to me and said, "Pastor, if this pastor continues in this department, I cannot be the head." He wanted me to remove that person. I asked what the problem was, and the head deacon said, "Pastor, this person does not have the gift of preaching. If you ask the children, they all agree, and if you ask the teachers, they all agree. It is unacceptable to make the children suffer with a sermon that they cannot understand." He came to me with this issue. This was a very serious matter, and I had to make a decision. So, I met with that pastor. Coincidentally, that pastor had a Ph.D. in preaching. I asked, "Why did you major in preaching?" He said, "When I was in M.Div., people said I didn’t have the gift of preaching. I don’t think I’m good at preaching because it’s too hard for me." So, he was trying to improve his preaching skills by studying preaching.
When I heard that, I said, "Pastor, you should stop this ministry." Why? Because just because someone studies preaching does not mean they will become good at it. The most important thing is to have the gift. You need to have the gift of preaching, and then you can study preaching. If the Holy Spirit has not given you the gift of preaching, studying will not help.
First, the Holy Spirit must give the gift. Only then can you study and rely on the Holy Spirit, and that is when it works. This applies not only to preaching but to everything. It applies to musical instruments as well. If someone wants to glorify God with an instrument but has never played before, and they come to me saying, "Pastor, I will learn and become a great worship leader," does that make sense? That’s nonsense. Is the church a practice space? It is not a place to practice with precious souls. That person must be somewhat prepared already. So, when they come with the gifts given by the Holy Spirit, and when God wants to use them more greatly, they train and learn, and that is when the work of the Holy Spirit is added, and it becomes effective.
You see, believing in Jesus and serving the Lord is not just about becoming an ordinary disciple. It is about becoming the best disciple, entrusted with precious souls, so that those souls are not taken by Satan and become saved people who expand the kingdom of God. This is the heart with which both pastors and those serving in the church work. Therefore, the most important thing is the gifts.
Those who have received gifts are joyful. They are happy. One thing I can boast about while serving our church is that one characteristic of our church workers is that they serve for a long time. Once they start serving, they don’t leave. Many have served for over ten years. Is it because of the salary? No. It is not because of the salary. One of the characteristics of our church workers is that many come to serve the church. They don’t come with the mindset of "I will do this ministry." Instead, they come to serve, and as they serve, they discover, "Oh, I’m good at this." They find their gifts while serving, and as they serve with those gifts, they do well in our church. When they serve with their gifts, they do well. So, we entrust them with ministry. "There is an empty spot in this ministry; would you like to serve?" That’s why they stay for a long time. I find it fascinating.
However, those who serve for a long time in our church were not initially pastors. They were not initially evangelists. They became evangelists and pastors as they served. We didn’t force them into ministry; we saw their gifts and recognized them, so they ended up serving for a long time. I do not want our congregation to be ordinary disciples. I want you to discover your gifts given by the Holy Spirit and serve joyfully until the end. I want you to fulfill that ministry. Therefore, the precious souls entrusted to you will be built up in the church, and just like the Apostle Peter walked the path of martyrdom, we too can walk that path joyfully as disciples.
I bless you to be special disciples used by the Lord, building up the precious souls entrusted to you. Let us pray.
Heavenly Father, we thank You for the grace of making us disciples to be with You. However, Lord, let us be ambitious. We want to be special disciples. Not just ordinary disciples, but like Peter and Nathanael, we want to be able to give everything to You. We want to know exactly what the gifts of the Holy Spirit are and be faithful before You. Father God, let us see that the precious souls of Your kingdom do not just happen. Let us build Your church with fear and trembling and be faithful in the tasks You have entrusted to us. May we be able to testify, "Ah, Lord, thank You for giving me this gift. Thank You for how You are using me." May we all be led to that point. We thank You for today’s message and pray earnestly in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Let us all stand and sing. Now, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the great and wonderful love of God the Father, and the fellowship, inspiration, and work of the Holy Spirit be with all the saints of Youngnak and all believers who have received Jesus as their Savior until the day He returns. Amen.