I guess most of us have kinds of sequences in a sermon which thrill our hearts. One of mine is when the preacher begins with the letter “A” and in succession lists names for Jesus. For example, He is the Alpha and Omega, the Bright and Morning Star. He is the Christ, but also our Counselor as well as our Defender against the powers of darkness. In these opening verses of John’s Gospel the Bible provides five names of Jesus which point out reasons why we ought to believe in Him.

• John the Baptist identified Him as the Lamb of God (vv. 35- 36). As often as the name pops up in hymns and choruses today, it may come as a shock to learn that only here and in verse 29 does the Bible call Jesus the Lamb of God. To be sure, the word “Lamb” can be found about 25 times in the Book of Revelation as well as many instances when the pronoun “he” refers back to the Lamb, as in Revelation 6:3, 5, 7, 9, 12 and so forth. Also, 1 Peter 1:19 says we are redeemed “with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”

As to where and how John the Baptist came up with the wonderful description of Jesus, the Bible does not say. He surely remembered the Passover lamb in Exodus 12: 3. We know, however, that God the Father had been instructing John about the coming baptism of Jesus (v. 33). Somehow, down in the depth’s of John’s soul, the Holy Spirit burned into John’s consciousness, “Lamb of God” and thereby provided believers with one of their most cherished names for the Savior. He is our atonement.

• The second name applied to Jesus is Rabbi, or Teacher (v. 38), a name given by the two earliest followers of Jesus. The Bible identified one of the two disciples as Andrew (v. 40), but leaves the other person anonymous. Many biblical scholars believe he was either Philip or John. “Rabbi,” the term they chose, was a term of respect ascribed to Jewish leaders. It took on the idea of “my great one,” or “noble one,” and especially, teacher.

Jesus, on the other band, called His followers disciples, that is, pupils, or learners. In the final words to His disciples as embodied in the Great commission (Matt. 28:19-20), Jesus established the importance and priority of teaching as the primary method of evangelistic outreach. Southern Baptists have validated the strategy through the years.

• The next name, Messiah, places Jesus solidly in the line of Old Testament prophecy (vv. 40-42). Someone has called Israel a “nation of the future,” meaning that restoration of the nation with a coming glory pervades the writings and hopes of the prophets (Exod. 6-7). To accomplish that goal, God used, and uses, various anointed leaders, even Cyrus (Isa. 45:1). Although the idea of a personal, spiritual Messiah (anointed One) is present in such contexts as Daniel 9:25, the anticipation of a prophet to arise like Moses was widespread when Jesus made His public appearance. Many felt that the fulness of time had come.

• This feeling that Israel’s time had come is reflected in two names given to Jesus by Nathaniel, Son of God and King of Israel (vv. 43-50). Some interpreters believe the name Son of God was a Messianic title used by Jews in Jesus’ day. The highest and most graphic moments came in the upper room when Thomas, invited by Jesus to place his fingers in the wounds left by the nails on the cross, bowed before Him uttering, “My Lord and my God” (John 20:28).

Jesus is Lord and He is the Coming King. We differ as to how and when the moment will come when the world will bow in subjection before Him, but the Bible leaves no room for doubt about the fact of it.