As a result of the Gospel of John, we are so far aware of the eternal being of Jesus as the Word, Light and God. We are also acquainted with one of Jesus’ relatives whose name is John. He baptizes while having followers of his own. This John is communicated to us as one with a specific paramount purpose requiring intimate knowledge of Jesus and himself. The last two paragraphs of this first chapter, John 1:35-51, articulate the transfer of followers from John to Jesus. Each of these converts make the transfer in different ways. And as we consider each of these converts we will discover our personal relational mandate with the Word, Light and God as children of God.
According to John: Chapter 1: 35-51
35 Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as He walked, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God!" 37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38 And Jesus turned and saw them following, and said to them, "What do you seek?" They said to Him, "Rabbi (which translated means Teacher), where are You staying?" 39 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. 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41 He found first his own brother Simon and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which translated means Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon the son of John; you shall be called Cephas" (which is translated Peter).
43 The next day He purposed to go into Galilee, and He found Philip. And Jesus said to him, "Follow Me." 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 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." 46 Nathanael said to him, "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!" 48 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." 49 Nathanael answered Him, "Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel." 50 Jesus answered and said to him, "Because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these." 51 And He said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."
vv 35-42
Verse 35 The gospel writer records that the events that follow are the next day from John (the baptizer). John is with two of disciples: Andrew and probably John the Disciple.
Verse 36 Again we have John declaring Jesus to be the Lamb of God who deals with the sin of the world. Who do you declare Jesus to be?
The idea of Jesus interacting with the sin of the world is introduced by John early in his gospel. How Jesus is going to deal with sin will be revealed as we walk with John through his gospel. At this point, as first brought out in verse 29, we must consider the manner in which Jesus is going to “take” away the world’s sin. ὁ αἴρων Masculine Singular Nominative Present Active Participle meaning: to raise up, lift up, carry or bear with the definite article: ‘Jesus is the One who continually takes on the sin of the world.’ Liddell gives further contextual Greek meanings for the active voice involving seizing up, snatching up, mounting up, brailing or hoist up. The active form distinguishes this verb from being translated: to raise up as in exalt or to lift and take away as in remove. This verb form allows the subject to act on the object without exalting the object or destroying the object. The subject simply takes the object as its own. This verb form is always in the now and active with indications of Jesus embodying the action of the verb. He is our forever and continual ‘taker on of sin’ Lamb of God. He is the Word, He is the God. Please forgive my crude grammatical expression, but it seemed the only way to get my point across about the profundity of my God. Jesus, as we will see, will take on sin instead of disposing of sin or instead of exalting sin. He will deal with the sin of the world for He is the Lamb of God. This is a direct fulfillment of the Old Testament ritual of the sacrificial lamb. Jesus is the Sin-Bearer.
Verse 37 The two disciples are Andrew and probably John the disciple and the author of this gospel. They heard and they followed. You can’t get any more childlike obedience than that. They heard and they followed. The word ἠκολούθησαν is in the 3rd Person Aorist Active Indicative form of ἀκολουθέω: to follow; follow one, go after or with him, freq. of soldiers and slaves. The aorist is said to be "simple occurrence" or "summary occurrence", without regard for the amount of time taken to accomplish the action. This tense is also often referred to as the 'punctiliar' tense. 'Punctiliar' in this sense means 'viewed as a single, collective whole,' a "one-point-in-time" action, although it may actually take place over a period of time. The active voice indicates that the subject is doing the action of the verb.
Verse 38 As Jesus asked John and Andrew, He asks you, “What do you seek?”
Verse 39 Jesus’ invitation to all who will hear Him is to “come.” You may not see right now, but only as you follow Him will you see. Andrew and John followed, what about you? These two, possibly the strong silent type, asked to go where Jesus was lodging so they could have some privacy. They wished to answer but did not feel that the road was the place for such life changing conversations.
Verse 40 Andrew is officially identified. His brother is Simon Peter.
Verse 41 Andrew plays a vital role in Simon coming to Jesus. He brings him to Him by stating what he, himself, has discovered. Having a problem with your evangelistic efforts? If so, or if not, then establish or reestablish a relationship with Israel’s Messiah. His name is Jesus Christ.
Verse 42 Every time we see Andrew in scripture, he is bringing someone to Jesus. Here, he is bringing his brother Simon. In John 6:8-9, Andrew brings the lad to Jesus in the miracle of the 5 loaves of bread and 2 small fish feeding 5,000 men with their wives and children. Then, he brings the Greeks to Jesus.
Upon Andrew bringing Simon to Jesus, Jesus changes Peter’s name to Cephas. Jesus changes one’s life that often times He changes their name to reflect the new life purpose. In other instances God changed Jacob to Israel, Abram to Abraham, Sarai to Sarah, and Saul to Paul. Has God affected your life in such a way that a name change is warranted?
vv 43-51
Verse 43 This paragraph introduces a new geographic location. It would do well for us to become familiar with the Galilean region which is the primary area in which Jesus live almost His entire life. The Sea of Galilee is 700 feet below sea level. It is about 144 feet deep. The area of Galilee is understood to be the land area west of the Sea of Galilee stretching westward to the Mediterranean Sea. This area is above what is called Samaria, which will also come into play in John’s gospel. The Jordan River supplies it from the north and drains it in the south on its way to the Dead Sea.
Cana and Nazareth are in the inland of the area which is characterized by sharp steep gorges. Bethsaida, Tiberias and Capernaum are the major ministry cities along the Sea of Galilee’s shore.
Jesus’ call to Philip was simply “Follow me.” ἀκολούθει is in the 2nd Singular Present Active Imperative form of ἀκολουθέω meaning ‘to follow;’ follow one, go after or with him, freq. of soldiers and slaves. The active voice indicates that the subject is doing the action of the verb. The imperative mood is a command or instruction given to the hearer, charging the hearer to carry out or perform a certain action.Verse 44 Bethsaida is Philip’s hometown. It is also one of Jesus’ ministry hubs along the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee.
Verse 45 Philip finds Nathanael. This verse tells us of Philip’s understanding of Christ. Major Old Testament testimonies are listed by John in Philip’s articulation to Nathanael. Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus the son of Joseph. Both of these link Jesus by fulfilling prophecies.
Verse 46 Here through verse 50 we have the Nathanael’s question based faith profession journey. He asks two questions. The first regards Jesus’ origin and flat out significance in this world.
Verse 47 Jesus sees Nathanael approaching, brought by Philip and makes an incredibly insightful yet non condemning statement about Nathanael. The word translated ‘deceit’ is δόλος from meaning A. bait for fish: hence, any cunning contrivance for deceiving or catching, as the net in which catches; mouse-trap. b. generally, any trick or stratagem, etc.: in plural, wiles, etc. 2. in the abstract, craft, cunning, treachery, 3. spy. Nathanael was from Bethsaida, a fishing town on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee and Jesus uses a largely fishing term to describe this man’s demeanor. Nathanael was a man who did not have hidden agendas. As blunt as he may be, as we saw from his question in verse 46, he did not have any catches or baiting in mind in which to abuse or manipulate Jesus. Therefore, you can ask questions about Jesus and still be innocent of treachery. Ask in all humility without cunning and He will answer you.
Verse 48 Second, Nathanael asks a question regarding Jesus’ knowledge of him by using a widely know fishing term to describe his character. Nathanael asks, ‘How do you know me that well?’ Not, ‘Who told you of me?’ Jesus must have hit Nathanael’s character right on the head. Jesus answered, I saw you Nathanael. Does that bother you? That Jesus, in one word, can describe you. He is able to see you for you cannot hide even in the dark, for He is the LIGHT. Where He is there is no darkness, for darkness is nothing but the absence of LIGHT.
Verse 49 Nathanael correctly gives us Jesus. He is Rabbi, a teacher. He is the Son of God (ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ θεοῦ), not a Son of God, as if there are many other sons of god. He is King of Israel. The Greek (Westcott-Hort) does not have the definite article with ‘King of Israel.’
Verse 50 Jesus answers Nathanael by stretching him in his faith. The magnificent happenings of events that will be seen are carried into verse 51. Jesus also stretches our faith by saying 'you haven't seen anything yet.' You think that you have encountered Christ and Him at work, just wait and see. This thought of 'wait and see' will accompany us throughout John’s gospel.
Summary:
In this section, John 1:35-50, we have the record of some of the disciples coming to the Messiah, Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the Son of God and King of Israel for the first time. Andrew – Followed Jesus through John the baptizer’s words. John (the disciple, gospel author) - Followed Jesus through John the baptizer’s words. Simon Peter – Andrew went and got him and brought him to Jesus. Philip – Jesus found him. Nathanael – Philip found him and brought him to Jesus. He also had a long questioning discussion with Jesus.
Now, let’s take note of the calling of Jesus’ later followers: YOU. The question of ‘how’ is not the most important. The question of you being a follower of HIM is the MOST IMPORTANT issue? Do you follow HIM? Do you follow Him from a distance or through second hand information like the Pharisees and priests? Or, do you seek to spend time with Him, ‘where are you staying?’ Seek Him while He may be found.
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