John Chapter 1 E

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Quotes about the Gospel of John:

  1. “Our seeking of Him is only the reflex action of His first seeking us, just as we love Him because He first loved us.” – A.W. Pink
  2. “Do not be turned aside by the objections of the one to whom you are speaking but continue to press upon him the claims of Christ and then trust God to bless His own Word, in His own good time” – A.W. Pink.

Jesus Calls

Read John 1:43 – Ask yourself – Why does the writer of John use “the next day” for the third time in this beginning passage? What day is it?  

  • First time in vs. 29, then in vs. 35 and now in vs. 43
    • It is the 4th day after John the Baptizer witnessed of Jesus.
      • Day 1 – John 1:19 – The day before Jesus arrives from the Temptation. John the Baptizer meets with delegation from Jerusalem. They ask if he is Elijah. 
      • Day 2 – John 1:29 – Baptizer introduces Jesus to the crowd as “behold the Lamb of God”.
      • Day 3 – Baptizer is still at Bethany across the Jordan baptizing and this is when he introduces Andrew and “another disciple” to Jesus and they follow.
  • Jesus decides to go to Galilee from Bethany beyond the Jordan it is a 2-day journey.

Read John 1:44 -45 – Ask yourself – Who was Nathanael?

  • Vs. 44 – Phillip, Andrew and Peter are friends from Bethsaida. Phillip knows Nathanael, but not sure where he is from.
    • Nathanael is a Hebrew name that means “God has given.”
    • Nathanael is from Cana.
  • Vs. 45 – Phillip finds Nathanael and says, “we have found him of whom Moses in the Law and the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth.  
    • The phrase “the Law and the prophets” was a common expression in New Testament times for the whole Tanakh (What today is called the Old Testament).
    • Phillip could have been referring to Deuteronomy 18: 15-19. Christ was the prophet like Moses raised up from among his people.
    • The prophets sent from God spoke of the coming Messiah.
      • Isaiah – 4:14, Jeremiah 23:5, Ezekiel 34:23-24 and Daniel 9:24
  • Vs. 46 – Nathanael said can anything good come from Nazareth? The NIV Cultural Background Study Bible says this could be village rivalry. IT was common in this time. Some recent estimates for the population of Nazareth during Jesus time were below 500 people. It was expected that someone like Jesus would come from Jerusalem or Bethlehem. Micah 5:2. Jesus was born in Bethlehem, but obviously Nathanael did not realize at this point.   
  • Vs. 47-48 – “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit”.
    • Jesus is giving Nathanael a compliment b/c it is true. Psalms 32:2. Jesus was telling him he was a straightforward man with no hidden motives. He was a representation of the chosen people of Israel. This is how all Israelites should have been.
    • Genesis 32:28-30 – God gave Jacob the name Israel which means “wrestles with God”, and Jacob means conniving or deceitful.
    • Nathanael responds with how do you know me? Jesus responds with I saw you under the fig tree.
      • Fig tree was known in Rabbinic literature as a proper place to mediate on the scriptures. So, here is a true Israelite sitting under a Fig tree reading scripture. Some scholars have speculated that he was studying Genesis 28 about Jacob and the stairway.
  • Vs. 49 – Nathanael responds with “Rabbi you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel”. How did he know? Nathanael was well read in scripture and likely he knew these passages based on what Jesus said.
    • 2 Samuel 7:12-14 – God is talking to David about Solomon and Jesus in the same passage.
    • Psalms 2:2-7 – My King upon Zion. Son of God and King of Israel were synonymous.
  • Vs. 50 – Jesus responds with “You will see greater things than these”. The divine Glory of God incarnate. Nathanael will experience the full glory of God almighty by the time it is all over.
  • Vs. 51 – Angles of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.
    • Truly, Truly literally means Amen! Amen! Jesus’ doubling of this term is only found in the Gospel of John and it happens 25 times. It means listen to this b/c what I am telling you is faithfully true from God.
    • The angles ascending and descending on the Son of Man is referencing Genesis 28 and Jacob’s dream. Genesis 28:12 talks about a stair way. Your Bible may say “ladder”, but the Hebrew word is “sullan” and it is better translated staircase.
      • Jacob saw a staircase leading into heaven and angles were walking up and down it. Genesis 28:13-14 God is giving Jacob the promise He gave his grandfather and father. Bethel means “House of God” and it was there in Jacob’s dream.
    • The New Bethel is Christ – No longer is there a need for staircase from Heaven and Earth. Jesus is the staircase the connection to Heaven now.
    • “Son of Man” – This is Jesus’ favorite title for himself. He says it at least 80 times in the Gospels. It comes from Daniel 7:13. …before me one like the Son of Man.
    • Just as John the Baptizer told his disciples to follow Jesus, and Andrew finds his brother Peter and brings him to Jesus. Then Peter brings Phillip and Phillip brings Nathanael to Jesus. We are to bring people to Jesus and the 4th Gospel is a great book to use.