John's Disciples Follow Christ
John Chapter 1 v35-51
John's disciples: this was the third day since verse 19. John was standing with two of his disciples: one was Andrew (verse 40), the other was probably John, the writer of this book. They looked as Jesus walked, and John the Baptist exclaimed "Behold the Lamb of God", thereby clearly identifying Him to the other two. So far as we know this was the third and last glimpse of Jesus by John: the baptism (Luke 3:29), the testimony (verse 29) were the two earlier ones.
They followed Jesus: they left John the Baptist because he had accomplished his mission in preparing them: he had predicted and portrayed the Messiah, had baptised him, had interpreted him, and now for the second time had identified him so that they might follow Him. They took him at his word and acted on it.
What do you seek? On hearing their steps behind him Jesus suddenly turns and asks this question, meaning "what purpose have you?" This reminds us that He can only be of help if we seek Him for the right reasons: we might be asking Christ to follow us and to support and advance our cause, not His. Are we seeking His glory or ours?
Teacher, where are you staying? The word Rabbi, is the Aramaic title for "Teacher" which John here translates for the benefit of general readers. These new disciples used several names for Jesus: Lamb of God (verse 36), Rabbi (verse 38), Messiah (verse 41), Son of God (verse 49), Him of whom Moses and the Prophets wrote (verse 45), and King of Israel (verse 49).
The disciples at first addressed Jesus by Teacher while others addressed him by Lord or Sir (for example, John 4:11, 49; 5:7; 6:68). In the end the disciples usually said Lord (John 13:6, 25, etc.) They probably wanted to pay Him a visit to learn from Him. These were His first disciples, along with Andrew's brother Simon (verse 42), Philip (verse 43) and Nathanael (verse 45).
Come and see: a polite invitation and definite promise. They did so, and remained beside Him all during that day. The time mentioned here is Roman time and so it is ten o'clock in the morning. To his latest day John never forgot the hour when first he met his Lord.
One ... was Andrew: he is explained by John as one of the two disciples of the Baptist and is identified as the brother of the famous Simon Peter (cf. also John 6:8; John 12:22). The more formal call of Andrew and Simon, James and John, comes later (Mark 1:16; Mat 4:18; Luke 6:14).
We have found the Messiah: Andrew sought his own brother Simon before he did anything else, and brought him to Jesus. Andrew and John had made the greatest discovery of the ages, for after hearing about him from John the Baptist they had now seen and talked with Him. This Aramaic title Messiah is preserved in the New Testament only here and in John 4:25; it is elsewhere translated into the Greek Christos, Anointed One.
You shall be called a stone: Jesus looked at him and, apparently before Simon spoke, He at once prophetically gave him a nickname that would characterise him later on, when he made the noble confession (Matthew 16:16) and Jesus said you are Peter. The Aramaic Cêphâs (rock) is only applied to Simon in John and by Paul (1 Corinthians 1:12; Galatians 1:18, etc.). But the Greek Petros is used by all. In the ancient Greek petra was used for a massive ledge of rock, while petros was a detached fragment of the ledge, though itself large. In Matthew 16:18 Peter is Petros, the fragment, and the church is built on Petra, the massive ledge. All believers are living stones, built on the Rock, which is Christ (1 Peter 2:4-8).
Follow Me: on the fourth of the days from verse 19, He finds Philip, apparently not an accidental finding, possibly due to the efforts of Andrew and Peter (both Andrew and Philip have Greek names). Follow me is present active imperative, a direct challenge to Philip. Often Jesus used this verb to call disciples (Mark 2:14; Mat 8:22; Mat 9:21; Mat 19:21; Luke 9:59; John 21:19). Already Jesus had begun His work, with four personal followers (Andrew and Simon, John and James). Philip was from the same town of Andrew and Peter, Bethsaida of Galilee, and would be inclined to follow the example of his townsmen.
How do you know me? Philip carries on the work, finding Nathanael. Nathanael is a Hebrew name meaning God has given. He was from Cana of Galilee (John 21:2), not far from Bethsaida and so known to Philip. His name does not occur in the other Gospels, while Bartholomew (a surname, Son of Tholomew) does not appear in John. They are almost certainly the name and surname of the same man. Philip identifies Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote as Jesus, son of Joseph, the one from Nazareth. Jesus passed as son of Joseph (not the son). Although John described him as God-only Begotten, Philip of course would not have known this yet. Nathanael ponders Can anything good come out of Nazareth? with a tinge of scorn in the question as if Nazareth had a bad name. A saying had arisen that no prophet comes out of Galilee (John 7:52), untrue like many such sayings (Jonah, Hosea, Nahum, possibly also Elijah, Elisha, and Amos were from Galilee), and town rivalry may also have existed since Cana (home of Nathanael) was near Nazareth. Not arguing the point, Philip simply says Come and see. He followed the method of Jesus with Andrew and John (verse 39), probably without knowing it. Jesus declared that Nathanael was Truly an Israelite, one living up to the covenant name, Israel at its best (Romans 2:29), without the guile that Jacob once had, of which Isaac complained (Genesis 27:35): the servant of Jehovah was to be without guile (Isaiah 53:9).
Nathanael had overheard Christ's comment and wanted to know its source, for Jesus was probably a stranger to him. Yet Jesus revealed that He had seen him before Philip called him, when he was under the fig tree. The fig tree was probably in leaf at this time, and there is a suggestion that Nathanael had withdrawn there for prayer: Jesus saw Nathanael's heart as well as his mere presence there. He saw him in his worship and so knew him.
Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel: Nathanael was a student of the Old Testament, as Philip implied (verse 45) and was quick to put together his knowledge, the statement of Philip, and the manifest supernatural knowledge of this Teacher as just shown. He knew from Psalm 2:6 that the Son of God would be made King of Israel, and as such He was acclaimed three years later by the people in Jerusalem (chapter 12:13).
You will see greater things than these: the wonder of Nathanael no doubt grew as the Lord went on. He would witness many signs and miracles during his discipleship. The expression translated most assuredly is the Hebrew word amen, said twice: it is only found in the words of Jesus and, like His expression I say unto you, is representative of Christ's authoritative manner of speaking. He also addresses the others when he announces the scene of the open heaven. The words remind one of what took place at the baptism of Jesus (Matthew 3:16; Luke 3:21), but the immediate inference is to the opened heaven as the symbol of free intercourse between God and man (Isaiah 64:1) and as it was later illustrated in the death of Stephen (Acts 7:56).
What was a dream to Jacob (Genesis 28:12), was realised in Christ: "I am the Way", Jesus said. He later told Caiaphas that he would see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power and coming with the clouds of heaven (Mark 14:62), referring to His return to set up His millennial kingdom.
R David Jones
Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; (John 1:35)
And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! (John 1:36)
And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. (John 1:37)
Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou? (John 1:38)
He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour. (John 1:39)
One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. (John 1:40)
He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. (John 1:41)
And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone. (John 1:42)
The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me. (John 1:43)
Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. (John 1:44)
Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. (John 1:45)
And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. (John 1:46)
Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! (John 1:47)
Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. (John 1:48)
Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. (John 1:49)
Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these. (John 1:50)
And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man. (John 1:51)