John Lesson 4

Introduction

A very pleasant good day to you. Welcome to Let the Bible Speak. We’re so happy to have you in our audience and studying together with us from the Gospel of John. Get your New Testament open and turn to John chapter 1 as we continue our study in this verse by verse analysis of this treatise that tells us about Jesus the Christ, the Son of God. In our introductory lesson to the Gospel of John, we pointed out that the purpose of the book is stated in John chapter 20, in verses 30 and 31. There the apostle said, Many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you might have life through his name.

In a nutshell, that describes so many wonderful features about the gospel according to John. There were other signs Jesus did, many more than are recorded in the gospel according to John. But there are certain ones that he selected as proof that he is Jesus, the Son of God. That Jesus is that Christ. He is the chosen one, the anointed one of God. He is the Messiah for whom the Jews have been looking. But even more definite than that, he is God with us. He’s the Son of God. But the purpose for his coming was in order that you and I might have life through his name. It’s a wonderful book, and it’s worthy of our study and careful attention. And if you have your testaments open to John chapter 1, we’re going to continue our study in this lesson by beginning with John chapter 1 and verse 35.

In our previous studies, we’ve gone through verse 34. So let’s begin with verse 35, where the scripture says, and again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples, and looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold, the Lamb of God. And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 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? 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. One of the two which heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first finded his own brother Simon and saith unto him, We have found the Messiah, which is being interpreted the Christ.

1. The First Day: Priests and Levites Sent to John

And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon, the son of Jonah, thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation a stunt. In the dialogue of John chapter 1, there are actually four consecutive days that are outlined for us. We need to pause and take a look at these so that we not become confused. First of all, in verses 19 through 28, the first day that is mentioned is the time when the Jewish leaders from Jerusalem sent out certain priests and Levites to John the Baptist. Now that’s a different John from the one who wrote this letter or this book. John the Baptist was the one who had been announced by God, even prophesied of years before he came, Isaiah, some seven hundred years before the birth of John, had predicted that there would be one who would come, who would prepare the way for the Lord.

2. The Second Day: Jesus Is the Lamb of God

And John the Baptist is that prophet that that was predicted to come. And in verses 19 through 28, John the Baptist told these rulers from Jerusalem that he was simply the one who was to come preparing the way. They questioned whether John the Baptist might be the Messiah, or whether John the Baptist might be Elijah or even that prophet of whom Moses did speak, and clearly John said, I’m not any one of these. Now he was Elijah in the sense that he came in the Spirit and the power of Elijah, but he was not literally Elijah reincarnated, incarnated, or resurrected again. And so he said, I’m not any of these. Now that was the first day that is recorded, at least in this context. But then the second day is beginning in verse 29 and goes through verse 34, where it just simply says, The next day, John seeth Jesus coming unto him.

And it is on this occasion that John clearly testified, Jesus is the Lamb of God. He is the very one of whom Isaiah also spake. In Isaiah 53 and verse 7, as a lamb done before his sure so opened he not his mouth. He’s the perfect sacrifice. Now the Jews really never fully comprehended how that the Messiah would also be a sacrifice. But when we understand God’s eternal plan, his scheme of redemption, we understand that the Lamb of God perfectly describes this one. For Jesus is as a lamb, the perfect sacrifice for our sins. Under the law of Moses, they were familiar with sacrifices, even as lamb being offered as a sacrifice for sins. But but in a in a real and literal way, the blood of animals could not take away sin.

But Jesus Christ, as one who lived among men, who lived and was tempted in all points like as we are, yet was without any sin. He is a perfect sacrifice for those who did sin. He alone could die for another who is a sinner. He died in our place and for our sins. As 1 Peter chapter 1, verses 18 and 19 describes him, that he is the Lamb of God, that he is the one who without spot and without blemish, by his precious blood, he forgives us of our sins. Well, on this day, John the Baptist declared that he’s the Lamb of God. In fact, went on to say that God had confirmed that Jesus is the Son of God, testifying that even at the baptism of Jesus, that when the Holy Spirit came on Jesus in the form of a dove, and the words from heaven of the Father saying, This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased, that John knew him.

3. The Third Day: We Found the Messiah

That is, that John understood this confirmation from heaven. He might have known him in the flesh as his cousin, at least in the flesh, even before that point in time, but it was at the baptism of Jesus that it was confirmed by heaven, that Jesus is the Son of God. But now the third day of this context is the passage we’ve just read, where beginning in verse 35, it says, Again, the next day after. John stood and with two of his disciples. Now in our last lesson, we pointed out that John came preparing the way for Christ, and that he preached a baptism of repentance. He preached a baptism of repentance that they should believe on Christ, who should come after him. It is significant, as we’ve just read these verses, that John the Baptist on this third day pointed out to two of these disciples, behold the Lamb of God.

He did not try to take glory to himself. He simply said, Here is the Lamb of God, actually, of whom I have been speaking. And these two disciples began following Jesus. John wasn’t jealous. But rather, this is the very purpose for which John came preaching. They began following Jesus. Now, we’re told the name of one of these disciples. In verse 40, one of them is described as Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. We’re not told the name of the other. Many believe that it is John, the writer of this book. It is significant that John never calls himself by name in this book. There are several different times where he describes himself simply as being the disciple whom Jesus loved, the disciple whom Jesus loved. But he did not give any kind of preeminence to himself.

And even here, Andrew is the only disciple named, and there are those who believe that indeed this was John, the one who writes the book, who, as a friend of Andrew, who came, who lived in the same village of Andrew, and were partners together in fishing, that this was the one who was with Andrew. But we’re not positive about that. But the real point is not so much who the disciple was, but rather when they asked, Where do you live? They really were not trying to be nosy in the sense that we might say, well, you know, they were out of place asking such a question. What they were really seemingly searching for is where is your source of security? Who do you depend upon? Where do you really come from?

Now, they had said to him in verse 38, when Jesus said, What seek ye? They said Rabbi, which is being interpreted master. That’s quite an appellation they’ve given Jesus, a term that he is indeed a teacher, a master. They recognize he is an instructor of them. But then when they asked, Where dwellest thou, Jesus simply replied, Come and see. You follow me, you come with me, and I will show you. That was about the tenth hour. That would be according to our reckoning of time, perhaps along about the 4 p.m. or 4 o’clock in the afternoon. And so they go with Jesus to see and dwelt with him. But after that evening of being with the Lord, literally understanding then firsthand who he is. Not only has John the Baptist testified to them he’s the Son of God, the Lamb of God, but now for themselves they have inquired.

We need to come and see. We need to look more deeply into the words that Jesus spake and what he did. But as we understand who he is and come to belief in Jesus as the Christ, look what Andrew did. The scripture says how that he found his own brother Simon and said unto him, verse 41, We found the Messiah. He didn’t say to Peter, We found a really good man. We found one of the best men ever. He simply said, We found the Messiah. Now the word Messiah in the Hebrew meant the anointed one. It’s parallel word in the Greek is Christ. We found the Christ, he said. And as this scripture says, which being interpreted is the Christ. They have been looking for the Messiah.

4. Thou Shalt Be Called Cephas, a Stone

From the from the Old Testament period, they had been looking for the one who would come as the anointed of God. And so it was a thrilling message when Andrew could go to Simon and say, We found him. And he brought Peter or Simon to Jesus. In verse 42, when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon, the son of Jonah. Thou shalt be called Cephas, which is, by interpretation, a stone. Now that’s a significant statement too. Jesus, of course, could knew what was in the heart of man. Jesus himself alone would know what was in the mind of others, and even the character of others. We all who know anything about the New Testament remember Simon Peter, the apostle Peter, as a strong one, as a man who was impetuous, who was in the forefront, who was a leader, to say that he would be a stone firm, like a little rock.

Indeed, is quite a description of this one. Simon, you shall be called Cephas. Now Cephas is an Aramaic form of the word Peter. Peter in the Greek and Cephas in Aramaic. But again, here the scripture tells us what it means. Literally, it means a stone. Now that is significant with the emphasis that has been put upon Peter as a rock, emphasis put upon that by our Catholic friends who want to describe Peter as the first Pope and say that upon Peter the church was built. I say it is significant because it is not the same word that is used in that verse that our Catholic friends uh quote to describe Peter as the foundation. Let me explain to you. In this word here, where Jesus said, Thou shalt be called Peter, or a stone, the Greek word Peter here literally comes from a the word Petrus in his masculine form, the Greek has an ending, and it tells us that this word really means uh a pebble or a stone, something you could pick up in your hand, perhaps even and throw to another.

A smaller piece of rock. Now, there is another word that is translated rock in in the the Hebrew in the Greek language, and it’s in its feminine form, petra, which literally means a mass of rock. Mine’s expository dictionary, as well as other lexicons, so define the difference between these two words. But the word petra is more the idea of a ledge or a cliff. You could not pick it up with your bare hands. It is a mass of rock. Why is that significant? Well, in Matthew chapter 16 and in verse 18, when Jesus made that famous statement to Peter, after Peter had confessed that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, Jesus said, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjonah, for flesh and blood have not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

And verse 18 of Matthew 16, and I say also unto thee that thou art Peter, petros, stone. And upon this rock, petra, mass of rock, ledge. Upon this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Jesus was not saying, upon Peter, this little stone will I build my church, but rather upon this mass of rock, petra. That is the fact that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. You don’t have to know Greek really to understand the Bible, the Word of God, but there are sometimes in passages like this that it it it certainly does as well to go back and look at what the scholars do say about it so that we’re not become confused.

There are other scriptures that declare that Jesus is the foundation. 1 Corinthians chapter 3 and verse 11. The apostle said, Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Christ is the foundation rock. Peter, he was firm. He was like a stone. And that name given to him certainly fits him. But he is not the one upon whom the church of the Lord is built. We’re going to pause for a moment, and then we’ll come back and we’re going to conclude our study of John chapter 1. And in this, we’re going to analyze that there are five different men that are so described in these verses who are willing to die for the testimony that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.

Do you have that kind of conviction and faith in him? I hope that you will.

And the testimony of others gives us confirmation of that very fact. We said earlier that in John chapter 1, there are four consecutive days that are outlined for us. In verse 19 is the first day that is described, where the ruler sent certain priests and Levites to inquire who John the Baptist is. And then in verse 29 was the second day, or the next day after, when John testified that Jesus is the Lamb of God, that he is the Son of God, even confirmed by heaven at his own baptism. But then in verse 33, I’m sorry, in verse 35, is the third day when John testified to two of his disciples that Jesus is the Lamb of God. And that was Andrew and perhaps John, the writer of this book, and they began to follow Jesus.

5. The Fourth Day: Philip Says Come and See

And in fact, Andrew went and told his brother Simon Peter, who came to follow Jesus. But now beginning in verse 43 is the fourth consecutive day. And so let’s begin reading in John chapter 1, and we’ll read verses 43 through 51. The day following, Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me. Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip findeth Nathaniel, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses and the law and the prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, come and see. Jesus saw Nathaniel coming to him and saith of him, Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile.

Nathanael said unto him, Whence knowest thou me? And Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou was under the fig tree, I saw thee. Nathaniel answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God. Thou art the king of Israel. Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believed thou? Thou shalt see greater things than these. 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. On this fourth day, Jesus found Philip and called him. Follow me. Now Philip was of Besseda. That’s a small village on the northwest side of the Sea of Galilee.

And it was the same city from whence Andrew and Peter, where they were from. The scripture says that Philip went to find Nathaniel. We really know nothing more about the earlier days of Philip and Nathaniel, if they had been friends in their childhood. We’re just not certain about that. But at least Nathaniel was searched out by Philip. Now, it is significant also that the word Nathaniel is not found in the books of Matthew, Mark, or Luke. Some believe that this same man called Nathaniel in the Gospel of John is the one who is called Bartholomew in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. That he later became one of the apostles. The word Bartholomew is not in the Gospel of John. It’s just simply supposition, but strong reasons for believing that Nathaniel is the same as Bartholomew.

But notice the significance here. When Philip found Nathaniel, he said unto him, We have found him of whom Moses and the law and the prophets did write. He didn’t say, This is a good man, this is a great man who’s come, a prophet. He simply said, This is the one we’ve been looking for. Moses, the prophets spoke of this, as we’ve indicated earlier. For over 1,500 years, the Jews have been looking for the Messiah to come, the anointed one of God. They have been looking for the prophet or that prophet of whom Moses did speak in Deuteronomy chapter 18, verses 15 through 18, that God would raise up a prophet like unto him. And like Moses, Jesus was a lawgiver. Like Moses, Jesus was a deliverer, deliverer from sin to those who are in its bondage.

But Jesus is that one of whom Moses did write. Not only did Moses speak of him, really, you could go back earlier than that, for in Genesis chapter 12 and verse 3, even in the promises that were made to Abraham, God had said that of Abraham’s seed he would raise up one through whom he would bless all families of the earth. So they had been looking for the seed of Abraham. They’ve been looking for the prophet like unto Moses. And Philip said to Nathaniel, We found him. But then when he said, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph, listen to the answer of Nathaniel. Can any good thing come out of Nazareth? Perhaps that is not as derogatory as we might have made it sound at times.

But simply, when you look at it from the scriptural point of view, is there anything prophesied that should come out of Nazareth? Or the Messiah to come from there.

Now Jesus fulfilled that prophecy, for he was born in Bethlehem. But Philip at this point didn’t identify him as the one born in Bethlehem. He simply said he was raised in Nazareth. He came from Nazareth. And such a small, insignificant place like Nazareth, can any good thing is this where the the son of God should come from? Where the seed of Abraham, the prophet like unto Moses, should be from? Can any good thing come out of Nazareth? Listen to the words. Philip said, Come and see. Come and see. There are two great teachers in this first John. We’ve already seen how Andrew went and told his brother Simon, Simon Peter, that he should come, we found the Messiah. All of us who truly understand who Jesus Christ is, should go tell our brothers.

6. Thou Art the Son of God, the King of Israel

We should go tell our neighbors. Come, we’ve found the Christ, the Messiah. But then there are always those who say, Well, I’m just not a good teacher. I I’m not able to teach. And maybe we ought to be like a a Philip. If we’re not able to tell it ourselves, we can at least say, like a Philip, come and see. You come search for yourself. Someone else can tell you, but you can’t. All of us can do that. We can extend the invitation, like an Andrew, and like a Philip. Are you that committed to Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God? Come and see. In verse 47, Jesus saw Nathaniel coming to him, and his first words, Behold, an Israelite indeed in whom is no guile.

Here is a man of pure heart. Here is truly a servant of God, an Israelite indeed. Nathaniel responded to that, how do you know who I am, who I am? There are some politicians today who might say very flowing words of another and not mean it, for they don’t know what they’re talking about. And that’s really what Nathaniel’s response is. How do you know what you’re talking about? And then Jesus said, Well, even before Philip called you, I saw you sitting under the fig tree. Now, this is something that Nathanael realized that nobody knew about except Nathaniel. How could Jesus have known? And Nathanael’s response to that, in that Jesus told him something no man could know. Really, this is one of the proofs that Jesus is the Son of God.

As we go through this gospel, we’re going to show that when he works signs and wonders, the miracles, he did things no man could do except God be with him. And Nathaniel realized that immediately, and he answered, Rabbi, that is master or teacher, thou art the Son of God. Thou art the King of Israel. Surely you must be the one, even as Philip declared, and as Andrew earlier said, who is the Christ, the one of whom the prophets did speak of, whom Moses did write, you are the Messiah. He said the words, Thou art the Son of God. Thou art the King of Israel. Jesus’ response to him was, Because I said you were under the fig tree, you believe on me? You’re going to see greater things than these.

There’s far greater works that Jesus will do than just that. In fact, he said, You’ll see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man. Now, he came in the flesh, so in that sense he’s the Son of Man. But because he is deity, he is the Son of God. And the figure of angels ascending and descending reminds us of Genesis chapter 28 and verse 12, when Jacob had the dream or the vision, and the ladder to heaven with angels ascending and descending. That is, he had perfect communication with the Father. And that’s what Jesus will be. He will be one who has perfect communication with the Father, even as John chapter 5 and verses 19 and 20 later describes unto us that Jesus is the one who declares the Father unto us.

Conclusion

He is the one who shall speak unto us. He said that the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do. For what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. For the Father loveth the Son and showeth him all things that himself doeth. And he will show him greater works than these that ye may marvel. Jesus Christ, the Son of God. These men, five men we’ve seen in this context, who believe that Jesus was the Son of God. John the Baptist would make a sixth, who testified he’s the Son of God. Then there is Philip, there is Andrew, there is John, there is Nathaniel. All of these men are willing to die for the testimony of Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God.

Would you be willing to commit your life to Christ? Believing that he’s the Son of God, Mark sixteen and sixteen, he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. Won’t you repent of your sins? As Acts two thirty eight says, Repent and be baptized, every one of you. In the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. Confess to Christ and be immersed into his death, that you might stand for him who loved you and died for you. Until our next study, we bid that the grace and peace of our Lord be with you.