The Significance of Christ

Illustration Regarding Significance: The following is an excerpt from a March 2, 2021 AP News article:

An exceptionally rare 15th century porcelain bowl made in China...somehow turned up at a Connecticut yard sale and sold for just $35 was [later] auctioned off...for nearly $722,000.

The small white bowl adorned with cobalt blue paintings of flowers and other designs — one of only seven such bowls known to exist in the world — was among a variety of Chinese works of art sold by Sotheby’s as part of its Asia Week events...

Sotheby’s had estimated the value of the artifact at $300,000 to $500,000. [The]...auction included 15 bids, starting at $200,000 from someone online and ending at $580,000 from another person bidding by phone. The official purchase price, which included various fees, was $721,800.

An antiques enthusiast came across the Ming Dynasty-era piece and thought it could be something special when browsing a yard sale in the New Haven area last year, according to Sotheby’s. The buyer later emailed information and photos to Sotheby’s asking for an evaluation.

“Today’s result for this exceptionally rare floral bowl, dating to the 15th century, epitomizes the incredible, once in a lifetime discovery stories that we dream about as specialists in the Chinese Art field,” …[the] head of [Sotheby’s ] Chinese Works of Art Department, said in a statement.

Sotheby’s confirmed…[that the bowl] was from the 1400s…[after] they were able to look at it in person — there are no scientific tests, only the trained eyes and hands of specialists. The bowl was very smooth to the touch, its glaze was silky and the color and designs are distinctive of the period.

The story demonstrates that an object’s significance, upon initial examination, may appear to have limited or even no intrinsic value, but upon further investigation turns out to be extremely valuable, or even priceless.

When it comes to the significance of Christ, no scientific tests can be performed that will help one determine the immeasurable value that is found in the One whom John the Baptist referred to as the Lamb of God! It is only through inquiry, first hand knowledge, and personal experience that one realizes how wonderful Christ is! John is exceptionally qualified to tell his audience about Jesus! We know this because he tells us that:

1 John 1:1–3 (ESV)

That which was from the beginning [concerning Jesus Christ], which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.

I. Behold, the Lamb of God! - vs. 35-42

The Start of Day 3.

The first 18 verses of the first chapter of John’s gospel represent a prologue that introduces theological ideas central to this Gospel account. Theological truths such as Christ’s divinity, and his association with the account of creation found in Genesis, but especially, essentially, in Jesus is life, and that life is the light of men. The one who possesses life in himself, is also the one who has the attribute of light in himself, or that quality in the world that reveals and makes things visible and clear, so that we can recognize that which is significant. Each of these truths, and the others listed in the prologue, separately represent an individual face of multi-faceted theological gem. Upon completing the prologue, John begins to describe the first activities in the first days of Jesus’ public ministry. For example, the first day of Jesus’ ministry begins in vs. 19, concluding in vs. 28, followed by the beginning of day two in verse 29, and wrapping up the day in vs. 34. This means that verse 35 represents the start of day 3 in the first week of Jesus’ public ministry.

At the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry, according to John, compared with the synoptic gospels, the earliest disciples, as they will become known, are first exposed to Jesus through the mediation of his forerunner, John the Baptist. The synoptic gospels represent an explicit call as seen in the following passages:

The parallel passages are Matthew 4:18-20

Matthew 4:18–20 ESV

While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him.

and Mark 1:16-18

Mark 1:16–18 ESV

Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him.

each of which seem to describe the initial call differently. How do you reconcile the accounts? Luke’s account may provide some additional details that may prove helpful. Luke 5:1-11

Luke 5:1–11 ESV

On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.

What inspired Andrew and the other unnamed disciple of John to follow Jesus? What is in this phrase that would move these disciples of John to leave him and follow Jesus? All John said was, “Behold, the Lamb of God.”

Jesus asks them, “What are you seeking?” Why do they answer with, “where are you staying”? Is Jesus’ response, “come and you will see,” also in response to his initial question, “what are you seeking”?

Jesus doesn’t give them the information they request, because the information, in and of itself, is not what they need. They need a relationship with him and so he invites them to “come and see,” thus drawing them toward relationship, if they are willing to follow.

John employs the Greek word, menei, 40 times throughout his gospel, which in various contexts may refer to the ideas of “abiding,” “remaining in a sphere,” “remaining in a place,” and “to dwell or stay with.” When John uses it specifically in the context of the disciple to his Master, it takes on the significance of being united or in union with Christ.

Why does Andrew believe that Jesus is the Christ (Messiah)?

Bethsaida is the city of Andrew and Peter, not Caphernaum.

Philip says to Nathanael, “come and see,” which is the same thing Jesus said to Andrew and the unnamed disciple.

What does it mean for angels to ascend and descend on the Son of Man?

A characteristic of discipleship is the desire to tell others about Jesus, and this is a direct result of becoming personally acquainted with him.

Nathanael had reasons to doubt that Jesus was the Messiah: he was from a place unexpected to be associated with the Messiah. Do people today have good reasons to doubt the claims of Christ? Like Nathanael, their initial misgivings can be replaced with confidence and faith when the objective evidence is presented to validate the claims of Christ.

The angels ascending and descending on Jesus is reminiscent of the story of Jacob in Genesis 28:12, which states, And he dreamed: A stairway was set on the ground with its top reaching heaven, and God’s angels were going up and down on it. Jesus has become the point of contact between heaven and earth.

vs. 47 - So then it is integrity of heart before God, and uprightness before men, that makes a Christian; but Christ points out chiefly that kind of deceit which is mentioned in Psal. 32:2. In this passage ἀληθῶς (truly) means something more than certainly. The Greek word, no doubt, is often used as a simple affirmation; but as we must here supply a contrast between the fact and the mere name, he is said to be truly, who is in reality what he is supposed to be.

John Calvin and William Pringle, Commentary on the Gospel according to John, vol. 1 (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010), 78.

vs. 48 - The reply of Christ, however, appears to be inappropriate; for though he saw Nathanael under the fig-tree, it does not follow from this that he could penetrate into the deep secrets of the heart. But there is another reason; for as it belongs to God to know men when they are not seen, so also does it belong to Him to see what is not visible to the eyes

John Calvin and William Pringle, Commentary on the Gospel according to John, vol. 1 (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010), 78–79.

vs. 49 - indeed, faith ought not to be fixed on the essence of Christ alone, (so to speak,) but ought to attend to his power and office; for it would be of little advantage to know who Christ is, if this second point were not added, what he wishes to be towards us, and for what purpose the Father sent him.

John Calvin and William Pringle, Commentary on the Gospel according to John, vol. 1 (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010), 79.

vs. 51 - They are said to ascend and descend ON THE SON OF MAN, not because they minister to him, but because—in reference to him, and for his honour—they include the whole body of the Church in their friendly regard. Nor have I any doubt that he alludes to the ladder which was exhibited to the patriarch Jacob in a dream, (Gen. 28:12;) for what was prefigured by that vision is actually fulfilled in Christ. In short, this passage teaches us, that though the whole human race was banished from the kingdom of God, the gate of heaven is now opened to us, so that we are fellow-citizens of the saints, and companions of the angels

John Calvin and William Pringle, Commentary on the Gospel according to John, vol. 1 (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010), 81.