The Book of John (Chapter 1: Part 3)

I. Incarnation of Christ (v.1-18)

II. Initial Ministry of Christ

II(A). Proclamation of the Son by John the Baptist (v.19-34)

II(B). Calling of the First Disciples (v.35-51)

“Behold the Lamb of God!” Who is this referring to and what’s it mean?

Isaiah 53:3–7 ESV

He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.

1 Peter 1:17–19 ESV

And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

Who were the two disciples of John that followed Jesus?

- What do we know about these disciples?

Andrew:

Simon Peter’s Brother (v. 40)

From the Village of Bethsaida (northern part of Galilee)

Fisherman from Capernaum (Mark 1:16)

Mark 1:16 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.

A Disciple of John the Baptist

Part of the Lead Group of Disciples (Mark 1:29; 13:3)

Mark 1:29 ESV

And immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.

Mark 13:3 ESV

And as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately,

Brought people to Jesus

John:

A Disciple of John the Baptist (eyewitness of the event- only gospel to record this story)

Younger brother of James the Disciple

Also a fishermen (Mark 1:19)

Mark 1:19 ESV

And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets.

Jesus gave them the name Boanerges: Sons of Thunder (Mark 3:17)

Mark 3:17 ESV

James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder);

Part of Jesus’ Inner Circle (Matthew 17:1; Mark 5:37; 14:33)

-Why did they follow Jesus?

They had been instructed by John the Baptist and had been waiting for the coming Messiah!

(wouldn’t that have been sorrowful for John the Baptist. He lost 2 of his disciples. Nope. We don’t preach Christ to gain fame and notarity. We preach Christ so that other’s follow Him. This event would have pleased him because he prepared them for this.)

-What did they do when they reached Him?

He says, “What are you seeking?” Like Jesus asked on several occasions (woman at well, guards in garden) - Rabbi (meaning “teacher” perhaps did not yet know that he was the Christ)

They stayed till the 10th hour which is about 4 pm. Privileged to spend the afternoon and evening in private fellowship with the God of the Universe. They left so convinced He was the Messiah that they did what? Found the people that were most important to them and shared with them the good news!!!!

-Why is this account different than the ones in Matt. 4, Mark 1, and Luke 5? When did the disciples follow Christ?

Matthew and Mark both record that John the Baptist had been imprisoned and then Jesus went back to Galilee and called the disciples there. Further, in Luke, we see the miracle of the catch. Jesus tells the disciples to cast their nets on the other side and they came back with a boat load of fish. In the interaction, we see a difference in how they responded to Jesus. Here they knew who he was. In John, they had never met him before. So this was sometime later, but was the official calling of the disciples.

Two new disciples emerge. Who are they?

Philip:

From Bethsaida (same as Andrew and Peter)

He was likely a Hellenistic Jew (Greek cultured Jew- Philip is a Greek name)

Likely a fisherman (John 21:1-3)

He was a seeker (vs. 45- “we have found him”)

John 15:16 ESV

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

He readily accepted Christ as Messiah

Nathanael:

From Cana (village just north of Nazareth- John 21:2)

John 21:2 ESV

Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together.

(likely why he said can anything good come from Nazareth- likely competition from 2 places)

Truly, genuinely (“an Israelite Indeed”- Authentic Israelite)

Worshipped the true God without deceit and hypocrisy.

Application: