STUDIES IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN- PART 13

                              August 20, 2006

Chapter one, verses 43-51- Jesus’ ministry efforts will now move north toward Galilee- the NKJV says “Jesus wanted to go” and the NIV has
”Jesus decided to leave..”—the Greek word can mean “he resolved”.  Matthew

seems to suggest this Galilean ministry was prophesied- see Matt.4:12-16.

  Jesus, here, calls to Philip to be a disciple with the words, “Follow me”.

This is direct and personal to Philip who were are told is from Bethsaida which is a small fishing town on the edge of the well-known, Sea of Galilee (see 12:21).   It is named as a city of rebuke by Jesus in Matt.11:21.  There is another “Bethsaida” that is south in a desert place (Luke 9:10) where the miracles of ‘5 loaves & 2 fishes’ occurred.

  Verse 45 tells us Philip found Nathaniel—this must have been soon after Philip’s induction as a disciple of Jesus.  “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets, wrote..”  It reveals a conspicuous knowledge of OT material by Philip and the others. They have looked at Jesus through the lens of scripture and have come to a conclusion that He matches the description of the prophecies.  Perhaps Deut.18:18-19 is involved.  Further, these men may fulfill the words of Daniel 11:33 “those…who understand” and 12:4 “many shall run to and fro and knowledge shall increase”.  They represent the preparation of a people for the Lord.  In that sense, they did not find Jesus, the Spirit of God found them and led them to Jesus.

   Nathaniel may be another name for Bartholomew in Matt.10:3.  The use of

“son of Joseph” should not be construed to deny Jesus’ virgin birth.  The grasp of the virgin birth of Christ may await some time later in Jesus’ ministry or during the Acts period.   Nazareth is mentioned as the ‘hometown’ of Jesus—note Matt. 2:23; Mark 1:9, 24; and Acts 2:23.  Nathaniel is prompted to ask “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?”  The question may not reflect serious thought that the citizens of Nazareth were sinister people, but rather it may reflect a sense of rivalry that occurs among small towns.  Either way, it is a candid view of Nathaniel.  Philip doesn’t explain but simply responds Come and see.  Philip seems to take the perspective that if Nathaniel will meet Jesus he will understand Who He is!

   Verse 47 has Jesus saying, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile.”  Jesus gives Nathaniel a wonderful compliment—saying that Nathaniel

Is a true specimen of what a descendant of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is to be-

See Rom.2:28-29—it is a change of viewpoint of life, a heart that has been “circumcised”- putting off the appetite for sin.    “guile” is a word for bait used to catch fish.   Some commentators suggest here is a thought of Jacob (Israel) in Genesis 27:35 who used deliberate deception in robbing his brother of the blessing.   The remark in 1:51 about ‘angels …ascending and descending” make us think of Jacob in Gen. 28:12.  If Jacob, deceitful as he was, received

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angelic revelation from God in Gen.28, then Nathaniel (lacking deceit) will be given a greater revelation through the person of Jesus.  At a minimum, it shows how perceptive Jesus was to grasp immediately Nathaniel’s transparency and honesty.

  Nathaniel asks, How do you know me? to which Jesus replies that His eye had been on Nathaniel before their introduction—read II Chron.16:9.  Clearly, where men or women are looking for God or open to God’s truth, the Lord is “looking” for them!

  In a matching of spirits, Nathaniel confesses, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God. You are the King of Israel.”  As Nathaniel is so open, we take this as a heart-felt and passionate statement by him.  This confession further shows Jesus as a valid Potentate by one of His own people, although his own will reject Him later- 1:11.

  Jesus then reasons from the minor truth of His recognition of Nathaniel to a greater truth of what is yet to be revealed.  Verse 51 is to indicate that Jesus is the Mediator of Truth or Messenger of God as angels were understood to be

“messengers”.  Further, the action of the angels appears to focus on their

attention to His needs (Psa. 91:11-12) or care of His Person.  They, the angels,

are subject to Him and serve Him.