Today’s passage: John 1:43-51

Helpful thoughts:

• Two more disciples begin to follow Jesus.  Philip and Nathanael (a.k.a. Bartholomew – Matthew 10:3).
• The Law and the Prophets would have been a way to refer to what we call the Old Testament.
  • Philip believed Jesus was the fulfillment of all the promises made in the Old Testament concerning the coming Savior, Messiah, Son of God, and King!
  • After Nathanael met Jesus, he believed too.
• Nazareth was just a small town at that time.  Not notable for much of anything, a forgettable town.
• Continuing the theme of looking back to the Old Testament, Jesus refers to Himself as a better ladder (Better than Jacob’s ladder – Genesis 28:12, Hebrews 10:19-20).
  • Jesus is the way to God (John 14:6).

Questions to consider:

1. What impressed Nathanael about Jesus?  What attribute of God did Jesus display which so quickly convinced him? (Psalm 139:1-3)
2. There are two images of Jesus portrayed in this passage, the one that amazed Nathanael, and the one that didn’t amaze Nathanael (end of verse 45).  When the unbelieving world sees Jesus, what do they see?  What do those who’ve had their eyes and hearts opened to the truth see?  Who is Jesus? (Colossians 1:15-20)
3. When Jacob saw the ladder in Genesis 28, he named that place, “Bethel” (The house, or the dwelling place, of God).  In what ways has Jesus brought, “Bethel” to His people?  (Leading up to Revelation 21:3!)

Today’s passage: John 1:35-42

Helpful thoughts:

• These two disciples of John heard their teacher again the second day in a row and then did the right logical thing.  They followed John’s teaching by beginning to follow Jesus.
  • The two disciples were Andrew and probably John (The writer of this gospel).  John did not like to mention himself by name in his own gospel account.
• Andrew proved to be a good disciple of John the Baptist.  When he found the Messiah, he started bringing other people to meet Him.
• Immediately upon meeting God the Son, Simon gets a new name.  God gave new names to others in the Old Testament to communicate their calling and purpose.
  • Simon is called Cephas (Aramaic) and Peter (Greek).  Both words mean, “Rock.”

Questions to consider:

1. How might John the Baptist have been tempted to feel after he “lost” two of his disciples that day?  Why was the “loss” not a loss at all but instead a big win?  What is our mission as a church?  For whom are we seeking followers?
2. What is the natural thing for Christians to do when they understand what they have in Jesus Christ?  What will our gratitude, love and changed life result in with our relationships with the lost?  What will they know and be confronted with before too long?
3. How do you think Peter felt after getting renamed right away after meeting Jesus?  How might that have been a little awkward (if it was just some other regular man)?  How might it have been life changing (because it was the Son of God!)?

Today’s passage: John 1:29-34

Helpful thoughts:

• Today we read the climax of John the Baptist’s ministry and life!  He was tasked with preparing the way and pointing people to the coming Messiah.  On that day he declared, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
• Jesus is the Lamb of God because he would Himself become the “Lamb” slaughtered as a sacrifice for our sins (1 Corinthians 5:7).
• The Spirit of God descended on Jesus and remained.  This was not a temporary work of the Spirit as in the Old Testament prophets and narratives.  The Spirit would remain with Christ (Isaiah 11:1-2).
  • This aspect of John the Baptist’s testimony further confirms fulfilled prophecy about the Christ.

Questions to consider:

1. What is the nature of John the Baptist’s testimony?  In what way is he an eye-witness testimony?  In what way is he speaking like an Old Testament prophet?  Why are both important to the Apostle John’s mission to convince the reader of who Jesus is?
2. What did Jesus accomplish for all who believe in Him when He served as our Passover Lamb?
3. What will be said of the Lamb in days to come (Revelation 5:11-14)?  How can knowing what the Lamb did and what He will do help you to live for Him today?

Today’s passage: John 1:19-28

Helpful thoughts:

• John the Baptist testifies:
  • He is not the Christ.
  • He is not Elijah (Though he does fulfill the prophecy of Elijah, he is not the man Elijah – Matthew 11:14, Luke 1:17, Malachi 4:5-6).
  • He is not the Prophet of Deuteronomy 18:15.  The Jews did not understand the Prophet Moses had referred to was the Christ (Acts 3:22-24).
  • But he is the fulfillment of Isaiah 40:3.
• John’s baptism represented a cleansing after repentance (Turning from sin).  The Jewish people who were receiving this baptism were acknowledging they’d needed to turn from their sin to be ready for the coming of the Lord.
• John the Baptist knew his role.  It didn’t matter as much if people knew who he was.  His life’s mission was to point people to Someone else.

Questions to consider:

1. What does the first portion verse 20 seem to evidence?  What John trying to cover himself or protect himself before the Pharisees?  Did he fear them?  What did he want more, to protect himself or to inform them of the truth?
2. Who was John the Baptist?  What was his role?  What was his goal?
3. Did John the Baptist’s humility result in fear or in courage?  How can knowing who we are in Christ and rejoicing in God’s purpose for our lives help us to boldly proclaim the gospel message?

Today’s passage: John 1:1-18

Helpful thoughts:

• Jesus Christ is “the Word.”
  • The beginning words of this Gospel are the same as the book of Genesis.
  • Jesus is not just any man.  He is God.  He is our creator.  He is preexistent (He existed before anything outside of the Godhead existed, therefore He is eternal).  He has been incarnated (He took on flesh – Philippians 2:5-8).
• It was the grace of God that brought revelation and the Law to God’s people through the prophet Moses.  It was the grace of God that brought forgiveness and eternal life through the shed blood of Jesus.  Grace upon grace.
• God brought the Law to Israel.  Salvation in Christ is to be made known to all people.
  • Being in God’s family is not something that is achieved through physical birth (An ethnic people group, i.e. the Jews), nor of our own will (Romans 3:11).
  • By the will of God there are and will be people from all over the earth who hear of “the Word,” who then receive Him and believe in His name.  These are the children of God.

Questions to consider:

1. What can we learn about the Trinity from this passage?  Was the Son of God created or made?  What verse makes the idea that God the Son came into being at a point in time an impossibility?  In other words, how do verses 1-3 explain the eternality and deity of Jesus?
2. What is the way of salvation?  How does a person become a child of God?
3. Who is being referred to when John writes God (Twice) in verse 18?  Who is God who is at the Father’s side and who made God the Father known (John 14:9)?