Question
WE HAVE FOUND THE MESSIAH
John 1:35-51
Key verse 41
The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, "We have found the Messiah" (that is, the Christ).
1. How did John help his disciples follow Jesus? (35-36) Why did they follow Jesus? (37) When Jesus saw them following, what did he ask them? (38a) Why did he ask this question?
2. How did they respond? (38b) Why did they respond that way? What did Jesus mean when he said, “Come, and you will see”? (39a)
3. Who were these two disciples? (40) What did Andrew discover about Jesus? (41) How did he come to this realization? (39b-40) What was the first thing he did? (41-42a) How was Jesus going to change Simon? (42b)
4. Where did Jesus decide to go? (43a) How did Philip become a disciple of Jesus? (43b) What did Philip discover about Jesus? (45) Why was Nathanael not convinced about Jesus at first? (46) How did Philip help him overcome his prejudice?
5. How did Jesus amaze Nathanael? (47-49) What does this show about Jesus? What promise did he make to him? (50-51)
Manuscript
Message
We have found the Messiah
John 1:35-51
Key Verse 1:41, “We have found the Messiah”
Today’s passage is Jesus’ calling of his disciples in John’s gospel. It is the only place where the author recorded about Jesus’ calling of his disciples in John’s gospel. The other three gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke recorded Jesus’ calling of his disciples in Galilee. But today’s passage did not happen in Galilee. It happened before Jesus left for Galilee. So today’s event probably had happened before Jesus’ calling recorded in Matthew, Mark and Luke. What is the difference between Jesus’ calling in today’s passage and the other three gospels? John’s gospel reveals more on the side of Jesus’ disciples. It shows how they found Jesus as the Messiah. The other three gospels reveal more on the side of Jesus. Jesus called them and they followed him. Another difference could be today’s passage may not have miracle involved to find Jesus as the Messiah whereas the three gospels may record Jesus’ calling based on miraculous catching of fish.
So let us think about two things in today’s passage. The first question is “Why do we need the Messiah? What does the Messiah do for us that we need him? The second question is how can we find him?
Today’s passage gives the answer for these two questions. Why do we need him and how can we find him?
Look the Lamb of God! (v.35-42)
Verses 35-36 reads, “The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. [36] When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, "Look, the Lamb of God!"
The previous day John the Baptist proclaimed, “Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” when he saw Jesus coming toward him. John the Baptist baptized Jesus and through God’s revelation he realized that Jesus is the Son of God. So he drew people’s attention to Jesus, crying out, “Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” I believe that there were many people around him when he proclaimed it. But no one responded to his testimony immediately.
Now on the next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” By testifying about Jesus he wanted his disciples to pay attention to Jesus. Indeed Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Jesus is God’s provision to solve men’s sin problem through his sacrifice. Sin makes men miserable but God takes it away through Jesus. People may not recognize they need Jesus, the Lamb of God. But they cannot be happy without knowing Jesus as the Lamb of God because their sin will not be taken away from them.
Then two of John’s disciples responded to his testimony. His public testimony did not bear immediate fruit but his personal testimony for his two disciples bore fruit.
[37] When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.
Jesus must have noticed that two people were following him.
[38] Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, "What do you want?"
Jesus could have asked “Why are you following me?” or “Whom are you following?” But he asked, “What do you want?” Jesus wanted to know what they wanted from him.
“What do you want?” is one of the fundamental questions in life. Whenever we make important decisions we may need to think about the question, ‘What do I want to do in my life?” Or “what is the purpose of my life?” One person had to make a serious decision about his marriage. He could not make a clear decision because there were so many factors involved. Then God reminded him of the purpose of his life. When he straightened out the purpose of his life he could make decisions easily. Without remembering the purpose of his life he was only tossed around here and there by his many desires.
Indeed, “What do you want” is one of the most important questions that we need to answer in our life. Many times we find that we do not have a clear answer for the question because we want so many things. As soon as we have one thing we want to have another. As soon as we have another we want to have a third one. In this way our desire never ends. So to know what we want is a challenging thing.
But Jesus asked, “What do you want?” because he is God who does not force us to do anything against our will. So what we want is important not only to us but also to God who honors our free will.
These days I find that missionary Isaac Kim always asks people about what they want. Even when they say that they will accept whatever is given he still asks.
Now in today’s passage when Jesus asked them, “What do you want?” The two of them answered, “"Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?" They did not say “Well, we want to know if you are the Lamb of God.” But rather they said, “Rabbi, where you are staying?” They wanted to spend time with Jesus instead of having several quick questions on the roadside.
Then Jesus welcomed them saying, “"Come," he replied, "and you will see." Jesus’ invitation is great because his invitation has the promise in it. Promises in the world may not be reliable. But Jesus’ promise is a guaranteed one. As long as we come to him we will be able to see who he is. That is the reason why his invitation greatly encourages us to come to him.
Verse 39b reads, “So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him. It was about the tenth hour.”
The tenth hour could be 10 am or 4 pm depending upon what kind of calendar we are using. The key phrase is ‘spent that day with him.’ Both of them had fellowship with Jesus, probably talking and even eating and drinking. Jesus was not a private person. He opened Himself up to them fully. They went where He went and saw where He was staying. There was no area that was off limits to them. Just as much as they wanted to be with Him, He wanted to be with them. Jesus said to his disciples in Matthew 28:20 “And surely I am with you always to the very end of the age.” Ultimately, they would see His true home, the Kingdom of God and dwell with Him there.
[40] Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. [41] The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, "We have found the Messiah" (that is, the Christ). [42] And he brought him to Jesus.
What Andrew did shows the impact of spending that day with Jesus. He was fully convinced that Jesus is the Messiah. He testified to his brother Simon and he brought him to Jesus.
Andrew at first heard that Jesus is the Messiah from his teacher John the Baptist. But only when he spent time with Jesus, was personally convinced to know that Jesus is the promised Messiah. Spending time with Jesus is so crucial. It is the same as to know any person. If you want to know anybody you need to spend time with the person talking and even eating and drinking. Otherwise how can you know the person? Indirect testimony is not enough.
Only by spending time with Jesus personally can we know Him. Apostle Paul is a good example. He followed Jesus, but still his confession even to the very end was, “I want to know Christ!” When we have such an attitude, then when we come to His Word, it becomes a time of sweet fellowship where He speaks to us by the Holy Spirit and reveals Himself to us. Our time of prayer becomes the same thing, plus we get to bring all we want to say to Him as well. No one who doesn’t spend time with Him, can genuinely say he knows Him well.
One person I know wanted to know Jesus in all circumstances. One day he had a serious trouble with his spiritual senior. Then he prayed to God, “Oh, God, what can I learn about Jesus in this situation where I am in agony because my relationship with my spiritual senior is broken? What can I learn about Jesus? There is nothing that I can learn about Jesus from this trouble.” But then amazingly God revealed to him about the heart of Jesus for his spiritual senior. Jesus revealed to him that how much Jesus honors the spiritual senior and how much Jesus is always thankful for the devotion of his spiritual senior. Jesus revealed to him that Jesus does not take anything for granted from his spiritual senior. Jesus accepts whatever devotion his spiritual seniors offers with full appreciation and great thanks. And the man was greatly surprised at the revelation because Jesus is the Lord. But Jesus still does not take anything for granted. In the end the man became to know the heart of Jesus for his spiritual senior. Indeed he learned about Jesus more through his trouble. So from that time one whenever he has troubles he prays to know Jesus more. And Jesus never fails to reveal himself to him.
Now what does it mean by “Messiah”? To the Jewish people the Messiah was one anointed by God. It means the Messiah would come from God. And his function would be to restore everything for the glory of God. When the Messiah comes the kingdom of God will be fully restored. The Jewish people thought that the Messiah would restore their nation from the Roman rule and bring glory to their nation. But God would send the Messiah for a greater purpose, that is to restore the kingdom of God in the whole universe. God sent the Messiah to restore everything from its fallen situation, restoring the kingdom of God fully spiritually and even physically, solving all problems and removing all the cause of problems. The Jewish people could endure many hardships and persevered because of their hope on the Messiah for several thousand years before Jesus came.
Now Andrew found Jesus was the very Messiah. How much would he have been excited!
One great servant of God defined the Messiah as ‘everything to everyone’. It means Messiah is the solution for all of men’s problems. If you do not have a job the Messiah has jobs. If you do not have a marriage partner Messiah is your marriage partner. If you are lonely the Messiah is your friend. If you have troubles that you cannot solve the Messiah is the solution for your problems. In our lives we have a series of problems which we cannot solve. Those problems are very personal and sensitive and serious for each of us. Unless we solve our problems in one way or another we are not happy and we cannot be happy. We are slaves to them.
God knows that we are not happy unless our problems are solved. Our problem is MORE than just a happiness problem. It is a sin problem that keeps us from enjoying the eternal relationship with God. So how did he deal with us? He provided us with the Messiah. Indeed the Messiah is everything to everyone. He is the solution to all of our problems.
So Andrew was so happy to find the Messiah. So he cried out, “We have found the Messiah.” It was like “We have found the solution for all of our problems.” So indeed everyone needs the Messiah because everyone needs to solve his problems and find the purpose of his life and enter the kingdom of God, living an excited life.
What did Jesus do when Simon Peter was brought to him.
Verse 42b reads, “Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas" (which, when translated, is Peter).” As soon as the Messiah saw Simon he planted the vision in his heart that he would become rock like person.
According to the Bible Simon Peter was a very unstable person. He had big mouth but he could not keep his words. There was one brother. One day he insisted that everyone should meet together on a certain day for unity. On that very day everyone appeared except one person. Do you know who the missing one is? He is none other than the one who claimed that everyone should meet together for unity. Simon Peter was like him. But Jesus told him that he would become a rock like person. “You are Simon son of John.” “You will be called Cephas.” In the future Simon Peter will be a rock. This is what the Messiah would do for Simon Peter. Simon Peter would be changed from a very unstable to a very stable person like an immovable rock. Everyone has a character flaw. But the Messiah sees the vision for each one and changes it. The Messiah is the one who will change our character flaws. He is the One who can change our lives completely! We may have desire to be changed, but we honestly cannot change ourselves. From dirty wash water, into choice wine or from a powerless man into a powerful servant of God!
Through the Messiah’s comment I was able to overcome my fatalism about one person who has a hot temper problem. I could see that the person also can be changed by the Messiah and be used by God greatly.
In the past I could not have hope even for myself because of my hot temper problem in my house. But as time goes by the Messiah revealed to me that the real cause of my anger is a lack of listening to others. As he helped me to listen to others my anger problem goes away; It is a mysterious work of the Messiah. Indeed the Messiah gives vision for each one of us, finding the greatest point even from our weakest point. The Messiah is the Messiah because he sees what one has instead of what one does not have. He has eyes to see even the greatest point from one’s weakest point. I praise the Messiah who paid attention to the rock character of Simon Peter and planted vision in his heart. Simon Peter might have suffered a lot inwardly because of his character flaw. But he saw the solution in the Messiah. Simon was unstable. But he had potentiality to become like rock. Jesus saw it because he is the Messiah!
We all have unspoken agony and problems that we cannot solve. There are so many things that we cannot be free from. That is immediate reason why we need the Messiah. We have to solve our problems in order live, and no human being can truly help us expect the Messiah. So we need him. And he solves our problems practically by changing us or changing the environments and doing many things including miracles. One person passed CPA exam because God performed a miracle for him. He could see many of questions came from what he prepared in advance. Indeed the CPA licence was God’s gift for him and the Messiah solved one of his problems.
II. You shall see greater things than that (v.43-51)
[43] The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, "Follow me."
This is Jesus’ invitation of Philip. Somehow Philip was ready to accept Jesus’ invitation and followed him. When Philip followed Jesus and spent time with him something happened.
[44] Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. [45] Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote--Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."
Philip was convinced that Jesus is the promised Messiah according to Moses’ law and the prophets. Interestingly, after being convinced that Jesus is the Messiah, he did an amazing thing, he invited his friend Nathanael.
But Nathanael responded
[46] "Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" Nathanael asked.
Nathanael was from Cana which was a neighbor town of Nazareth. So he knew for sure that nothing good comes from there. These days some people say “Can anything good come from Washington?” I also thought that not many good things can come from Egypt. But they shook the world by casting out their dictator who ruled them for the last 30 years through peaceful demonstration. Wow! It was like 21st century revolution to me.
Philip did not give in to Nathanael but invited him again saying,
"Come and see," said Philip.
Philip knew that the best way to help Nathanael was not to debate the merits of the environment of the city of Nazareth, the best way was to help Nathanael to ‘come and see’ for himself, just as he did! Philip’s simple invitation worked.
[47] When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, "Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false."
[48] "How do you know me?" Nathanael asked.
Jesus answered, "I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you."
[49] Then Nathanael declared, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel."
Jesus knew what kind of person Nathanael was. He knew there was nothing false in him. Jesus also saw him while he was under the fig tree. Jesus’ seeing Nathanael must not have been physical seeing but some supernatural one. Nathanael knew it and confessed that Jesus is the Son of God and the King of Israel.”
Then Jesus also said, [50] Jesus said, "You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that." [51] He then added, "I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."
Jesus promised the opening of heaven and great spiritual revelation about him. The Messiah would bring unfathomable revelation from above.
In conclusion, we need the Messiah because we have so many problems we cannot solve. Without him and his help we will get cancer and die in despair due to all of our sin problems and others’ sin problems. We need him because somehow we need to solve our problems in order to keep on living. Now how can we find him? We can find him by spending time with him. How can we spend time with him? By praying or meditating on his word or fixing our thoughts on him. When we find him he will lead us to the kingdom of God.
One word: We have found the Messiah.
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Biblenote
WE HAVE FOUND THE MESSIAH
John 1:35-51
Key verse 41
The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, "We have found the Messiah" (that is, the Christ).
This passage presents who Jesus is through the testimonies of John the Baptist and of Jesus’ first disciples. May God open our eyes to the glory of who Jesus is through this passage.
1. How did John help his disciples follow Jesus? (35-36)
ANSWER:
Joh 1:35-36 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, "Look, the Lamb of God!"
John the Baptist presented Jesus as someone worthy of following. He taught them:
Jesus was the Lamb, the one God promised in the OT who would take away the sins of the world.
Jesus was the Lamb whom John had been preparing people to receive.
Jesus was their Lamb who loved them and would die for their sins.
The entire purpose of John the Baptist’s ministry was to prepare people to become the followers of the Lamb.
Why did they follow Jesus? (37)
ANSWER:
Joh 1:37 When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.
These disciples of John the Baptist now wanted to be the disciples of this great rabbi of whom John spoke.
They wanted to see for themselves who Jesus really was.
When Jesus saw them following, what did he ask them? (38a)
ANSWER:
Joh 1:38 Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, "What do you want?" They said, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?"
He asked, "What do you want?"
These are the first words of Jesus in this Gospel.
Why did he ask this question?
ANSWER:
He desired that they should seek him for the right reasons, rather than impure ones (cf. Jn 6:26; Mat 20:21).
2. How did they respond? (38b)
ANSWER:
Joh 1:38 Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, "What do you want?" They said, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?"
They said, "Rabbi, where are you staying?"
Why did they respond that way?
ANSWER:
They were now asking “Rabbi” Jesus if they could be his disciples. In those times, a disciple (talmid) would live twenty-four hours a day with his rabbi, learning from him, noting everything he did or said, with the goal to become like his rabbi (cf. Mar 3:14).
They wanted to be his disciples that they might learn of God through him and see for themselves who Jesus really was.
What did Jesus mean when he said, “Come, and you will see”? (39a)
ANSWER:
Joh 1:39 "Come," he replied, "and you will see." So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him. It was about the tenth hour.
They wanted to see if Jesus really was the Lamb of God. So, Jesus promised to open their eyes and reveal the glory of who he was.
They wanted to learn of God through him. So, Jesus promised to open their eyes to God and reveal him. They would see because:
He is the Word through whom God expresses himself and makes himself known (1, 18).
He is the Son who reveals his Father exactly and thereby teaches us who the Father is.
He is the Light who gives light to men that they may see (9, 8:12).
3. Who were these two disciples? (40)
ANSWER:
Joh 1:40 Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus.
Andrew and probably John, “the disciple whom Jesus loved”, the author of this book.
What did Andrew discover about Jesus? (41)
ANSWER:
Joh 1:41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, "We have found the Messiah" (that is, the Christ).
He now knew that Jesus was the Christ. It was like discovering buried treasure.
Andrew spent only a short time with Jesus before coming to this realization.
How did he come to this realization? (39b-40)
ANSWER:
Joh 1:39b-40 So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him. It was about the tenth hour. 40 Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus.
Because Jesus revealed himself to Andrew through his words (Jn 4:41, 6:63).
He is pleased to show himself to those who come to him, seeking to know him (38, 14:21; Jer 29:13; Pro 2:1-6).
Because they had spent time with Jesus as his students, making the effort to learn from him and find out if Jesus really was the Lamb as John had said.
What was the first thing he did? (41-42a)
ANSWER:
Joh 1:41-42a The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, "We have found the Messiah" (that is, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus.
He excitedly brought his brother to meet Jesus. He could not keep the good news to himself.
How was Jesus going to change Simon? (42b)
ANSWER:
Joh 1:42b Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas" (which, when translated, is Peter).
Through knowing Jesus and his love, Simon's inner person would become rocklike (Peter means rock).
Simon could not change himself but Jesus was going to display his power and glory by changing such an unstable person (1Co 1:26-31).
Jesus is the Rock (Isa 28:16; Dan 2:45). He changes us into his likeness as we follow him (Mat 4:19; Gen 12:1-2).
4. Where did Jesus decide to go? (43a)
ANSWER:
Joh 1:43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee.
Jesus decided to leave for Galilee.
Jesus’ itinerary was set by his Father (Jn 5:19, 2:4, 4:4).
How did Philip become a disciple of Jesus? (43b)
ANSWER:
Joh 1:43b Finding Philip, he said to him, "Follow me."
Jesus found him and chose him (Jn 15:16, 6:70, 13:18).
The words "follow me" were an invitation to be Jesus' disciple – to be with him and learn from him.
What did Philip discover about Jesus? (45)
ANSWER:
Joh 1:45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote -- Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."
He found that Jesus was the promised Messiah, the one written about in so many passages of Scripture.
Jesus shows himself to those who follow him (8:12, 14:21).
He gave precise details in his testimony about Jesus (6:7 also shows that he is a precise person) and yet his details were not too accurate:
Jesus found Philip (45) and all the disciples (6:70) yet Philip said, “We have found...Jesus”.
Jesus was not really the son of Joseph but rather the Son of God (14; Mat 1:18; Luk 3:23).
Jesus was not really from Nazareth but from Bethlehem.
Nevertheless, Jesus used Philip to bring Nathaniel. Jesus can use us despite our faulty understanding.
Why was Nathanael not convinced about Jesus at first? (46)
ANSWER:
Joh 1:46 "Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" Nathanael asked. "Come and see," said Philip.
Because of Jesus' hometown – his supposed origin. Nazareth had a bad reputation.
How did Philip help him overcome his prejudice?
ANSWER:
He invited Nathaniel to come and see Jesus for himself.
Jesus was working through Philip and Philip’s words echo those of Jesus in verse 39, “Come, and you will see.”
5. How did Jesus amaze Nathanael? (47-49)
ANSWER:
Joh 1:47-49 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, "Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false." 48 "How do you know me?" Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, "I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you." 49 Then Nathanael declared, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel."
Jesus showed that he knew Nathaniel from long before Philip called him (10:14, 10:3, 13:18, 3:25). Jesus saw Nathaniel while he was engaged (probably) in secret communion with God under the shade of the fig tree.
Nathaniel immediately realized who Jesus was. He confessed that Jesus was the “Son of God” (1Chr 17:13; 2Sa 7:14-15), the promised “King of Israel” who would sit on David’s throne and reign forever. This was the same as Philip’s confession (45) and Andrew’s (41).
What does this show about Jesus?
ANSWER:
He is the one who seeks us and finds us and chooses us even through the agency of other people (Jn 6:70, 1:13b, 5:21).
We are very important and precious to him.
What promise did he make to him? (50-51)
ANSWER:
Joh 1:50-51 Jesus said, "You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that." 51 He then added, "I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."
Gen 28:12 He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.
Nathaniel would see the glory of God revealed in Jesus. He would see Jesus on the cross as the stairway to heaven (Gen 28:12; Jn 14:6; Heb 10:20).
The End.
In a sense, Philip was correct. According to the custom of the time, a person was identified by his hometown to distinguish him from others who had that same name (e.g. Joseph of Arimathea, 19:38). But when Nathaniel had doubts about Jesus on hearing that he was from Nazareth (46), Philip did not tell him that Jesus’ place of birth was Bethlehem in fulfillment of Mic 5:2. So, it seems that Philip did not know about it.