The Gospel of John: John 1.43-51

Read and meditate on John 1.47.
We are so familiar with these short passages of Scripture that we can miss the enormous significance packed into them. Jesus sees Nathanael coming, and He knows him – but not because He knew him previously.

                           ⁴⁷So he went to see.
And Jesus saw him as he came, and He
declared, “Behold, an Israelite indeed,
in whom there is no guile, and no deceit.”
- John 1.47

Reflect
1.  To his credit, Nathanael went to see. Philip’s mention of the Law and Prophets got Nathanael’s attention. He didn’t need further explanation. He just went. What are some things that the Lord might use to get people moving toward Jesus today? What are some obstacles that can hinder their coming? Complete this prayer: Lord, is there anything in my life that…

2.  “Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him.” What do you suppose Jesus was feeling as He saw this, here at the very inception of His ministry? Does it delight Jesus for people to come to Him? Explain. Help me, Lord, to share in the delight You experience when…

3.  Jesus’ statement about Nathanael was not made in private. He calls all who are within earshot to hear what He says. It’s likely that Peter, James, John, and Andrew also knew Nathanael. How would Jesus’ witness about Nathanael have affected them? What might they have been thinking? Lord, You know all things. You know me. You know that today…

4.  We note that Jesus’ assessment of Nathanael was quite positive. He was guileless and true. But he was lost nonetheless. Is it possible for lost people to be decent, loving, good, and true in many ways? How does Jesus’ comment about Nathanael counsel us in getting to know the lost people in our Personal Mission Fields? Lord, help me to appreciate all that is good about…

5. Jesus knew Nathanael, but not because He’d known him previously (as we shall see in Nathanael’s response). How was Jesus able to know him? Meditate on Psalm 139.1-6 as you think about your answer. Bring together into one prayer the prayers you wrote for questions 1-4.

Summary
“He praises and approves the man because he had said, ‘Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?’ And yet, shouldn’t have Jesus rather found fault in him? Surely not; for the words are not those of an unbeliever or one deserving blame, but praise. How can you say that? Because Nathanael had considered the writings of the prophets more than Philip. For he had heard from the Scriptures that Christ must come from Bethlehem, and from the village in which David was. This belief at least prevailed among the Jews, and the prophet had proclaimed it of old. … And so when he heard that Jesus was ‘from Nazareth,’ he was confounded and doubted, not finding the announcement of Philip to agree with the prediction of the prophet.” John Chrysostom (344-407 AD)

Jesus knows us. He knows whether we are eager to know Him, willing to serve Him, and faithful to seek Him in His Word. He knows us, just like He knew Nathanael, and just like the Lord knew Job, and testified of him in the heavenly court. Today, what would you like for Jesus to say about you to that great cloud of witnesses assembled around His throne?

Closing Prayer
O LORD, You have searched me and known me.
You know my sitting down and my rising up;
You understand my thought afar off.
You comprehend my path and my lying down,
And are acquainted with all my ways.
For there is not a word on my tongue,
But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.
You have hedged me behind and before,
And laid Your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is high, I cannot attain it.

Psalm 139.1-6

Psalm 139.1-5 (Ripley: Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah, O My Soul)
You have searched me, Lord, and known me, when I sit and when I rise;
From afar, my thoughts discerning, all my path before You lies.
Every word, before it’s spoken, You behold and know it well.
Both behind me and before me, Your sweet presence I can tell.

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series IV a and b: John, edited by Joel C. Elowsky, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006. Verse translation of John by T. M. Moore.