The Gospel of John: John 1.43-51

Read and meditate on John 1.49.
Nathanael’s astonished reply to Jesus is packed with significance for what it means to know, confess, and follow Him.

⁴⁹Then Nathanael answered, full of awe,
“You, Rabbi, are the Son of God, the King
of Israel!”

- John 1.49

Reflect
1.  Nathanael acknowledges Jesus as “Rabbi” (Teacher). For what was he preparing himself by this admission? What does it mean to “learn from” Jesus (Matt. 11.29)? How can we know when we are “learning” Him (Eph. 4.17-24)? What does learning from Him involve? Complete this prayer: Lord Jesus, as Your disciple, I am committed to being a learner. Help me every day…

2.  Not only did Nathanael understand Jesus to be his Teacher, but he also recognized Him as the Son of God. Meditate on Psalm 2. This must have been in Nathanael’s mind as He made this confession (although, see Theodore’s comment in the Summary). In what did Nathanael envision himself becoming involved as he confessed Jesus to be the Son of God? O Lord, Son of God, show me today…

3.  Last, Nathanael confessed Jesus to be the King of Israel. Meditate on Genesis 49.8-11 and Isaiah 9.6, 7. What vision of Kingship would Nathanael likely have seen for Jesus? Lord, do I have this kind of vision, one that…

4.  Nathanael is clearly astonished at Jesus. But one thing is interesting to note about his response: He does not address Jesus as Savior. Is this important? Is this title covered by any of the others? Do we mislead people today when we focus primarily on Jesus as Savior, meanwhile subordinating His roles as Teacher, Son of God, and King of Israel? Explain. Thank You for saving me, Lord Jesus. Because Your are Lord, You…

5.  Using Nathanael’s responses to Jesus, construct a brief outline of the Gospel, such as you might use to share with someone in your Personal Mission Field. Bring together your prayers from questions 1-4 into one prayer.

Summary
“Therefore Nathanael, convinced by those deeds, said to him, ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God. You are the king of Israel,’ that is, you are the Messiah who was already announced. The Messiah was certainly expected by them as God to appear before everybody, as a king of Israel, even though they conceived him in a more obscure and material way. It was not possible then that the Jews knew how he was the Son of God or the king of Israel. Evidently also Nathanael did not say he was the Son of God by divine generation but by familiarity, as those people who came to God through his virtue were called sons of God. It was not possible that Nathanael immediately knew what we see and that the apostles themselves came to know after a long time. Those things that were said to him by the Lord could not be sufficient to demonstrate his other nature.” Theodore of Mopsuestia (ca. 350-428 AD)

It’s possible that Theodore has this right (Chrysostom agreed with him). Still, Philip may well have told Nathanael more than what John records in this passage. He might have reported about the voice from heaven affirming Jesus to be the Son of God, or John the Baptist’s witness to this fact. This would have given Nathanael, a man who seems to have been quite familiar with Scripture, time to mull that point over as he made his way from the fig tree to Jesus. Do you think people in your Personal Mission Field need time to think about Jesus – Who He is, what He promises, what He has done? Explain.

Closing Prayer
Then He shall speak to them in His wrath,
And distress them in His deep displeasure:
“Yet I have set My King
On My holy hill of Zion.”
“I will declare the decree:
The LORD has said to Me,
‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
Ask of Me, and I will give You
The nations for Your inheritance,
And the ends of the earth for Your possession.
You shall break them with a rod of iron;
You shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel.’ ”
Now therefore, be wise, O kings;
Be instructed, you judges of the earth.
Serve the LORD with fear,
And rejoice with trembling.
Kiss the Son, lest He be angry,
And you perish in the way,
When His wrath is kindled but a little.
Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.

Psalm 2.5-12

Psalm 2.7-12 (Agincourt: O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High!)
Proclaim the message far and wide, that God has exalted the Crucified!
From heav’n He sent us His only Son, Who has for us salvation won!

To Christ, the Lord, be given all who humbly embrace Him and on Him call.
Be wise, be warned: His judgment comes to break the prideful, sinful ones.

Rejoice with fear in Jesus’ grace, and worship before His exalted face!
Beware His anger and judgment grim: How blessed are all who rest in Him!

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.