The Gospel of John: John 1.43-51

Read and meditate on John 1.43-51.
John the apostle has been building to this dramatic climax throughout the whole of chapter 1. He began with us thinking about heaven coming to earth, and he ends right where he began. Only know, the mysterious Word of God and Light of Life is a Man – Jesus!

            ⁴³Then Jesus, on the following day,
for Galilee departed. On the way,
He summoned Philip, saying, “Follow Me.”
⁴⁴Now Philip was from Bethsaida, for he
was from the city where both Andrew and
his brother, Peter, lived. ⁴⁵Then Philip ran
and found Nathanael, saying, “We have found
Him, of whom ancient holy words abound
in all the Law of Moses, also from
the prophets – Jesus, son of Joseph, come
from Nazareth.” ⁴⁶And Nathanael said, “Can from
that lowly city any good come?” “Come
and see,” said Philip. 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.”
⁴⁸Nathanael said, “How do You know me?” He
replied, “I saw you underneath the tree,
the fig tree, where you sat when Philip called
you.” ⁴⁹Then Nathanael answered, full of awe,
“You, Rabbi, are the Son of God, the King
of Israel!” ⁵⁰Jesus said, “Because this thing
I said to you, ‘I saw you beneath the tree,’
do you believe? I tell you, you will see
much greater things than these. ⁵¹I say to you,
you shall see heaven opened, plain to view,
and angels of the Lord ascending and
descending on the Son of God and Man.”

- John 1.43-51

Reflect
1.  With the coming of Jesus, people need to understand that life will never be the same. Something new has come, in the form of Someone eternally old. Nothing, John suggests, can ever be the same. First, recall that Jesus came after a period of 400 years of silence from God, and after a longer period in which God only revealed Himself to a tiny nation. With that in mind, how has the coming of Jesus affected commerce and communication between heaven and earth? Complete this prayer: Lord, let me see heaven open today, so that I…

2.  Second, the hopes and expectations of all human beings have come to earth in the “Desire of All Nations,” Who is our Lord Jesus Christ (Hag. 2.6-9). How is Jesus the desire of all people? Is He the desire – whether they know it or not – of all the people in your Personal Mission Field? Lord, how can I show You today to…

3.  Third, Jesus brings mystery into human experience: How does He know that about Nathanael? Why do people feel compelled to follow Him? How can He see us without being present with us? Son of God? Son of Man? King of Israel? Looking at these early disciples, how are we counseled to respond to the mysteries that swirl around the Person and work of Jesus Christ? Lord, I can’t understandit all; however, I can believeand…

4.  Fourth, Jesus makes things happen on earth, and promises in Himself a new beginning – the Kingdom! – for human experience. How does John 1 encourage us to think about what it means to follow this King of Israel? What are the implications of this for your daily life? Lord, You have made me a citizen and appointed me an ambassador in Your Kingdom. For me today this means…

5.  Finally, because this story so far might appear to be altogether unbelievable, let’s not miss Jesus’ declaration: “Amen, amen” (“Most assuredly” NKJV). This is true. This is real. Everything this promises and portends will come to pass. Do the Christians you know live as if Jesus’ coming has changed everything? Do you? Bring your prayers from questions 1-4 together into a single prayer.

Summary
“Sometimes our Savior said ‘amen’ once, at other times twice, when he wished to confirm what he was saying. This is a Hebrew manner of speaking, revealing that which was taking place, such as that ‘you have been found trustworthy’ so as to see ‘the heavens opened,’ and so on. He says that it is possible to see the heavens opened not in a manner open to the senses but only by a mind observing the angels coming to serve Jesus. The word amen is used instead of ‘really and truthfully’ and is more fitting here.” Ammonius of Alexandria (late 5^th-early 6^th century AD)

The overture to the greatest story ever told is now complete. All the instruments are on stage, and each has sounded its voice, some of which are dissonant, and will refuse ever to get in tune or play by the score. The primary themes and motifs have been announced, and the echo of a sweet melody, surrounded by dark and dissonance undertones, lingers in the hall. But the Composer is at the podium, and His baton is raised. Hold on to your seats, and get ready to pick up your own instrument. Summarize the impact on you of John 1 in a single prayer.

Closing Prayer
Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples!
Shout to God with the voice of triumph!
For the LORD Most High isawesome;
He is a great King over all the earth.
He will subdue the peoples under us,
And the nations under our feet.
He will choose our inheritance for us,
The excellence of Jacob whom He loves.
Selah
God has gone up with a shout,
The LORD with the sound of a trumpet.
Sing praises to God, sing praises!
Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
For God isthe King of all the earth;
Sing praises with understanding.
God reigns over the nations;
God sits on His holy throne.
The princes of the people have gathered together,
The people of the God of Abraham.
For the shields of the earth belongto God;
He is greatly exalted.

Psalm 47

Psalm 47.1-4, 9 (Truro: Shout, for the Blessed Jesus Reigns)
O clap your hands, you peoples all, with joy to God your songs intone!
Shout out to Him, and on Him call, He is the mighty, sovereign One!

High is the Lord, O fear His Name! He rules a King o’er all the earth.
Nations and peoples He has tamed, the heritage of His holy worth.

Princes of peoples gather all to Abraham and to our God.
Exalt the Lord, and on Him call – the earth is His, so praise our God!

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.