Jesus, The Christ

Context: The Gospel According to John (John 20:31,21:24)

• Author: John
• Timeline: 90-110AD. Could be as early as 70s
• Purpose: John 20:31

Who are all the people we meet in this passage? What do we learn about them? (v40-49)

• Jesus, The Christ. Messiah in Hebrew and Christ in Greek – both mean Anointed One
• John, the baptist
• Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother
• Simon, son of Jonah
  • Renamed to Cephas in Aramic & Peter in Greek – both mean Rock
• Philip, who is from Bethsaida
  • The city that Andrew and Simon are from
• Nathanael, an Israelite in whom is no deceit

What was Nathanael doing under the fig tree?

• Praying? Speaking his mind about Nazareth? John 20:31

How did they come to know about Jesus? (v40-49, John 1:29-39)

• John: John didn’t recognize but God revealed Jesus to John with a sign
• Andrew: Heard the testimony of John the baptist that Jesus is the Lamb of God
• Simon: Andrew found his own brother and testified that he found the Messiah
• Philip: Jesus found and spoke directly to Philip
• Nathanael: Philip found him and shared that he found the One that Moses and prophets spoke about

According to their testimony, who is Jesus? (v40-49)

• John:
  • Jesus is the Lamb of God
  • The Son of God 
  • The One who takes away the sin of the world
• Andrew:
  • Jesus is the Messiah
• Philip:
  • Jesus is the one that Moses and the prophets spoke about
    • Starting in Genesis, through Psalms all the way to Malachi
• Nathanael:
  • Rabbi
  • Son of God
  • King of Israel

What did Nathaneal learn about Jesus? (v50-51)

• The ladder between heaven and earth – God and man. The only way.
• No one can come to the God the Father, except through Jesus

Conclusion / Application

• Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
• Have we found the Messiah? Are we finding people to talk to about the Messiah?

Main Passage John 1:40-51 – World English Bible (WEB)

40 One of the two who heard John and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his own brother, Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah!” (which is, being interpreted, Christ[a]). 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him, and said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” (which is by interpretation, Peter).[b] 43 On the next day, he was determined to go out into Galilee, and he found Philip. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael, and said to him, “We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, wrote: Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said about him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!” 48 Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” 49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are King of Israel!” 50 Jesus answered him, “Because I told you, ‘I saw you underneath the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these!” 51 He said to him, “Most certainly, I tell you all, hereafter you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

Footnotes

1. 1:41 “Messiah” (Hebrew) and “Christ” (Greek) both mean “Anointed One”.
2. 1:42 “Cephas” (Aramaic) and “Peter” (Greek) both mean “Rock”.

Notes / Cross References

John 20:31 but these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.

John 1:29-39 29 The next day, he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who is preferred before me, for he was before me.’ 31 I didn’t know him, but for this reason I came baptizing in water: that he would be revealed to Israel.” 32 John testified, saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending like a dove out of heaven, and it remained on him. 33 I didn’t recognize him, but he who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘On whomever you will see the Spirit descending and remaining on him is he who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.” 35 Again, the next day, John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus turned and saw them following, and said to them, “What are you looking for?”

They said to him, “Rabbi” (which is to say, being interpreted, Teacher), “where are you staying?”

39 He said to them, “Come, and see.”

Romans 10:13-15 13 For, “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in him whom they have not heard? How will they hear without a preacher? 15 And how will they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:

“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the Good News of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!”

Luke 19:10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Luke 24:44-47 44 He said to them, “This is what I told you, while I was still with you, that all things which are written in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms, concerning me must be fulfilled.”

45 Then he opened their minds, that they might understand the Scriptures. 46 He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem Genesis 3:15  I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring.

He will bruise your head, and you will bruise his heel.”

Psalm 22:18 They divide my garments among them. They cast lots for my clothing.

Isaiah 9:6 For a child is born to us. A son is given to us; and the government will be on his shoulders. His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Malachi 3:1 “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me; and the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, behold, he comes!” says Yahweh of Armies.

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.