John 1 is usually rather philosophical and is not like the usual Christmas narrative we read about. Instead, what we have is John expounding about the Word, this God who is at God’s own side. He is God and is yet not the same as God. This sets us apart from other religions.
And as we move on in John’s gospel, we are introduced to a specific idea of God. God has a fellow who is born into flesh and came to bring light and life into the world. He perfects Moses’ law, surpasses the revelation in the OT and gives us in Himself grace up on grace.
This person has a special witness in John the Baptist. He calls Jesus “the Lamb of God” and this Lamb comes to “take away the sins of the world” (John 1:29). He will also baptise with the Spirit (John 1:30).
In today’s passage, Jesus begins to interact with four people and these four seem to be important only in John’s gospel! As we read it, let us consider what we can learn from these four apostles. What do their interactions with Jesus mean for me?
(A) From John to Andrew to Simon: How to begin again (John 1:35-42)
In John 1:35, John records for us how John the Baptist was standing with two of his disciples and when Jesus walked by, introduced Jesus in the same way as he did earlier. In earlier verses, we’ve already read about John and his mission. He refers to Jesus as the Lamb of God! This is enough for his two disciples to respond (John 1:37). They followed Jesus and He begins to interact with them.
He asked them what it was that they are seeking (John 1:38). The disciples replied lamely, that they just wanted to know where He is staying. They didn’t really know how to articulate their question or what they are really looking for in the first place. Jesus graciously calls them to “come and you will see” (John 1:39), and they did just that. They took Him at His word and responded to His gracious invitation.
The disciples would not have known that Jesus is the Lamb of God if John had not said the words and called them to behold. And if they had not gone, they would not have heard Jesus’ subsequent invitation.
As we read on, we realise that there is not much of an exchange between Simon Peter and Jesus, but there is an exchange between Andrew and Simon Peter. Andrew was one of the two who heard the words from John and John writes it in a way that expects one to know Simon Peter (John 1:40). Andrew goes on to find his own brother to tell him the good news (John 1:41). John the writer seems to want us to know that it was Andrew who brought Jesus.
Andrew goes on to tell Peter his brother, that he had found the Messiah. Now, John 1:41-42 might not have an elaborate description of the dialogue, but we need to remember the hope that the Israelites had in the Messiah. They were waiting for His coming to rescue them from their oppressors. Thus, this mention of the Messiah in John 1:41 was less a religious comment, but had more of a socio-political implication.
Peter goes to see this Jesus that Andrew was telling him about and when he met Jesus, Jesus gave Simon Peter a new identity by renaming him “Cephas”. This signifies a new beginning as he has begun to follow this rabbi.
Just in these verses, notice how John spoke, his disciples heard and followed Jesus. The disciples heard Jesus and brought others to Him! Don’t we see that there is no way that people can follow Jesus without first hearing about Him and must also get up and go to Jesus to experience Him for themselves before anything else happens. And it is natural to go to your family member to share.
Thus, what happens when someone has heard of Jesus but is unwilling to share with those they love? They may not have encountered Jesus, experienced who He is, clarified their own understanding of who He is and news about Jesus remains just news. We must go from what we know about Him to experiencing Him, and when we have experienced Him, we will seek to bring others to Him! (c.f. Isa 62:2) In Isa 62:2, the prophet Isaiah writes of the promise of a new name and identity when God’s people come to Him. Similarly, in 2 Cor 5:17, when we meet Jesus, we have new lives! It is not just improved lives but really new ones. Are you living out of a new identity and new beginning after following Jesus? Can you say that you have a new name and identity now?
Perhaps 2021 has not been a good year, and may be even worse than 2020. God is a God that can give us new beginnings. The problem is that sometimes we don’t want it or don’t believe that God can give us a new beginning. Some things we think are too dark. Some habits too powerful. Some relationships too broken and shattered to be mended.
Hear Jesus’ question here, “What are you seeking?” and see also how He eventually gives Peter a new name, identity and beginning. He can do this for us, if we will but come and see!
(B) From Philip to Nathanael: Where heaven meets earth (John 1:43-51)
Jesus also found Philip and called out to him to follow Him (John 1:43). We do not know how Jesus found him, but we know that Jesus goes out to encounter and meet sinners. Note that Philip is not a Jewish name, but is a Greek name. In John 1:44, we also learn that he was from the same city as Andrew and Peter.
Philip also found Nathanael and told him that they have now found “him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph” (John 1:45). It’s a formal way of identifying Jesus and was a specific way of doing so. What did Philip realise? Philip, unlike Andrew and Simon, could be more educated and verbalises it. He is aware of the teachings in the Law and the Prophets.
Like Philip, we should not despise the Old Testament and should never be distant nor afraid or wary and think that we cannot relate to the Old Testament. These men were also distant from the Old Testament but by reading, they also saw how Jesus fulfilled what was written. We should see that the Old Testament is also a roadmap to help us see who Jesus is and what He came to do.
Philip’s response is similar to Andrew’s (John 1:45). This seems to be a common pattern. Every time someone meets Jesus and sees that He is no ordinary man, they realise that this is a precious discovery and shakes them out of their malaise and melancholy and are transformed to do something different.
Later on in John 4:28-30, 34-38, we also read of a similar response by the Samaritan woman who met Jesus at the well. She encountered Jesus and quickly went back to tell everyone that she had met the Christ. Her encounter with Jesus changed her and she could not wait to tell everyone, despite her background.
Every character in the Christmas narrative is burdened with news and have to decide what they are going to do with the news. Mary was told that the Spirit will come and give her a child. What is she going to do? Joseph is told that his fiancée is going to be pregnant. What will he do? Herod is told that the prophesied King is going to be born. How is he going to respond? The shepherds were told that God is doing something miraculous that day. What will they do? John shows us how we respond when our hearts are so stirred by the news that the news is no longer just a burden, but it transforms our hearts and fill us with hope and joy. The first thing that followers of Jesus do is tell others about Him. They may not have all the dots connected but they cannot but tell those they love about Jesus.
Nathanael heard Philip’s words and presumed that nothing good could come out of a small town like Nazareth (John 1:46). He was aware of the prevailing cultural norms and knew what was going on in Israel. Why would and how could any hope come out of Nazareth? The great Roman empire cannot be overthrown by a country bumpkin. What they need would be an educated economist or military strategist.
Jesus therefore answered in an extremely calibrated and customised way (John 1:47). His answer revealed His omniscience. He knew Nathanael’s skepticism and doubt and Jesus went for that. Jesus knew him before he rejected Philip’s invitation and knew him even when Nathanael did not believe.
Do you know Jesus like this, who is not afraid to show you that you don’t know Him? He is the one who is not afraid to tell you that your understanding is not deep enough or that He is not the Messiah we expect Him to be. Christmas shows us that Jesus does not come in the way we expect Him to come. When He came to redeem the world, He came in the smallest and most fragile way. Have you assumed too much of God today? It happens to us who are extremely well-read or serve in church. We think we know Him on our terms, because we assume our terms are the Bible’s terms. Friends, today, remember that He knows us better than we know ourselves!
Jesus revealed how much He knows and Nathanael discovers what His full knowledge is (John 1:48). He will also change what Nathanael experience and know of Him (John 1:51). Nathanael articulated his belief (“son of God”, “King of Israel”) but he will learn more now! Now “Son of God” could be referred to one who is doing the work of God and could also refer to kings. However, “Son of Man” is a specific reference to the passage in Daniel. This man approaches God in the throne room. This is Jesus’ favourite term to describe His divinity. John 1:51 also references Gen 28:12-15. Jesus told him that he will see Him glorified, where heaven and earth meet.
In these verses, we see how each disciple had a transformative experience when they met Jesus. Andrew was convinced. Peter received a new name. Jesus went out to seek Philip and he is so moved, he went on to find Nathanael. Nathanael discovered that all the hope of Israel dwelled in this Son of Man. They all met Jesus and had a new beginning and a new name. Andrew, following Jesus’ death and resurrection, went on to become an evangelist and to bring the gospel out to Europe and possibly even to Ukraine. Philip became the apostle who is most accessible to the Greeks (c.f. John 12) and brought the gospel to Syria and Greece. Nathanael went to bring the gospel to Armenia. Peter’s ministry is recorded for us in Acts and was eventually buried in Rome. These men go on to become the foundation of global Christianity. They met Jesus and learnt how to bring others to Him.
Have you been brave for Jesus this year? Do people in your life know that you are a Christian? Live your faith and Christmas calling and let others around you know that you belong to Jesus Christ. Let people around you know whom you love, and perhaps, they might come to love Him too.