Jesus’s First Converts

Jesus’s First Converts, John 1:35-51

John 1:35 Again the next day John was standing [a]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 And Jesus turned and saw them following, and *said to them, “What do you seek?” They said to Him, “Rabbi (which translated means Teacher), where are You staying?” 39 He *said to them, “Come, and you will see.” So they came and saw where He was staying; and they stayed with Him that day, for it was about the [b]tenth hour. 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He *found first his own brother Simon and *said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which translated means [c]Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of [d]John; you shall be called Cephas” (which is translated [e]Peter).

43 The next day He purposed to go into Galilee, and He *found Philip. And 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 also 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 of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” 48 Nathanael *said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to 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 the King of Israel.” 50 Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And He *said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

Footnotes

a. John 1:35 Lit and

b. John 1:39 Perhaps 10 a.m. (Roman time)

c. John 1:41 Gr Anointed One

d. John 1:42 Gr Joannes

e. John 1:42 I.e. Rock or Stone

Commentary

The Nelson KJV Bible Commentary holds that the two disciples mentioned in verses 35-37 are Andrew, and John, the author of this gospel account (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1300). I appreciate the perspective this offers because it’s not always top of mind that I’m reading a first-hand account, especially since the authors all write in the third person. Another thing I’ve never given much thought to is the fact that Andrew is Simon Peter’s brother, and although Peter’s fame has eclipsed that of many other disciples, we can credit Andrew with recruiting him.

I’m interested by the number of times throughout the Bible when God gives people new names, and the renaming of Peter is notable among them. Upon meeting Simon, Jesus immediately tells him he is to be called by another name, a name which means “a stone”. Since we now have the context of the entire ministry of Jesus, we know Jesus later reveals the significance of this name when he says, “Upon this rock I will build my church”, but I wonder if the moniker seemed strange to Simon at the time, or since he already suspected Jesus of being the Messiah, if it was counted an honor to be given a new name by Christ. John’s account is the only one that uses the Aramaic “Cephas”, whereas the other gospels use Peter. Note also that Jesus gave Cephas a new name, but did not officially call Cephas to follow Him during this exchange. We don’t know how long the men stayed with Jesus at the time, but at some point they appear to have gone back to work fishing, since Jesus later calls them from their boats. In many ways, the accounts of the first commission of the twelve in Matthew and Luke make a lot more sense psychologically once you realize these men were already well-acquainted with Jesus before He told them to drop their nets and follow Him, at which point they seem to be constant companions of Jesus, never returning to their trade until after Jesus’ death (The Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible, Vol 4 pg. 733).

By contrast, Jesus does appear to call Philip at their first meeting, whereupon he immediately goes to Nathanael to tell him they have found the Messiah in Jesus, son of Joseph. Philip was from Bethsaida and Nathanael from Cana, both towns in the region of Galilee (as is Nazareth), so it’s possible they were acquainted with Jesus personally or by reputation. However, it seems clear they were well-acquainted with the city of Nazareth, since Nathanael blurts out, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” I think this question speaks to Jesus’ assessment of Nathanael’s guileless character. It’s possible I’m projecting modern social convention onto the situation, but in Nathanael I picture the type of person who takes things at face value and who lacks the social grace to inhibit him from making practical observations out loud. To further develop the character of Nathanael, we see he accepts Jesus’ deity after a single proof, when Jesus tells him what he had been doing before Philip found him. While the others investigate Jesus based on the testimony of John the Baptist, the guileless Nathanael immediately has a personal experience and needs no more convincing. However, Jesus takes the opportunity to teach and persuade all who were present by assuring Nathanael there is more to come.

This statement in verse 51, though short, introduces some pretty deep theology. When Jesus talks about angels ascending and descending to and from Heaven, He is making reference to the “Jacob’s ladder” story in Genesis 28:12, when Jacob had a dream with visions of angels passing to and from Heaven. In the dream, God reminded Jacob of promises He had made to Jacob’s father and grandfather, and when Jacob woke up, he determined to mark the spot because he knew God’s presence had been there. In the OT, a place became holy (or “Bethel”) whenever God or His agents made an appearance there, and the Jews would often commemorate these places by erecting a temple or altar of some kind (The Word in Life Study Bible pg. 1862).

When Jesus tells Nathanael that angels will ascend and descend upon Him, He is revealing a whole new concept of a sacred place, the temple of a person, or the human body. The further implication we can take from this truth is that we, when the Holy Spirit indwells us, become sacred places, as does any place we go and carry the Holy Spirit within us. There is no such thing as a secular or “God-forsaken place”, as long as a Christian is there. Think about workplaces, inner cities, developing nations. Just a few verses before this, we saw the reference to Nazareth, a town reviled for its ungodly behavior. Jesus did not need to come from a place that was holy before He got there; He is the one who carries holiness within Him (The Word in Life Study Bible pg. 1862).

See the next post here https://onthepath.online/2019/05/24/miracle-at-cana/

Scripture References

Jn 1:29 The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

Mt 23:7 and respectful greetings in the market places, and being called Rabbi by men. 8 But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers.

Mt 4:18 Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19 And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. 21 Going on from there He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and He called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.

Mk 1:16 As He was going along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” 18 Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. 19 Going on a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets. 20 Immediately He called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went away to follow Him.

Lk 5:2 and He saw two boats lying at the edge of the lake; but the fishermen had gotten out of them and were washing their nets. 3 And He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little way from the land. And He sat down and began teaching the people from the boat. 4 When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 Simon answered and said, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets.” 6 When they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish, and their nets began to break; 7 so they signaled to their partners in the other boat for them to come and help them. And they came and filled both of the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 But when Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus’ feet, saying, “Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!” 9 For amazement had seized him and all his companions because of the catch of fish which they had taken; 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men.” 11 When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him.

Da 9:25 So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress.

Jn 4:25 The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ); when that One comes, He will declare all things to us.”

Mt 16:17 And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

Jn 21:15 So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My lambs.” 16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Shepherd My sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Tend My sheep.

1 Co 1:12 Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, “I am of Paul,” and “I of Apollos,” and “I of Cephas,” and “I of Christ.”

1 Co 3:22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come; all things belong to you,

1 Co 9:5 Do we not have a right to take along a believing wife, even as the rest of the apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?

1 Co 15:5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.

Gal 1:18 Then three years later I went up to Jerusalem to become acquainted with Cephas, and stayed with him fifteen days.

Gal 2:9 and recognizing the grace that had been given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we might go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.

Gal 2:11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.

Gal 1:14 and I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions

Mt 16:18 I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.

Mt 4:12 Now when Jesus heard that John had been taken into custody, He withdrew into Galilee;

Jn 1:28 These things took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

Jn 2:11 This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.

Mt 10:3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;

Jn 6:5 Therefore Jesus, lifting up His eyes and seeing that a large crowd was coming to Him, said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these may eat?”

Jn 6:7 Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, for everyone to receive a little.”

Jn 12:21 these then came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and began to ask him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip came and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip came and told Jesus.

Jn 14:8 Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

Mt 8:22 But Jesus said to him, “Follow Me, and allow the dead to bury their own dead.”

Mt 11:21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had occurred in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

Jn 21:2 Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together.

Lk 24:27 Then beginning with Moses and [b]with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures

Mt 2:23 and came and lived in a city called Nazareth. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets: “He shall be called a Nazarene.”

Lk 2:48 When they saw Him, they were astonished; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You treated us this way? Behold, Your father and I]have been anxiously looking for You.”

Lk 3:23 When He began His ministry, Jesus Himself was about thirty years of age, being, as was supposed, the son of Joseph, the son of Eli,

Lk 4:22 And all were speaking well of Him, and wondering at the gracious words which were falling from His lips; and they were saying, “Is this not Joseph’s son?”

Jn 6:42 They were saying, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does He now say, ‘I have come down out of heaven’?”

Jn 7:41 Others were saying, “This is the Christ.” Still others were saying, “Surely the Christ is not going to come from Galilee, is He?

Jn 7:52 They answered him, “You are not also from Galilee, are you? Search, and see that no prophet arises out of Galilee.”

Ro 9:4 who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises,

Jn 1:34 I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.”

Mt 2:2 “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”

Mt 27:42 “He saved others; He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in Him

Mk 15:32 Let this Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, so that we may see and believe!” Those who were crucified with Him were also insulting Him.

Jn 12:13 took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began to shout, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel.”

Eze 1:1 Now it came about in the thirtieth year, on the fifth day of the fourth month, while I was by the river Chebar among the exiles, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God.

Mt 3:16 After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him

Lk 3:21 Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus was also baptized, and while He was praying, heaven was opened,

Ac 7:56 and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

Ac 10:11 and he saw the sky opened up, and an object like a great sheet coming down, lowered by four corners to the ground,

Rev 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war.

Ge 28:12 He had a dream, and behold, a ladder was set on the earth with its top reaching to heaven; and behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.

Mt 8:20 Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”