(35) "AGAIN on the morrow John was standing, and two of his disciples; (36) and he looked upon Jesus as he walked, and saith, Behold, the Lamb of God! (37) And the two disciples heard Him speak, and they followed Jesus. (38) And Jesus turned, and beheld them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? And they said unto Him, Rabbi (which is to say, being interpreted, Teacher), where abidest Thou? (39) He saith unto them, Come, and ye shall see. They came therefore and saw where He abode; and they abode with Him that day; it was about the tenth hour. (40) One of the two that heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. (41) He findeth first his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messiah (which is, being interpreted, Christ). (42) He brought him unto Jesus. Jesus looked upon him, and said, Thou art Simon the son of John; thou shalt be called Cephas (which is by interpretation, Peter).
(43) "On the morrow He was minded to go forth into Galilee, and He findeth Philip; and Jesus saith unto him, Follow Me. (44) Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter. (45) Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found Him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. (46) And Nathanael said unto Him, Can any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. (47) Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and saith of him, Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! (48) Nathanael saith unto Him, Whence knowest Thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. (49) Nathanael answered Him, Rabbi, Thou art the Son of God; Thou art King of Israel. (50) Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee underneath the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these. (51) And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye shall see the heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."
Golden Text.—"Thou art the Son of God; Thou art the King of Israel." Verse 49.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
(1) What three individuals are mentioned in the beginning of this lesson? Verse 35. Note 1. (2) As they stood together, whom did John see? What did he say to his companions? Verse 36. Note 2. (3) When the two disciples heard this, what did they do? Verse 37. Note 3. (4) As Jesus saw them following Him, what did He say to them? What did they say in reply? Verse 38. Note 4. (5) What kind invitation did Jesus then extend to them? How did the men respond to this invitation? What time of day was it? Verse 39. Note 5. (6) What was the name of one of these men? Verse 40. (7) As a disciple of Christ, whom did Andrew first seek? What did he say to his brother? Verse 41. Note 6. (8) To whom did Andrew then take Peter? What did Jesus say to him? Verse 42. Note 7. (9) Which way did Jesus journey the next day? Whom did He find by the way? What invitation did He extend to Philip? Verse 43. Note 8. (10) From what city was Philip? Verse 44. (11) Then whom did Philip find? What testimony did the new missionary give? Verse 45. Note 9. (12) What skeptical question did Nathanael ask? What was Philip's wise reply? Verse 46. Note 10. (13) What did Jesus say on seeing Nathanael? Verse 47. Note 11. (14) How did Nathanael express his surprise at being recognized? How did Jesus answer this query? Verse 48. Note 12. (15) What acknowledgment did Nathanael then make? Verse 49. (16) Then what question did Jesus ask? And what promise did He make? Verse 50. Note 13. (17) Then what further encouragement did Jesus give this disciple? Verse 51. Note 14.
NOTES.
1. "On the morrow" was the next day after John proclaimed before the great multitude that Jesus was "the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world," and the Baptist was now accompanied by only two of his disciples.
2. John now makes a personal appeal to his disciples concerning Him who was to take away the sin of the world.
3. The first disciples of Jesus were the direct fruit of John's labors, the result of individual effort with immediate associates.
4. Jesus saw the men coming toward Him, and encouraged them to free intercourse by asking them what they were seeking. He was evidently desirous of making the way easy for them. No one can even start to find Christ without His notice and His making some effort to encourage the purpose.
5. This example of hospitality was the first lesson taught by Jesus after entering upon His ministry. And it is a lesson frequently enjoined by both precept and example in the Scriptures. See Gen. 18: 1-8; 19:1-3; Job 29: 11-16; 31: 32; Luke 14: 13, 14; Heb. 13: 2.
6. Andrew caught the true missionary spirit, to first seek those nearest to us. This lesson had evidently been impressed, directly or indirectly, during the interview with Jesus.
7. Simon was a man of ready response, and impulsive desire to do what was right; hence he was no doubt easily impressed by his brother's earnest appeal. The name (Cephas, or Peter) that Jesus said he should bear, was of the nature of an encouraging prophecy as to his future attainment.
8. The other three disciples had been pointed to Jesus by others, but Jesus Himself found Philip. This illustrates the great fact that He does not lie back and wait for people to come to Him; He seeks the lost, and that is also the mission of His followers.
9. Philip, having been found by the Saviour, becomes a seeker for others; and his first effort bears fruit in finding one who was a seeker after truth. The Spirit-led disciple became the channel through which Nathanael's earnest desire was realized.
10. Nazareth was an obscure town, having nothing in the way of business, or surroundings, or noted persons, or institutions, to give it prominence, or to lead to the expectation that anything good or great could arise there. So Philip would not present any evidence but that of personal acquaintance with facts on the part of Nathanael. Only by going to Christ in person, and becoming acquainted with Him for ourselves, can we experience the blessings of salvation from sin. Justification by faith is an individual matter.
11. "An Israelite indeed" is not necessarily of the natural seed, altho Nathanael and all of the apostles were Israelites according to the flesh. "We are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God, and glory in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh." Phil. 3: 3.
12. The fig tree, with its low, spreading branches and broad, sheltering leaves, forms a very secluded place of retirement for meditation and prayer. And as Nathanael was thus engaged he evidently thought himself hidden from all observing eyes. But he could not be hidden from Christ.
13. Just because of that one expression, "I saw thee under the fig tree," Nathanael was convinced. It is remarkable how readily some people accept the truth; while others will quibble over every little point that a skeptical imagination can call to mind. No doubt Nathanael was convinced because he had been searching the Scriptures and praying for light concerning the coming of Christ, and therefore his mind was in a condition to perceive the answer to his earnest inquiry as soon as it was presented.
14. This promise concerning what Nathanael should afterward see implies that he should have a better understanding of Christ's connection with heaven as he became better acquainted with Him and His work.
