I have really struggled giving todays post a title. “Day Three, The Witnesses Testimony” just doesn’t cut it. I almost want to title it, “Nathanael’s Testimony.” And perhaps that is a better title. For today’s post really covers two days, with the second day, being Nathanael’s testimony. So, let’s begin.
Day three starts on a smaller scale than either day one or two. Verse 35 says, “Again the next day (day three), John stood with two of his disciples. And looking at Jesus as he walked by, (John the Baptizer) said, “Behold the Lamb of God.
These two disciples have listened to two days of testimony concerning who John the Baptist is, his mission, and who Jesus is. Is it any wonder the disciples did the logical thing? For them, the logical thing is to follow Jesus.
Jesus, upon knowing two disciples of John were following him, asks, “What do you seek? It may sound strange to us, but Jesus asks, “Whay are you following me. Are you curious? Do you seek a relationship with me, or do you just want to fill some curiosity about who I am? Their response is, “Rabbi (teacher), where are you staying?”
These two disciples of John the Baptizer who are following Jesus are John the brother of James and Simon Peter.
On day three of John’s testimony, there is a shift from John the Baptizer to Jesus. Another subtle point is made by the two new disciples of Jesus. They call Him “Rabbi.” The name means, “My Great One,” or is equivalent to us calling someone Sir. But the use of the word is a little restricted in that they used Rabbi as a title of distinction and not respect for a teacher of the law.
They accepted Jesus as a teacher of the Torah (The Law, or the first five books of the Hebrew Scriptures), but they did not yet accept him as the Messiah. Within their own minds, the jury is still out.
As chapter one draws to a close, we have the testimony of John the Baptizer and Jesus’s own words, “Come and see.” But the testimony of John the Baptizer was powerful enough to convince two of his followers to follow Jesus and for them to ask other to follow Jesus. Jesus the great teacher of the Torah.
I should end this post here. Yet I would really like to finish chapter one. Verse 43 opens by saying, “The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee.” So, on the fourth day Jesus goes to Galilee. The reason for Jesus wanting to go will come out in chapter two. But here are the facts. Between the testimony of John, Joh, and Andrew, James and Simon Peter begin to follow Jesus. Both brothers appeal to their own family to see that there is something special in Jesus and they too should follow Jesus.
But not all people come to Jesus by the invitation of a family member, so we have Jesus asking Philip, will you follow Me? In turn, Philip tells Nathanel, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and the Prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
Nathanael’s response is priceless. What, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Nazareth is the place Joseph chose to bring Jesus after their return from Egypt. Nazareth was a frontier town near a Roman Garrison. Therefore, it was a rough-and-tumble place. Not exactly the place honorable Jews would live. Samrai separated it from Jerusalem, giving it sufficient distance from Jerusalem and the influence of the religious leaders. Joseph was correct; Nazareth was indeed the perfect place for Jesus to live and grow up away from the influence of the relgious leaders. We see the contempt many Jews had for Nazareth in Nathanel’s response to hearing Jesus was from Nazareth. “What, can anything good come from Nazareth?”
Often, I have wondered if Nathanael had heard the rumors concerning Jesus’s questionable birth. Was Joseph really the father of Jesus? Just how did Mary become pregnant, for she had been out of town, came home, and announced she was with child. Even being far removed from Jerusalem, the appearance of integrity must be kept.
But Jesus knew that the people of this region were far more teachable than those in Jerusalem or Judea. So, Jesus started his ministry in the region of Galilee. Away from the scrutiny of the religious leaders.
Verse 46 ends with an invitation, not just for Nathanael, but for all of us. “Come and see.” Come and see who this man called Jesus is. Come and see the great Rabbi. Come examine for yourself the testimony of Moses in the Law, the prophets, and John the baptizer, who have testified regarding who Jesus is and His mission or purpose for coming to this earth.
Nathanael had a decision to makes as we all do. Will we follow Jesus? As the gospel of John unfolds, we will be introduced to people that need to answer within their own hearts, “Who is Jesus?” Is He a great Teacher? Is He the Messiah? Is he Elijah or one of the prophets? Just who is He and will you accept Him as the Lamb of God, the Messiah, or will you reject him?
Read John 1:46-51. Unlike the religious leaders Jesus knows the condition of Nathanael’s heart and he knows the condition of my heart and yours.
Nathanael perceived that his heart was known by Jesus, he is convinced “Jesus is the Son of God! Jesus is the King of Israel.”
In verse 50, Jesus said, “Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? you will see greater things than these. Vs. 51: Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open and angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”
The evidence or opening statements have been given. The Pharisees and Teachers of the law have asked of John, “Who are you?” John gives evidence of who he isn’t and introduces evidence as to who the Lamb of God is. Nathanel is convinced He has met the Son of God the New King. And Jesus Himself claims to be the Son of Man.
The question is, in your own heart, do you feel Jesus is “The Lamb of God?” Do you feel He is the Messiah, the Son of God, the New King? Or do you feel He is the Son of Man? Or perhaps a historical figure as a great teacher.
John’s gospel is inviting you to, like the disciples in Jesus’s time to discover who Jesus is. Come and let us learn together.
In our next post, we will open John chapter 2 and discover even more evidence as to who Jesus is.
The Bible In Your Hand 