John 1:30-51 Home Group Meeting 27 Dec 22

30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. Commentary: Here John definitely connects the Lamb of God (not the Christ) with the One. The people had a very hard time understanding Jesus pre-existence. Who pre-existed as God, (verse slain before)When he is witnessing, the One who lived before John was born, even though John was six months older than Jesus. Late Jesus adds further distress on the people when Jesus says, "Before Abraham was I ." 

31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. Commentary: John tells the people he has never met Jesus until now yet he was sent in the past to bring salvation to Israel. A prophet who points to the future usually is limited in the revelation he gives, but John is clear in what he is saying and what he knows, "therefore I come baptizing with water." John knows what God told him. (do we?) Faith (Romans 10:17 Greek) 

32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. Commentary: Here John the Baptist is a witness of the Holy Spirit and landing on Jesus. John the Baptist knew that the dove was a physical manifestation of the Holy Spirit. He saw through the physical beyond it and into the spirit realm. If we do not see (understand) that well it is best to admit it rather than to misjudge or move in presumption. 

 33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. Commentary: Here John the Baptist is saying the One (God) who sent him to baptize is the same One who said He who the dove remains on is He who will baptize with the Holy Ghost (Spirit). Revelation is always destined to become clearer as it progresses in a person or in time. At first John the Baptist did not know, but now he knows. 

34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. Commentary: Names matter to a Jew. Here we see another name for Jesus. Other names are Lamb of God, Savior, Messiah, Son of Man, but here Jesus is identified with His heavenly title, "the Son of God" which emphasized in order to point out the extreme extent of Jesus identity with man. John the Baptist said Jesus is the "Son of God." Now because Jesus is the Son of God does not mean He cannot be the Lamb of God or the Messiah. He is. Just because Jesus made the light does not mean Jesus cannot make darkness. (Isaiah 45:7) 

35 Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; Commentary: Here we see John the Baptist had disciples. John was not to make disciples, but to redirect them all to Jesus, but this did not happen. I believe when Jesus entered the picture John the Baptist was to stop baptizing. To this day there are still disciples of John the Baptist still baptizing people in the Jordan River. 

36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! Commentary: Again John the Baptist see Jesus as the Lamb of God" not the Christ. Here John is giving vision which is critical to keep things (without vision (cast off restraint) the people perish) on track, but the work of the ministry required obedience. Revelation is needed it gives clarity, but obedience gives completion and fulfillment to the vision. 

37 And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. Commentary: Obedience is to follow hearing. One can hear and not follow, but in God we are to hear (like see) and understand then do (follow) what we have been told to do. To follow we must have a hearing ear (communication with the Holy Spirit) and a following heart (submission, clay on the potter's wheel) without both there will never be development in our Christian walk.. 

38 Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou? Commentary: Jesus is well aware the Holy Spirit is drawing (unless the Holy Spirit draws there can be no salvation) these two. Looking past these two men Jesus looks at their intention and the intention the Father has for these two men. This is how Jesus looked at Peter, Nathaniel (we must see Jesus, and US. 

39 He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour. Commentary: They were received by Jesus and stayed with Him. Here Jesus seemingly steals John's disciples, but they were not John the Baptist's disciples they were really Jesus' prepared by God for service. 

40 One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. Commentary: Andrew was the first disciple that Jesus gathered. The Greek text lets us know Andrew was close to John the Baptist and he has an ear to hear from the Holy Spirit. So we see there is a relationship between hearing and being close to someone. For a time Andrew followed both Jesus and John the Baptist, but there came a time when Andrew just followed Jesus. 

41 He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. Commentary: Amazingly Andrew proclaims Jesus is the Christ the Anointed One before Peter. Andrew must have received this revelation from the Holy Spirit or John the Baptist told him. I believe the Holy Spirit told him. The Holy spirit must tell us too. What as the Holy Spirit told us? 

42 And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone. Commentary: Here Peter "Simon the son of Jona" (old man of the flesh) comes to Jesus. Peter was not impressed with Jesus and apparently was a disciple of John the Baptist. Jesus saw beyond Peter's character flaws (his lack of dedication in troubled times) and saw the finished product as He sees in our lives. Jesus saw a firm rock, "A stone." The meeting takes place at Bethabara (a House of Crossing Over) Peter now has a place to cross over. 43 The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me. Commentary: Time passes and another opportunity to gather disciples. Jesus knows of His limited time on earth remaining and had to get with it in collecting disciples now that His ministry has started. Philip maybe another disciple of John the Baptist was ripe for the picking he had the two main requirements: a hunger and a hearing ear. 

44 Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Commentary: Bethsaida means House of Fishing. More fisherman were called as disciples by Jesus than any other profession. They had the right heart quality they would fish all night and get nothing. They would keep on fishing even in the face of discouraging news. Andrew was closer to Peter than to Phillip and he lacked the revelation Phillip had, but he did have zeal something we all must temper in US. (Rich Young Ruler) 

45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. Commentary: Phillip's revelation was almost correct, "the son of Joseph," but that is okay. Phillip thought Joseph produced Jesus, but if we follow Jesus we know our revelation is to become greater and clearer as we go. Notice Phillip talks about the law of Moses and the prophets, Phillip knew his Old Testament. Which helped Him recognize Jesus when he saw Him. 

46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. Commentary: Nazareth had a bad reputation which caused him to doubt the claim Jesus was the Messiah. Today it is the same. The unrighteous see the lifestyle of the "Christians" and turn away from the things of God. What is our reputation? We are to so let our light shine before men . . 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! Commentary: Just like Peter and the rest of the disciples Jesus gazes into the depth of Nathanael. We are all as transparent to the LORD and in spite of our evil heart and waywardness God's love and forgiveness endures forever. 

48 Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. Commentary: Jesus shocks Nathanael. Some people need a cattle prod to get their attention. The LORD knows how to get our attention when He wants. Nathanael was amazed to Jesus perception. yet the LORD's perception spans the ages: He knows our patience, our labors, our lack, our tribulation etc. 

49 Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. Commentary: Nathanael is awed by Jesus' vision of him. Nathanael's revelation is correct, "the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel." Nathanael unlike John the Baptist (this will be trouble for John the Baptist in the future) did not have the revelation of Jesus as the Lamb of God. He called Him "Rabbi" (teacher) and Son of God what else must he see? 

50 Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these. Commentary: Belief and revelation may not be the same thing. Jesus let Nathanael know there was some work needed in his life to believe. Most of the disciples believed without needing a sign. In any case the work was needed to develop greater revelation in them. 51 And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man. Commentary: Some of the disciples saw this saying of Jesus come to pass in Gethsemane (Luke 22:43). When the heavens open revelation increases. Ones whole life is affected. The hungry heart is filled and the pure in heart see God.