John 1:19-51
Summary for John 1:19-28: 1:19–12:50 a Jesus reveals himself to the world through his miraculous signs and sermons. Audiences were divided: Some wanted to believe in him; others opposed him. This division intensifies as the book unfolds. Jesus ended his public ministry with a final appeal for people to believe in him (12:44-50 b).Summary for John 1:19-51: 1:19-51 c John’s Gospel gives limited attention to John the Baptist compared to the synoptic Gospels (Matt 3:1-6 d; Mark 1:2-6 e; Luke 1:1-24 f, 57-80 g; 3:1-13 h). Yet the apostle John wants us to see that John the Baptist correctly identified and exalted Jesus. John the Baptist’s disciples leave him and follow Jesus; Jesus took over the ministry John began, increasing as John decreased (John 3:30 i).
1:20 j The Jews expected the Messiah (the Hebrew form of the Greek word Christ) to bring spiritual leadership and political redemption to Israel (see Deut 18:15 k; see also the Jewish intertestamental book Psalms of Solomon).
1:21 l Elijah was to be the Messiah’s forerunner (Mal 4:5 m). John the Baptist fulfilled the forerunner’s role, though he denied being the prophet Elijah (see Matt 11:14 n; Luke 1:17 o).
• Are you the Prophet we are expecting? Cp. John 6:14 p; 7:40-41 q.
Summary for John 1:22-23: 1:22-23 r Then who are you? John the Baptist simply wanted to be known as a voice shouting in the wilderness (see Isa 40:3 s).
1:24 t The Pharisees were deeply devoted to the Scriptures and earnestly desired a righteous life. They also believed in the coming Messiah, which explains their inquiries here. Some Pharisees became believers in Jesus (Acts 15:5 u), including the apostle Paul (Acts 26:5 v; Phil 3:5 w).
Summary for John 1:25-26: 1:25-26 x Jewish baptisms were ritual washings for becoming ceremonially pure following contact with impurity (Lev 8:6 y; Num 19:7 z).
• John’s announcement of the Messiah’s arrival required that participants confess their sins and be baptized (Matt 3:6 aa). Baptism later became the symbol of membership in Jesus’ kingdom (Acts 2:38 ab; see also John 4:1-2 ac).
1:27 ad A menial task such as removing a sandal was reserved for a slave; these tasks were never performed by a disciple.
1:29 ae The phrase Lamb of God might refer to the Passover sacrifice of a lamb or to the daily sacrifice in the Temple (Exod 29:38-46 af; Heb 10 ag). See also Rev 5 ah.
1:32 ai John the Baptist’s second testimony (see 1:19-23 aj) told what happened when Jesus was baptized.
• In the Old Testament, kings and prophets were anointed with the Holy Spirit, but these anointings were temporary and tied to a particular office or occasion. By contrast, with the Spirit’s resting on him, Jesus’ anointing was permanent (see 3:34 ak).
1:34 al the Chosen One of God: See Isa 42:1 am.
Summary for John 1:35-51: 1:35-51 an This section introduces the template for discipleship in John’s Gospel. Disciples desired to come and see Jesus (1:39 ao), and when they encountered him, they remained with him.
Summary for John 1:40-42: 1:40-42 ap Simon is well known in the Gospels, not for his courage and faith, but for his failings (see 18:15-18 aq, 25-27 ar). Jesus named him Cephas (“the rock”), referring to the great church leader he would later become (see Acts 1:1–5:42 as; 8:1–12:25 at; 15:1-41 au).
Summary for John 1:43-44: 1:43-44 av Galilee was the region of northern Israel around the Sea of Galilee.
• Bethsaida (“house of fishing”) was a village on Galilee’s north shore and the home of Peter, Andrew, and Philip. Later, Peter and Andrew moved to Capernaum, a village west of Bethsaida (Mark 1:21 aw, 29 ax).
1:45 ay Philip, a Greek name, and Nathanael, a Hebrew name, represent the mix of cultures in Galilee. Jesus’ message there addressed both audiences. When Greeks wanted to see Jesus in Jerusalem, they approached Philip (12:20-22 az).
• Jesus grew up in Nazareth, a mountain village southwest of the Sea of Galilee.
1:46 ba Can anything good come from Nazareth? This village was not considered famous enough to be the hometown for a great leader (cp. Matt 13:53-58 bb).
1:47 bc Jesus referred to Nathanael as a man of complete integrity, contrasting him with Jacob, the scheming, deceitful patriarch whom God renamed Israel (see Gen 25:27-34 bd; 27:1-36 be; 32:22-32 bf). It is as though Nathanael embodied God’s ideal for Israel.
Summary for John 1:48-49: 1:48-49 bg Jesus captured Nathanael’s attention by knowing his character (1:47 bh), then he captured his worship by supernaturally knowing his previous actions. Nathanael witnessed a miracle and took a remarkable step of faith.
1:51 bi I tell you the truth (Greek amēn amēn): Jesus often used this expression to emphasize what he was about to say. In John’s Gospel, the Greek word amēn is always doubled.
• you will all see heaven open: Jesus made the comparison with Jacob explicit (see study note on 1:47; see Gen 28:10-22 bj). Like Jacob, Nathanael would see God at work. Jesus himself is the new Bethel (“house of God,” Gen 28:19 bk), the place where God lives.
• Son of Man: See study note on John 9:35; see also Dan 7:13-14 bl; Mark 8:31 bm.
• John the apostle used several names for Jesus (Son of God, Son of Man, Messiah). Knowing Jesus’ true identity is necessary to fully understanding and following him.
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