Joh 1:43-51 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for John 1:43-44: 1:43-44 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 , 29 ).

Summary for John 1:43-44: 1:43-44 ^a 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 ^b, 29 ^c).
1:45 ^d 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 ^e).

• Jesus grew up in Nazareth, a mountain village southwest of the Sea of Galilee.
1:46 ^f 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 ^g).
1:47 ^h 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 ⁱ; 27:1-36 ^j; 32:22-32 ^k). It is as though Nathanael embodied God’s ideal for Israel.
Summary for John 1:48-49: 1:48-49 ^l Jesus captured Nathanael’s attention by knowing his character (1:47 ^m), then he captured his worship by supernaturally knowing his previous actions. Nathanael witnessed a miracle and took a remarkable step of faith.
1:51 ⁿ 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 ^o). Like Jacob, Nathanael would see God at work. Jesus himself is the new Bethel (“house of God,” Gen 28:19 ^p), the place where God lives.

• Son of Man: See study note on John 9:35; see also Dan 7:13-14 ^q; Mark 8:31 ^r.

• 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.