READ: John 1:35-52: … Rabbi, You are the Son of God! … the King …
Here we read that Christ calls His disciples to Himself. It begins with two disciples of John the Baptist responding to his call: “Look, the Lamb of God,” when Jesus appears again the next day. The disciples Andrew and John understand the significance of this message and want to follow Jesus from then on!
That very first beginning develops into the New Testament church assembly of Christ. Two is just a very small beginning, but more will follow, so that eventually, at Pentecost, it becomes a church of about 3,000 members.
No, these two still won’t know or understand everything about Jesus. That’s why they want to get to know Him better in peace. They ask where He lives (v. 39) and stay with Him the rest of the day.
From that encounter, it soon becomes clear to them that they have truly found the Messiah, the Christ! These men already lived in expectation of the coming Christ. They know the Old Testament, including the books of Moses (with Deut. 18:18 about the coming Prophet) and the Prophets, who describe the coming of the Christ. From that, they draw their hope (v. 46).
Andrew immediately goes to find his brother Simon and brings him to Jesus. Jesus already knows Simon so well that He says: you shall be called Peter, Rock (see Matt. 16:13ff).
Jesus now gathers even more disciples around Him—men who expect Him as the Christ: Philip and Nathanael. Nathanael does not immediately give in to Philip’s testimony (v. 47), but Philip insists and brings him to Jesus.
Then Jesus reveals Himself to Nathanael in His divinity: He had already seen him from afar, even before Philip called him. Jesus promises even greater wonders and even points to the assistance of God’s angels in service to the church (compare Gen. 28:10–22). Thus Nathanael’s resistance is broken; he confesses the greatness of Jesus and follows Him.
Why would you want to follow Jesus Christ?
Sing: Hymn 15:3 (1984) / 19:3 (2014)