Week 2: Jesus Calls the First Disciples (John 1:35-51)

Theme: The Divine Nature of Jesus in John’s Gospel

Cultural/Historical Information:

• John the Baptist’s role: John the Baptist had a significant following, but he directed his disciples to follow Jesus, recognizing Him as the “Lamb of God” (John 1:36). During this time, rabbis and teachers often had disciples who followed them closely, learning from their teachings and lives. Jesus, however, was not just another teacher; His call to discipleship was based on His divine authority.
• The role of disciples: In the first century, being a disciple meant more than just learning from a teacher. It meant a close relationship, often living and traveling with the teacher, sharing daily life. Jesus’ invitation to His first disciples was not just to follow His teachings, but to follow Him personally, signifying a call into a deeper relationship.
• Jewish expectations of the Messiah: Many Jews of the time were waiting for the Messiah, someone who would save Israel and restore the kingdom. When Jesus calls these disciples, they begin to realize that He is the one they’ve been waiting for, though His identity as both human and divine would gradually become clearer to them.

Key Points:

1. Jesus Knows Us Completely
   • Sub-point: When Jesus saw Simon (John 1:42), He immediately knew who Simon was and who he would become, renaming him Cephas (Peter), meaning “rock.” This shows that Jesus knew Peter’s destiny and character from the beginning.
   • Sub-point: Jesus also saw Nathaniel under the fig tree before they met (John 1:48), demonstrating His omniscience and ability to see beyond the physical.
   • Sub-point: Jesus’ divine nature is revealed in His deep knowledge of His followers, reflecting His identity as the Son of God who sees beyond outward appearances.
2. Jesus Calls Us to Follow Him
   • Sub-point: Jesus initiated the call to Andrew and John by inviting them to “come and see” where He was staying (John 1:39). This invitation was more than a physical invitation; it was an invitation to learn from and follow Him.
   • Sub-point: Jesus’ call to follow was personal, and the disciples responded by leaving their previous lives. This signifies the importance of prioritizing Jesus above all else.
   • Sub-point: The calling of the disciples wasn’t based on their status or knowledge but on Jesus’ divine choice, showing that His calling is gracious and purposeful.
3. Jesus Reveals His Divine Nature
   • Sub-point: Nathaniel’s initial skepticism about Jesus (“Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” – John 1:46) was transformed when Jesus revealed that He had seen him under the fig tree before Philip called him (John 1:48). This event led Nathaniel to declare, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God!”
   • Sub-point: Jesus responds by assuring Nathaniel that he will see even greater things, including “heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man” (John 1:51), referencing His role as the bridge between heaven and earth.
   • Sub-point: Through these encounters, Jesus begins to reveal His divine authority, omniscience, and His connection to the Father, setting the stage for the further unveiling of His divine nature throughout the Gospel of John.

Life Applications:

1. Trust that Jesus Knows Us Deeply
   • Jesus knows our hearts, our struggles, and our future, just like He knew Simon and Nathaniel. We can trust that He understands us more deeply than anyone else.
2. Respond to Jesus’ Call
   • Like the first disciples, we are called to follow Jesus in our daily lives. This may require leaving behind old ways of thinking or living, but the reward is a close relationship with Him.
3. Recognize Jesus’ Divine Authority
   • Jesus’ words and actions reveal His divine nature. As we read the Gospel of John, we are invited to recognize and respond to His divinity, trusting that He is the Son of God.

Discussion Questions:

1. What does it mean for us today that Jesus knows us as He knew Simon and Nathaniel? How can that knowledge bring comfort or challenge us?
2. How can we follow Jesus more closely in our everyday lives, as the first disciples did when they responded to His call?
3. In what ways do we see Jesus’ divine nature revealed in our lives, and how does recognizing this impact our faith?