Week #9 The Israelite in Whom There Was No Guile John 1:43-51 Presented Live on November 27, 2016 I. Introduction and review A. Consider: Genesis 28:11-13 He came to a certain place and spent the night there, because the sun had set; and he took one of the stones of the place and put it under his head, and lay down in that place. 12 He had a dream, and behold, a ladder was set on the earth with its top reaching to heaven; and behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. 13 And behold, the LORD stood above it and said, "I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie, I will give it to you and to your descendants. 1. What did this dream predict would happen? 2. Who was it about? 3. What was it a promise of? 4. Is it ever referenced in the Scriptures again? B. John is continuing his day to day journal 1. The prior day Jesus led His first three disciples: Andrew, John and Peter to faith in Him 2. Now Jesus is going to continue His search of those to seek and save II. The Next Day [1:43-44] A. There is a progression being followed here by John 1. From verses 29 through 51 we have what appears to be a three day period 2. Not only is there a progression of time there is one of structure 3. Jesus and His disciples, each as they were won to the Lord, that is they believed and received, assume an evangelistic Page 1 of 8
approach a. The approach is designed to create interest b. That interest then led to a conversation or a meeting with the Lord c. And during that meeting, a life changing decision is made 4. That was also the case with Andrew and John a. An approach [1:35], b. A message [1:36], and c. Then a response [1:37 B. A key question is raised immediately in verse 43, who is the antecedent of the pronoun He? 1. Many Bibles capitalize the pronoun he indicating that the antecedent is Jesus 2. Some simply translate this pronoun as the proper name, Jesus however the word for Jesus does not appear in the verse at this point, in the best manuscripts a. ESV, KJV, NKJV, NIV and NLT include the proper name, Jesus, in their translation of this verse b. Only the NASB does not 3. There is no word for Jesus or even the pronoun he in the text 4. But the verb that is used here, thelo, indicates or understands a pronoun that is third person, masculine singular a. qe,lw thelo {thel'-o} or eqe,lw ethelo {eth-el'-o} in certain tenses theleo {thel-eh'-o} and etheleo {eth-eleh'-o} which are otherwise obsolete b. Meaning: 1) to will, have in mind, intend 1a) to be resolved or determined, to purpose 1b) to desire, to wish 1c) to love 1c1) to like to do a thing, be fond of doing 1d) to take delight in, have pleasure 5. It seems likely to some scholars that it was Andrew, or Andrew and Peter who found Philip (whom they had probably gone looking for) a. They then brought him to Jesus b. Therefore they argue that one or the other of them is the antecedent 6. Some preliminary facts to consider: a. The group was in or near Bethany beyond the Jordan when this decision was made b. The Baptist had chosen that spot to act as a center for his baptismal ministry/ministry of repentence Page 2 of 8
c. We know that Jesus was frequenting this area and was observed there on several occasions by the Baptist d. That is where Jesus met Andrew and John, two of John the Baptist s disciples e. But we also know that a decision had been made to travel to Galilee f. And they may have been on their way when this happened 7. Who are the possible antecedents? a. Jesus b. Peter c. Andrew d. John 8. Facts to consider a. Someone has decided to go to Galilee, so who is setting the agenda for this group b. Maybe the better question is: who is leading and who is following? c. Andrew and Peter are from Galilee, and specifically Bethsaida d. Philip was from Bethsaida e. But then again, Jesus was from the town of Nazareth, in Galilee f. And that is where His mother and family live g. It is clear from the text, that the same person who decided to go to Galilee, found Philip h. Who had a purpose to go north to Galilee? 9. Who is doing the selecting of disciples? a. Did Jesus know that Andrew would bring Peter to Him? (1) What would be the evidence of that? (2) Is that not indicated, since He was ready to rename him? b. Does Jesus see Nathaniel before he was ever brought to Him c. Would that not be indicate that He had previously selected him? 10. Some argue that either Andrew or Peter decided to go to Galilee a. That was were they worked b. That was where they knew others c. Jesus was probably ready to move His ministry back to Galilee (He had come South to be baptized) Page 3 of 8
d. Andrew appears to be on a mission to find others and bring them to Jesus and he knew that Philip would be a likely candidate e.?????? Net Bible Jesus is best taken as the subject of å ñßóêåé (Jeuriskei), since Peter would scarcely have wanted to go to Galilee. 11. The word that is used for found each time is eu`ri,skw heurisko {hyoo-ris'-ko} (see 1:41 & 45) a. Meaning: after searching, to find a thing sought or to locate a thing searched for b. Jesus was looking for Philip for the express purpose of winning him and discipling him C. Jesus, after speaking with Philip told him to: follow me 1. avkolouqe,w akoloutheo {ak-ol-oo-theh'-o} a. Meaning: 1) to follow one who precedes, join him as his attendant, accompany him 2) to join one as a disciple, become or be his disciple 2a) side with his party b. Grammar: Present Tense, Active Voice, Imperative Mood 2. moi, moi {moy} a. Meaning: I, me, my b. Grammar: personal pronoun, dative singular. It is probably a dative of emphasis of subject D. What does follow me mean or imply 1. Some claim that it refers to Lordship Salvation a. Lordship Salvation refers to the belief which says the sinner who wants to be saved must not only trust Christ as his substitute for sin, but must also every area of his life to the complete control of Christ [Robert P. Lightner, Sin, the Savior, and Salvation, Page 202) b. Instead of a two part action as described in 1:12, it is a three part action c. Does that mean that if you don t make Him your Lord you aren t saved? d. Consider the doctrinal three tenses of salvation described in the New Testament, in Romans and other locations (1) The past tense is justification, being saved from the penalty of sin [Eph. 2:8-9 &Tit. 3:5], (2) The present tense of salvation, sanctification, Page 4 of 8
being save from the power of sin [Phi. 2:12], and (3) The future tense of salvation, being saved from the presence of sin [Rom. 5:10] E. Philip, it appears,accepted Jesus as his Messiah, without hesitation or reservation III. Philip s response [1:45-46] A. Philip immediately goes and finds Nathanael and brings him to Jesus 1. This was his first act as a believed in Jesus Christ 2. Philip tells Nathanael three things about Jesus a. First, that He is the one of whom the Law was written and of whom the prophets spoke b. Second, that He was from Nazareth c. And third, that He was the son of Joseph 3. The phrase used here the son of, can and here does mean a male member of the family of a. In Philip s time, surnames were not used b. People were most commonly referred to by their name, family association and place of origin 4. Philip s description of Jesus would only mean much to a man who had studied the Scriptures and was looking for the Messiah B. What is Nathanael s response? 1. Nathanael questions how that can be since He is from Nazareth 2. Does Nathanael have a point? 3. The Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem, not Nazareth a. Moreover, besides being the wrong town b. Nazareth was a town with a permanent Roman garrison c. And wherever there are soldiers quartered, there is always vice and immorality d. And that describes Nazareth 4. Philip s response was simply: come and see a. Compare with verse 1:39 b. e;rcomai erchomai {er'-khom-ahee} Meaning: 1) to come 1a) of persons 1a1) to come from one place to another, and used both of persons arriving 1a2) to appear, make one's appearance, come before the public 2) metaph. 2a) to come into being, arise, come forth, show itself, find place or influence 2b) be established, become known, to come (fall) into or unto Page 5 of 8
3) to go, to follow one c. eivdw/ eido {i-do'} or oi;da oida {oy'-da} Meaning: 1) to see 1a) to perceive with the eyes 1b) to perceive by any of the senses 1c) to perceive, notice, discern, discover 1d) to see 1d1) i.e. to turn the eyes, the mind, the attention to anything 1d2) to pay attention, observe 1d3) to see about something 1d31) i.e. to ascertain what must be done about it 1d4) to inspect, examine 1d5) to look at, behold 1e) to experience any state or condition 1f) to see i.e. have an interview with, to visit 2) to know 2a) to know of anything 2b) to know, i.e. get knowledge of, understand, perceive 2b1) of any fact 2b2) the force and meaning of something which has definite meaning 2b3) to know how, to be skilled in 2c) to have regard for one, cherish, pay attention to (1Th. 5:12) d. We should understand this phrase to mean that you should come, meet Him and decide for yourself e. Jesus uses this same word (eivdw/ eido {i-do'} or oi;da oida {oy'-da}) when He tells Nathanael that He saw him under the fig tree 5. Did Jesus know what Nathanael had said about Him? a. Did He respond to it, and if so how? b. The key with Jesus is what He does to change lives C. Earlier that day Nathanael had sought respite under an fig tree 1. What was Nathanael doing under a tree? 2. The Talmud (a book of Jewish wisdom, instruction and biblical interpretation) encouraged Jewish men to take time to meditate under a large tree, reading and/or reflecting on the Scriptures 3. This admonition of the Talmudic scholars was intended to be followed on a daily basis 4. This is what Nathanael was doing a. But his thoughts and prayers were directed toward God b. So who would know what he had been doing? IV. Jesus foreknowledge of Nathanael [1:47-49] A. Jesus sees Nathanael coming either when he was a ways away or before he could even be seen B. Jesus refers to Nathanael as a man without deceit 1. do,loj dolos {dol'-os} Meaning: craft, deceit, guile 2. In whom there is prepositional phrase is dative of place Page 6 of 8
3. Jesus says this, it appears to me, when Nathanael could hear Him C. How did Jesus know this He was able to look into Nathanael s heart 1. He could see his motivations 2. He could see his intentions 3. And his purity and righteousness D. Nathanael s response upon hearing this statement from Jesus was how could Jesus know this 1. Jesus related to him that not only can He see into Nathanael s heart, but He saw him before He ever met Nathaniel 2. This foreknowledge caused Nathanael to accept Jesus as the Son of God and the King of Israel 3. Notice how he refers to Jesus in the two roles which are key to His ministry 4. He understood both the theological and the practical implications of Jesus identity 5. This could be considered to be the first miracle recorded in the Gospel of John, so why doesn t John consider it a miraculous sign? V. Reconnection [1:50-51] A. This miracle, that is Jesus foreknowledge of Nathanael had a great effect on this man B. However, Jesus promised much more C. But what does He pick as an example: you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man. 1. What does that mean? 2. When taken as a whole it reveals His ultimate purpose in coming into the world 3. But let s break it down: a. The heavens opened (1) Ezekiel 1:1 Now it came about in the thirtieth year, on the fifth day of the fourth month, while I was by the river Chebar among the exiles, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God. (2) Matthew 3:16 After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, (3) Acts 7:56 and he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the Page 7 of 8
right hand of God." (4) Revelation 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. (5) Such an occurrence allows a man to see into the realm of God b. Jesus acts as a ladder or bridge that allows the angels free passage from heaven to earth and back again c. Jesus seems to indicate that He will serve as the bridge or go between heaven and earth (1) What does that mean? (2) Sin created a huge gulf between God and Man (3) Jesus is the bridge or the ladder that now crosses that gulf VI. Final considerations A. These men who Jesus was winning and then discipling, were far from flawless saints, as many religious groups seek to claim 1. Instead they were just as we are, weak and sinful 2. They were confused and inept 3. They had been asked to do things that they didn t have the skills or ability to do 4. But in time they became overcomers why? 5. They allowed the Lord to: a. Transform them, b. Equip them, c. Train them and then d. Empower them B. The undertaking that Jesus first required of them, was only (1) to believe and (2) to receive www.believersbibleclass.com www.believersbibleclass.podbean.com 2016 - Believer s Bible Class, & Douglas W. Brady Page 8 of 8