John – Chapter 1:35-51
Introduction: The sequence of John’s Gospel is wholly different. In Matthew and Mark, the temptation by the Devil follows immediately after the Baptism of Jesus. The calling of the disciples doesn’t come until after the report that John has been thrown into prison and takes place by the Sea of Galilee (Mt. 4:12f; Mk. 1:14f). But in John, there is no temptation scene or any explicit confrontation with the Devil. The calling of the disciples is in Judea near the Jordan and has a different order of events (see Mt 4:12-22). Unlike the Synoptics, John the institution of the church begins with the handing over of the Baptist’s disciples over to Jesus. John the Baptist bears witness to Jesus, testifying again “Behold! The Lamb of God!” The two disciples who heard, follow Jesus. One of the two, Andrew, finds his brother Peter. And again, Jesus finds Philip and Philip finds Nathaniel. From the Baptist to Andrew and Philip, the pattern of Christ’s testimony grants faith. Faith bears fruit in bringing others to Christ’s testimony. The verbs of the church are here given: “follow,” “seek,” “see,” and “remain.” v. 38 – “What do you seek?” These are first words of Jesus in John’s Gospel. And John’s purpose in writing His Gospel is to answer this question: Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God (John 20:31). Immediately Psalm 119 comes to mind with its expressions, “to seek the Law,” and “to seek the commandments.” This one aspect of the broader idea “to seek God,” that includes repentance for the forgiveness of sins, new obedience, right worship, and salvation. Consider Jeremiah 29: (10-11)12-14: “..You will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you…” “Where are you remaining?” The verb μένω, “to remain,” will be a central theme in the narratives later (8:28-35; 12:20-23; 13–17 esp. 14:1-4). Jesus is leading these disciples upon “the way” to “the place” of the knowledge of God, namely His cross. In His death, the Word of God, who speaks what He is taught by the Father, reveals the place of the new obedience, the place where the Son frees from sin,…