Notes on John 1:35-51
The gospels always give pictures of Jesus that illustrate His whole person: His imminence and His transcendence, His humanity and His deity, Immanuel. The first chapter of John presents a stark contrast while demonstrating the cohesion and unity. The prologue points to His preexistence and role in the creation of the world, while a few paragraphs later He is seen gathering followers from among the locals.
Modern translations often label this section of John 1 with something like “Jesus’ First Converts.” This is a bit misleading, as there is no indication that Peter, Philip, or Nathanael had anything close to a clear conception of the gospel. What they did have was a prompting from John the Baptist (1:36) and plenty of evidence that Jesus was something special.
Following others was nothing new. These disciples called Jesus “rabbi” (1:38), “messiah” (1:41), and “king of Israel” (1:49). Others had come and promised all these things to the people of Israel. Teaching, holiness, and revolution were all reasons to follow someone. In Jesus’ day there were many rabbinical schools and zealot groups. Jesus’ message and reputation were attractive, and these first disciples didn’t know how the reality of the situation was that God Himself was drawing them in.
In this passage Jesus does demonstrate supernatural knowledge by seeing Nathanael before he could actually be seen (1:48). Additionally, His words in verses 50-51 reveal the true depth of His ministry and person to the disciples and the audience of John:
First, Jesus promises greater things than supernatural knowledge or sight.
Second, Jesus draws a parallel between Himself and Jacob. Jacob (Israel) received revelation directly from God in a personal vision (Genesis 28). Now, before many witnesses, Jesus would be the recipient of divine revelation from the Father for Israel.
Lastly, Jesus calls Himself “Son of Man.” Whereas the titles that the disciples used of Him in the passage were true, they were not said with a full or accurate understanding. Here, Jesus refers to Himself as the one who is granted authority, power, and worth which is due worship (Daniel 7).
Knowing the end of the story, we get the advantage of the fuller picture of Jesus’ meaning. But even that is because we are the undeserving beneficiaries of God’s grace. In this passage, we see the naïve disciples receive that initial call. We can identify with their partial conceptions of the messiah that were made complete by His patient lovingkindness.
“I kept looking in the night visions,
And behold, with the clouds of heaven
One like a Son of Man was coming,
And He came up to the Ancient of Days
And was presented before Him.
“And to Him was given dominion,
Glory and a kingdom,
That all the peoples, nations and men of every language
Might serve Him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
Which will not pass away;
And His kingdom is one
Which will not be destroyed.”
