John 1:35 Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;
1:36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!
1:37 And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.

Interestingly, the Baptist twice announces something that no body, not even the twelve disciples of Jesus, after being with Him for three and a half years, understood.

Behold the LAMB of God.

Two of the Baptist's disciples, leave the Baptist and follow Jesus. (They both later become part of Jesus' twelve disciples)

Question -- why didn't the people realize what the announcement meant?

Behold the LAMB of God that takes away the sins of the world?

Scripture says that spiritual things are spiritually discerned. Not having received the Spirit yet, I believe they could not totally comprehend the true identity of Jesus. Lets face it, without the Holy Spirit we are all spiritually blind even though we may understand prophesy & doctrine. Ellen White says even the 'foolish virgins' are doctrinally correct yet have no Holy Spirit.

Pilgrim7

Remember also just previous to this declaration from John the heavens had opened and the Spirit of God in the form of a dove had descended upon Christ and the father had spoken saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
We read, "These words of confirmation were given to inspire faith in those who witnessed the scene, and to strengthen the Saviour for His mission." Desire of Ages pg. 112
Then it says ,"None among the hearers, and not even the speaker himself, discerned the import of these words, ?the Lamb of God.? What more could th Father do to try to reach the people with the truth of the Saviour's mission?
Why did they not understand? Because they were not expecting the Messiah to come in this form or for the purpose of which the sacrificial lamb in the sanctuary service foreshadowed, that is, to save the people from their sins. But how many today are making the same mistake? As we look forward to a place in the eternal kingdom we make excuses for why it is okay to continue in our sins which the Lamb of God came to cleanse us from. So with all the clearer proof we have today of God's plan through Christ for our salvation in becoming the Lamb of God it behooves us not to make the same mistake that these earlier witnesses had to the evidences that God was so merciful to provide.

The study of the book of John didn't get beyond the first half of the first chapter. But what an awesome picture John already gives us of Jesus in those first few verses!

John specifically states the purpose of His gospel in John 20:31, "But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name."

And so in the first half of the first chapter we already see --

* Jesus, the Logos or Word, (the communicating link of God with humans), was there in the beginning, there is no starting date for Him, He was already there before the beginning.

* Jesus, the Word was with God (the Father) from the beginning
* Jesus, the Word, was God (in the highest sense, he is God)
* He is God with God the Father!

* Jesus was the active Creator, created everything that was created. Without Him nothing was created.
* Jesus is life (without Him there is only death)
* Jesus is light (without Him there is only darkness)
* Jesus is the TRUE light (there are counterfeits pretending to be light)

* Jesus, the Word, Who was God in the highest sense, became flesh. Took on humanity.
* Jesus, the one and only Being who is both God and man
* Jesus full of grace and truth
* Jesus, the son of God, came so all Who believe in Him would be children of God.
* Jesus came to show and declare what God is like.
* Jesus the Lamb of God which takes away the sins of the world.


That theme: Jesus the Lamb of God is carried through John's writings.

In Revelation 5, we see the Lamb of God, the only one worthy to receive and open the sealed scroll
Why the symbolic title? Why was He the only one worthy?

Rev. 5:6 in the midst of the throne ....stood a Lamb as it had been slain

Praise One: four beasts and 24 elders sing before the Lamb,
REv. 5:8-9 The four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, ...
5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood

PRAISE TWO: thousands upon thousands of angels, four beasts, 24 elders join
5:11 the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;
5:12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches,

PRAISE THREE: the whole universe joins in
5:13 13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, [be] unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

Three heavenly praise songs rejoicing because the Lamb (Jesus, the Word who was God, and was with God the Father) had come down from glory and paid the price, He was slain, and redeems us to God by His blood,



John 1:35 Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;
1:36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!
1:37 And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Him.

JESUS BEGINS HIS MINISTRY

I'd just like to go back to Christ's baptism and add to the excellent comments already made by Avalee earlier.

Christ's baptism marks a very important point not only in Christ's life, but also in prophetic history. He was ANOINTED for this all important ministry at His baptism. The fate of the world was placed in His hands.

John 1:33-34 Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizes with the Holy Ghost. And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

It was this baptism by the Holy Spirit that was a sign to John the Baptist of Jesus Divinity and mission.

compare with Acts10:36-38
Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) ...began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

Now look at the prophecy in Daniel 9

Seventy weeks (490 years) are determined upon thy people...to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy... from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks (483 years) ...And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off...And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week (7 years): and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease.

Christ the Son of God, our Lord, ?the Most Holy" Son of man ,? having come to fulfill the vision and the prophecy, was anointed in His flesh by the Holy Spirit from His Father. He had come to make reconciliation for sinners, defeating sin in the flesh, and to end the power of sin.

At His baptism He was anointed for this mission.

John 1:37 And the two disciples (John and Andrew) heard (John the Baptist), and they followed Jesus.
1:38 Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?
1:39 He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour

Come and see
Don't just listen to what people say, come and see for yourself that Christ is a wonderful Savior, Friend, Master, Teacher, Guide, Brother.

Come and see and experience this for yourself!!!
Jesus invites us to come to Him and see and experience for ourselves.

Notice how many times this concept of "see and behold" for yourself is a call in this chapter.

John 1:29 BEHOLD the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
The word, behold" used in the imperative,especially to call attention, look closely, perceive through sight.

John 1:32, 34 I saw the Spirit descending... I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.
John 1:39 He (Jesus) saith unto them, Come and see
John 1:40 (Andrew brought His brother Simon to see Jesus)
John 1:46 Philip said unto him, (Nathan) Come and see. (He didn't argue, just said, come and see)

In this world of doubt, despair and confusion Jesus says ?Come and See?.
Psalms 34:8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusts in him.

John 1:40 One of the two who heard John the Baptist speak and followed Him (Jesus), was Andrew. Simon Peter's brother.
1:41 He first found his own brother Simon and said to him. "We have found the Messiah --which is translated the Christ.
1:42 And he brought him to Jesus.

What can we learn of Andrew's faith
his missionary spirit
his method, from these verses?
How does it relate to us, what can we learn about sharing Christ?

Andrew believed! He responded to the Holy Spirit's call and recognized Jesus as the Messiah after witnessing Jesus baptism and spending one evening with Christ, His heart was open and responsive.

He goes searching for his brother and excitedly tells him. "We have found the Messiah!!! The anointed one.

The first person Andrew shared the news with was his brother.
This is what every follower of Christ is to do. As soon as he himself knows Jesus, he is to tell others what a precious Friend he has found. This is a work that all can do, whether they are young or old.

John 1:42 And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.

Why did Jesus rename Simon, and call him Peter?

(Petros) meaning "stone". This is a translation used in most versions of the New Testament of the name Cephas, meaning "stone" in Aramaic, a stone man, or made of stones.

There is a prevailing view that this was a prophecy that Simon Peter would be the first pope, but is that the real answer? If we reject this interpretation, we are under the necessity of providing a better one as we find in Matthew 16:18 another passage where Peter declares Christ is the Son of God, and Jesus answer "You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church", is used to support the prevailing view.

That passage is explained as Jesus affirming that by Peter's declaration that Jesus is the Son of God, he has identified the true ROCK, which is Jesus, upon which the church will be built. Peter was a smaller rock that could be moved, but once firmly connected to the chief corner stone would be steadfast in the faith and would be a witness for the TRUE rock, Jesus. It is the confession of faith in Christ, upon which we, as living stones, are to be built upon the Divine corner-stone, Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
As Peter, himself wrote in 1 Peter 2:5-6 'you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house' .. upon Jesus, the chief corner stone.

So why did Jesus rename Simon, and call him Peter?

Peter definitely became a "living stone" that was being molded to be an important stone in that spiritual house. He became a ?rock? of faith once attached firmly to chief corner stone.

There is a stone called Peitersite stone. It is interesting, though it received its name fairly recently.
Yet, it seems to describe Peter's condition, and how he became a living stone (built on the corner stone which is Christ) in the foundation of the Christian church. A pietersite stone is often referred to as the ?Tempest? for its similarity to a wild desert storm. To form it has to go through several dissolutions, it begins its journey being folded and stressed within the earth, yet emerged as something truly beautiful.

Peter also had a rather tumultuous beginning, and experienced several dissolutions before he came forth as a staunch defender of the faith and a foundational pillar in the Christian church.

Jesus would have known the temptations and fall into outright denial that Peter would go through. But in giving him the name Peter, was a plea and a promise -- hold on to chief corner stone and you will become an important rock in the foundation of Christianity.

Epesians 2:19-21 the household of God; built upon the foundation of the apostles
and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together grows unto an holy temple in the Lord:

John 1:43 The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and finds Philip, and says unto him, Follow me.
1:44 Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.
1:45 Philip finds Nathanael, and says unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write...

Philip was the fourth disciple to join Jesus.
The first two, John and Andrew, came because of John the Baptist's testimony.
Peter came because his brother Andrew invited him to come.
But now Jesus Himself goes out looking for Philip and invites Philip to follow Him.

Philip, like Andrew before him, goes out to find his friend.

Who was Philip, and why would Jesus personally go out to invite him to, to follow Him?

First, Philip the disciple was not the same man as the deacon Philip which is spoken of in the book of Acts.
Philip was a fisherman from Bethsaida in Galilee, the same town as Andrew and Peter, thus they probably knew each other and shared many common interests.

The text also reveals to us three things about Philip.
First, that Philip was searching for the Messiah that was foretold by Moses and the prophets. It seems he and Nathaniel probably talked about these things together earlier, it was obviously something they were expecting.
Philip was willing to immediately follow Jesus when called.
Thirdly, that when Philip found Jesus, he sensed that Jesus was the One he and Nathaniel were waiting for and immediately went and told Nathaniel so that he too could follow Jesus.


We don't know all that much about Philip the disciple. Philip bore a Greek name and could likely speak Greek.
In John 12, we see Philip again talking with the Greek pilgrims in Jerusalem.
20 And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast:
21 The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and petitioned him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.
22 Philip went and told Andrew: and Andrew and Philip told Jesus.

Later, during the last supper, we see Philip longing to know God better. Philip asked Jesus to show them the Father, this enquiry gives Jesus the opportunity to teach his disciples about the oneness of the Father and the Son.[see John 14:8-10]

According to tradition Philip and Nathaniel were sent to preach in Greece, Phrygia, and Syria. Where Philip was eventually martyred.
A tomb supposed to be the apostle Philip's tomb was found during excavations in ancient Hierapolis, close to the modern Turkish city of Denizli.