-THE LIFE OF CHRIST - EARLY JUDEAN MINISTRY
Jesus’ First Followers
-John 1:35-51
-Following the temptations of Satan, Jesus returned to John’s location. As Jesus approached, John was
standing with two of his disciples. Here we find a second time that John refers to Jesus as “the Lamb
of God”. Hearing John’s accolade of Jesus, the two disciples then “followed Jesus”.
-One of these two individuals was Andrew (Simon Peter’s brother). He went and found Peter and
told him the Messiah had been found. Note that he was familiar with the fact that the Messiah would
come. Andrew then took Peter to Jesus.
-Who was the other disciple? Notice that only one is named. The other disciple was probably
John. When you read through John’s account of the Gospel, you find that John was reluctant to
name himself. John sometimes referred to himself as the disciple whom Christ loved (John 13:23,
20:2, 21:7, 20) or the “other disciple” (John 20:3-4,8). See also Matthew 4:18-22. It is also
possible that John brought his brother James to Jesus at this time as well, but did not record it
here.
-In verse 43, Jesus went into Galilee, found Phillip and said to him, “Follow me.” Phillip then found
Nathanael and told him, “We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write,
Jesus of Nazareth.”
-Notice here the fulfillment of prophecy. Again, due to the Old Testament scriptures, they were
expecting the Messiah. Can you imagine them being able to say, “We have found Him”!
-With Nathanael’s initial response, we see some insight into how the people of Nazareth were
looked down upon. Upon hearing that Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah, he said “Can there
any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Jesus then provided evidence that He was the Messiah
which convinced Nathanael. Jesus then told him, “…thou shalt see greater things…”
-John 1:51 - see Gen 28:12
-The initial disciples then were Andrew, Peter, Phillip, Nathanael and probably John and James.