Introduction
How do people come to know Jesus? In John 1:19-51 we watch it happen. One man points, a few follow, one friend tells another, and a skeptic is won over. At the center is one of the Bible’s richest titles for Jesus: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29, ESV).
Context
John’s prologue (1:1-18) told us who Jesus is: the eternal Word made flesh. Now the story starts on the ground, near the Jordan River, where John the Baptist is baptizing. Religious leaders from Jerusalem want to know who he is. Over the next few days, the first disciples meet Jesus.
Passage Overview
John the Baptist denies he’s the Christ, Elijah, or the Prophet. He calls himself only a voice shouting in the desert (v. 23). A day later he sees Jesus and calls him God’s Lamb, testifying that the Spirit came down on him. Two of John’s disciples, Andrew and another, follow Jesus. Andrew brings his brother Simon, whom Jesus renames Cephas (Peter). Philip finds Nathanael, who doubts anything good can come from Nazareth, until Jesus shows he already knows him.
Verse-by-Verse Commentary
Verses 19-28: John Denies Being the Messiah
John the Baptist was famous, yet he kept pointing away from himself. He’s a voice, not the Word; a witness, not the light. Humility like his is the first mark of someone who truly knows Jesus.
Verses 29-34: God’s Lamb
The word lamb would remind Jewish listeners of the Passover lamb whose blood saved Israel (Exodus 12), the daily temple sacrifices, and Isaiah’s servant, silent like a lamb led off to be slaughtered (Isaiah 53:7). Jesus is the sacrifice God provides, and his work reaches the whole world’s sin, not one nation only. John also testifies that Jesus is God’s Son (v. 34), the one who will baptize people with the Spirit.
Verses 35-42: An Invitation to Come
When two disciples follow, Jesus asks what they are looking for (v. 38). It’s a question for every reader. His answer is an invitation, not a lecture: come along and find out (v. 39). Andrew’s first move is to find his brother and tell him they’ve found the Messiah (v. 41). Jesus looks at Simon and gives him a new name, a promise of who he’ll become.
Verses 43-51: Nathanael the Skeptic
Nathanael scoffs, doubting that anything good could come from Nazareth (v. 46). Philip doesn’t argue; he just invites him to come and look. Jesus tells Nathanael he saw him under the fig tree, and Nathanael confesses that Jesus is God’s Son and Israel’s King (v. 49). Jesus promises greater things: he is the true ladder between heaven and earth (v. 51; compare Genesis 28:12).
Key Themes
- Jesus is the Lamb who takes away sin.
- Witnesses point away from themselves.
- Faith spreads person to person. Andrew to Peter, Philip to Nathanael.
- Jesus knows us before we know him.
- Titles of Jesus: Lamb, Son of God, Rabbi, Messiah, King of Israel, Son of Man.
Gospel Connection
God’s Lamb went to the cross at Passover (John 19:14, 36). The sin of the world, including yours and mine, was laid on him. That’s why John points and says look. Salvation isn’t found by looking at ourselves but by looking to the Lamb.
Application
- Answer Jesus’ question. What are you really seeking?
- Come and see. Read the rest of John’s Gospel with an open heart.
- Be an Andrew. Who’s one person you could invite to come and see?
- Point away from yourself. Like John the Baptist, let your life point to Jesus.
Discussion Questions
- Why do you think John the Baptist was so quick to deny he was the Christ?
- What does the title Lamb of God tell us about Jesus’ mission?
- How would you answer Jesus’ question about what you are looking for?
- Why is a simple invitation to come and see so powerful?
- What does Jesus’ renaming of Peter suggest about how he sees us?
- How did Jesus win over a skeptic like Nathanael?
- Who brought you to Jesus? Who could you bring?
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did John the Baptist call Jesus the Lamb of God?
John pointed to Jesus as the one who would remove sin, recalling the Passover lambs and the sacrifices of the temple (John 1:29; Exodus 12). Isaiah had foretold a servant led like a lamb to slaughter (Isaiah 53:7). John’s title announced that Jesus came to die as the final, sufficient sacrifice for sinners.
Who were the first disciples Jesus called in John 1?
Andrew and another disciple, likely John, followed Jesus after hearing the Baptist’s testimony (John 1:35-40). Andrew then brought his brother Simon, whom Jesus renamed Cephas, or Peter (v. 42). The next day Jesus called Philip, and Philip brought Nathanael (vv. 43-45). Each new follower told someone else.
What did Jesus mean by the ladder and angels in John 1:51?
Jesus recalled Jacob’s dream of a stairway linking heaven and earth (Genesis 28:12). He told Nathanael that he himself is that link. In Jesus, heaven is opened and God meets people. He is the true meeting place between God and humanity, greater than any holy site.
Prayer
Lamb of God, thank you for taking away my sin. Help me look to you instead of myself. Like John the Baptist, make my life a finger pointing to you. Give me courage to invite the people you put in my path to come and see. Amen.
Related: Lamb of God Devotional
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Previous study: John 1:1-14 Meaning: The Word Became Flesh.
Related Bible studies
- Gospel of John Bible Study: A free Gospel of John Bible study, chapter by chapter: the Word made flesh, the seven I AM statements, the cross, and the empty tomb.
- Christmas Bible Study on John 1: A Christmas Bible study on John 1:14: why God became flesh, what ‘dwelt among us’ means, and how the manger leads to the cross and to us.
- John 1: a John 1:14 devotional on how Jesus holds grace and truth together for us and in us.
- John 2 Bible Study: John 2 Bible study: the first sign at Cana and Jesus clearing the temple, and what both reveal about who Jesus is.
Previous study: John 1:1-14 Meaning: The Word Became Flesh.