John 1:19-51

Monday 6^th to Sunday 12^th June, 2011

The Voice – The Lamb and the Chosen

The first eighteen verses of John's Gospel introduced us to many of the main themes in the book. We were made aware of the fact that Jesus had been with God, and yet He was also God at the same time. John described Jesus as the Word and in this way revealed Him to be God in action, both in creation and also in the new creation. He was also introduced, as the Light and the Life. In veses ten to thirteen we saw how the world, and even His own people failed to recognise and even rejected Him, but also that God was, and is merciful. Throughout the ages He had always reserved a remnant for Himself, a remnant who had the right to become children of God through the new birth that He gave them. He then introduced another John, nicknamed the Baptist, who had been sent from God to testify about Him. In this second section we return to the testimony of the Baptiser.

Question 1. Read John 1:19-28 What possible misconception was the Baptiser eager to correct from the beginning? (v19-20)

Question 2. Read Matthew 11:7-14 How does Jesus appear to contradict what John the Baptist had said about himself in John 1:19?

Question 3. How can we explain this apparent contradiction?

Question 4. How does John the Baptist describe himself?

Yes, John may not have thought of himself as Elijah, but he was in no doubt about the main purpose of his ministry, he was preparing the way for the coming of the Saviour.

Question 5. How does John compare himself with Jesus? (v26-27)

Question 6. Read John 1:29-34

a) Why does John call Jesus 'the Lamb of God'? (See Exodus 12:1-13)

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b) How does Isaiah 53:4-7 describe the Saviour who was to come?

c) At what time of the year was Jesus crucified? (John 18:38-40)

Question 7. How did John's baptism differ from Jesus' baptism? (v33)

John's baptism was a baptism of repentance – it symbolised the washing away of sin. Jesus' baptism comes to all who truly believe. They are baptised with and in the Spirit. It is a down payment on our salvation, a promise of complete incorporation into Christ. Our water baptism, like John's, is also symbolic. It does nothing of itself. It is a sign and a seal that Jesus has done everything for us. It also speaks of being washed clean from sin but it is also a promise that all that Jesus die to give and all that His resurrection has assured for us, is preserved for those who are called through His grace and who have responded to Him in faith.

Question 8. What was John's final, incredible testimony about Jesus? (v34)

Question 9. Read John 1:35-51 How did Andrew and the other disciple (believed to be John, the writer of the Gospel), first come to Jesus?

Question 10. What title did they give to Jesus? .

Rabbi was a term commonly applied to respected teachers.

Question 11. Does this appear to be Jesus' call to follow Him? (see Mark 1:16-20)

Question 12. What was Andrew’s response to this meeting?

Question 13. Who appears to have been the first man to actually be called by Jesus to follow Him? (v43)

Question 14. How was Philip affected by this call? (v45)

Question 15. How did he respond to it? (v45) .

Question 16. What was Nathanael's initial reaction to Philip's enthusiasm?

Question 17. What convinced Nathanael that Jesus really was 'The Son of God, the King of Israel? (v47-49) .

Question 18. What significance is there in Jesus' response to him in v51?

(See Genesis 28:10-14)

By linking Himself to Jacob's vision Jesus is revealing Himself as the One who will fully fulfil God's promises to Jacob by extending the blessings to all mankind.

Throughout this section we have seen two important things, 1) Jesus revealed Himself to the ones He had chosen, and 2) Those who were chosen in turn go out to reveal Him to others. This is still both God's plan and the challenge to those who have been called by Him. What about us? Are we aware of the priviledge of having been called by Him? If so, what has our response been to that, have we sought to make Him known, both in word and in deed?