John 1:19-36 — The Voice Crying in the Wilderness Copy

John 1:34-51 — Come and See! An Invitation to Experience Jesus

In John 1:34-51, we witness a series of events that begin with the testimony of John the Baptist and end with the calling of Jesus’ first disciples. John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ, played a pivotal role in introducing the Lord Jesus to the world. His testimony was clear and unwavering: “I have seen, and I testify that this is the Son of God.” Like a faithful witness in a courtroom, John pointed to Jesus as the Lamb of God, the One who would take away the sin of the world.

Hearing this clarion call, two of John’s disciples decided to follow Jesus (v.37). Jesus, turning to them, asked a simple yet profound question: “What do you seek?” Their response, “Rabbi ... where are You staying?” reveals a desire to know Him more deeply. Jesus’ invitation, “Come and see,” symbolizes the beginning of the journey of faith, a journey of sanctification, discipleship, and discovery. Andrew, one of the two, immediately shared his newfound faith with his brother Simon (named Peter), bringing him to Jesus (vv. 40-42). This simple act of sharing our faith with others is a natural outflow of our encounter with Christ.

Jesus called Philip to follow him (v. 43), and Philip, in turn, sought out Nathanael, telling him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph” (v. 45). Nathanael’s skeptical response, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” underscores human tendency to judge by appearances and dismiss what we do not understand. Nathanael’s skepticism is met with Philip’s invitation to “come and see.” Yet, when Nathanael encountered Jesus, his skepticism melted away as he exclaimed, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” (v. 49). Jesus promises Nathanael that he will witness even greater revelations of divine glory. The reference to angels ascending and descending echoes Jacob’s vision in Genesis 28:12, signifying Jesus as the bridge between heaven and earth. Jesus’ response in verses 50 and 51 points to the transformative power of faith. True faith goes beyond what we can see or comprehend, embracing the unseen and the miraculous. Jesus was pointing to Himself as the mediator between God and man and the peace we can have with God by trusting in Him.

In these verses, the passionate response to Christ from John the Baptist, Andrew, and Philip underscores the theme of witness, testimony, and sharing our faith. Philip identifies Jesus as the fulfillment of the Law and the prophets, which is a powerful testament to the Lord Jesus’ messianic identity. These encounters two thousand years ago highlight the importance of seeking Jesus, desiring to be a true disciple in a genuine relationship with Him, and inviting others to “Come and see!”