I think it’s astonishing that a man without wealth who was born in obscurity and befriended by untouchables could impact the course of world history. Jesus rejected power and rebuked the religious elite. He had few friends among the affluent, and His followers were no more than the rank-and-file. He commanded no army, and at His death, He had no followers. Even those who visited His tomb didn’t believe He would rise again.
Yet, Jesus’ message eventually shook the Roman Empire and went abroad. Within two centuries of the Resurrection, an African pastor named Tertullian declared:
We are but of yesterday, and yet we have filled all the places that belong to you—cities, islands, forts, towns, exchanges; the very military camps themselves, tribes, town councils, the palace, the senate, the market-place; we have left you nothing but your temples.
Rome’s religious heritage was well-established and unfriendly to the Christians. Despite such opposition, the Gospel spread. In fact, by first few years of the second century, the government realized it couldn’t destroy Christianity. There were far too many Christians, and it would cost far too much.
Those who were closest to Jesus recognized He was no ordinary person. His disciples had many misunderstandings, but they were inclined to leave all for the chance to follow Him. Why? What would cause men with families and jobs to leave everything to follow Jesus up and down the dusty roads of Israel?
John’s Gospel gives us a glimpse into those first interactions Jesus had with His disciples. What were these men thinking? How did they meet Jesus? What were the circumstances? John tells us, and he gives us the first testimonies of those who came to believe.
John the Baptist (John 1:19-34)
John the Baptist knew Jesus from birth. The two were cousins, but John never considered that this childhood friend might be Israel’s long-awaited Messiah (Jn 1:33).
John the Baptist preached “a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Lk 3:2-3). He immersed in water thousands of people who started to follow him, which created a stir (Jn 1:19-23). Jews baptized Gentiles into Judaism, but no one baptized Jews… except John the Baptist. Why was he baptizing? By what authority? Who was this Messiah he was proclaiming? So many questions, and though thousands believed John’s message, John had no idea where or when the Messiah would arrive.
A group of religious leaders arrived with questions. They asked John if he was Elijah or the Prophet to come (Mal 4:5; Deut 18:15-18)? The Jews expected Elijah himself to come and herald the Messiah’s coming. Moses had said Messiah would be a prophet like him in some ways. Yet, John said he was neither of these. He was just a voice, not Elijah come back, just a voice preparing the way for the coming King (Isa 40:3).
The crowds increased around the Baptist, but pride never took hold. He rejected his immense fame saying he wasn’t even worthy to touch the straps of Messiah’s sandals (Jn 1:27). It’s striking to me, because only slaves removed someone’s sandals or washed feet. Here at the pinnacle of John’s ministry, he confessed he was nothing. This great man was just a voice.
When did John finally meet Jesus? In the middle of a sermon (Matt 3:13-17). Jesus was baptized, and the Spirit descended (Jn 1:31-34). It was at this moment that John finally understood he was standing face-to-face with the Messiah—Jesus, his own cousin. So, John declared that Jesus is the “Lamb of God” (Jn 1:29).
It’s not something you can grasp without reading the Old Testament. Millions upon millions of animals had been sacrificed throughout Israel’s history to cover over sins. John the Baptist told a listening crowd that Jesus is the Lamb. He’s the ultimate sacrifice sent by God to redeem.
The Old Testament saint knew his sins could be pardoned, but only if another died in his place (Lev 17:11). It’s a sacrificial atonement. He also knew that a thousand years of animal sacrifices weren’t enough (Heb 10:1-4). So, men such as Abraham and Isaac, Moses or David looked for something greater—a perfect sacrifice, one able to fully pardon them.
I doubt anyone who heard John the Baptist understood how the Messiah would also be a kind of lamb. Lambs die, but the Messiah? He’s not supposed to die. Nonetheless, John the Baptist called them to believe.
From this point forward, John watched the crowds disperse. Few have ever willingly given up a position of power. Yet, John believed in Jesus, gave all the glory to God, diminished, and died a martyr (Matt 14:1-11). It’s sad, but John the Baptist is the man whom Jesus called the greatest ever to have lived (Lk 7:28).
John and Andrew (John 1:35-42)
John, the author of this Gospel, and Andrew had both followed John the Baptist. When these two took their first steps towards Jesus, they had doubts. John the Baptist had said Jesus is the “Lamb of God,” but they had doubts. It’s a major commitment to set everything aside to follow someone. Jesus knew all this. He knew John and Andrew’s hearts, and He challenged the two to consider what exactly they wanted of Him (Jn 1:38).
Thousands would soon seek Jesus, each having a motive of one kind or another. The Pharisees and Sadducees followed to discredit Jesus’ authority and elevate their own. The Zealots followed Jesus thinking He was the key to a revolution against Rome. Many people followed Jesus because He could heal their diseases. Everyone wanted something of Jesus. So, Jesus asked John and Andrew what they wanted of Him.
Did they want money, power, popularity, health, or glory? These were things people thought the Messiah would bring. Is that what these two disciples wanted? No, they honestly and humbly wanted to know the truth, and should this man be the real Messiah, they were ready to forsake all to follow Him.
How long did it take for John and Andrew to devote their lives to Jesus? One conversation. They wanted to know where Jesus was staying in hopes of visiting from time to time and asking questions. Jesus knew the sincerity of their request and gave them all the time they wanted (Jn 1:38-39).
Andrew was so convinced of Jesus’ identity that he told his brother, Simon Peter the news (Jn 1:41). As for John, the day he met Jesus was unforgettable. Even though more than 50 years had passed, John could still remember the exact hour this conversation took place (Jn 1:39).
Philip and Nathanael (John 1:43-51)
Jesus went to Galilee to find Philip. John doesn’t record all that happened, but after a short conversation Philip says, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote!” (Jn 1:45). Philip knew his people had waited millennia for the Messiah, but he had somehow ran into Him. After one unexpected meeting with Jesus, Philip’s life was never the same. He believed and then shared the news with Nathaniel.
How does Nathaniel respond to Philip? He’s riddled with doubt. There’s no way Philip somehow ran into Messiah. The story didn’t make any sense, but Nathaniel went to look into the matter. When he arrived, Jesus mentioned the Old Testament patriarch, Jacob. In contrast with Jacob who was a deceiver, Jesus said Nathaniel was truthful. He mentioned Jacob’s vision of a ladder between heaven and earth as well (Jn 1:51).
Nothing about this is all that impressive until you realize what was happening. Earlier that day, Nathaniel had been meditating upon the Bible’s account of Jacob. He didn’t have a leather-bound Torah with a bookmark—no one did. Rather, the Jews commonly memorized their Scriptures, and meditated upon them from memory. When Jesus mentioned Jacob, Philip was awestruck. This man knew his thoughts, things only God Himself could possibly know.
Nathaniel believed and learned that Jacob’s ladder or bridge between heaven and earth isn’t a thing, but a person—it’s Jesus, the man he had just met and would now follow.