A Tour through John, Lesson 4

<p>For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ <a href="https://www.douglasjacoby.com/tour-john-lesson-4/" target="_blank"><strong>website.</strong></a></p><p>Last time we looked at the first two days; today we will read about the third and fourth days. A lot is compressed into one chapter. Since the fourth day spans verses 43-51, it is not clear how 2:1 takes place "on the third day." Unless, that is, "the next day" (vv.29,35,43) all refers to the same day, in which case 1:19-51 covers two days instead of four. Ancient conventions of chronology and storytelling are different from ours -- and that's okay. Compression is also visible in Mark 1, Mark 6, Luke 24, and a number of other passages.</p><p>35 The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?”</p><p>DAY THREE (vv.35-42)</p><ul><li>Again, John directs his disciples to Christ.<ul><li>Jesus receives them and spends time with them.<ul><li>Note: this is not the (later) call to become fishers of men of Matthew 4/Mark 1/Luke 5.</li><li>Jesus is a relationship builder, not just a preacher.</li><li>The urgency of Mark 1 and the open schedule of John 1 are both important for evangelism.</li></ul></li><li>Andrew brings his brother to Christ.</li><li>Jesus calls Simon (<i>Shim'on</i>, in Hebrew) <i>Cephas, </i>which is Aramaic for "rock." The name has prophetic and descriptive qualities. Jesus sees into both the character of Peter and his future.</li></ul></li><li>Notice that a number of times he clarifies potentially unfamiliar terms: <i>Rabbi </i>(v.38); <i>Messiah </i>(v.41); <i>Cephas </i>(v.42); other clarifications will follow (9:7; 20:16; etc). This suggests that the target audience of this gospel are not (primarily) Jew