Two Disciples Leave John for Jesus Andrew Brings His Brother, Simon Peter, to Jesus
John 1:35-42

Lesson 8

background notes

doctrinal / teaching points
1. Jesus was God’s Lamb.

2. Jesus is and must be more than just a friend.

 

practical applications
1. Are we willing to lose, if the overall result is gain?

2. Have we brought all of our unsaved relatives to Christ?

 

questions
1. Three times in these verses, we read, “…which is translated.”   Which are the verses, and what are the translations?

2. Why is this phrase used here?

3. Review John’s purpose in writing this gospel.

4. In John 1:39, what is the tenth hour?

5. Who were the two disciples of John 1:37?

6. “Jesus was God’s Lamb.”  Does this mean that the Lamb is God, or that the Lamb belongs to God?

7. What is the significance of Bethlehem and Jerusalem concerning lambs?

answers
1. John 1:38 – Rabbi to Teacher; John 1:41 –  Messiah to Christ; and John 1:42 –  Cephas to Stone.

2. It shows that John was writing to a wide audience, not just Jewish people. The name, “Cephas,” is the Aramaic equivalent of Petros in Greek, which means Peter, or a rock, or a stone. Although John wrote his gospel in Greek, he was thinking of a much wider audience than just Greek-speaking Jews of the first century.

3. “These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” John 20:31  This includes us.

4. According to the Jewish reckoning of time, it was about 4:00 P.M.

5. Andrew and probably John, the author of this gospel.

6. Likely, that the Lamb belongs to God. As in the Old Testament, when Abel brought a lamb to the place of sacrifice, it was Abel’s lamb; so it was with Abraham’s lamb, or the family’s lamb when sacrificed at the Passover.

7. Many of the lambs that were brought to Jerusalem for sacrifice were born and raised in nearby Bethlehem. When Jews would come from around the Roman Empire, they didn’t bring their lambs from far-off places, but would buy the lambs born in Bethlehem. There was a special Lamb born in Bethlehem about 2,000 years ago. His Name was Jesus. He was a perfect Lamb. He was God’s Lamb, and when the fullness of time came, God brought His Lamb to the place of sacrifice in Jerusalem.

 

discuss / consider
1. Stepping aside for the sake of others did not bother John or Andrew. Have you ever stepped aside for another for the glory of Christ? If so, did you do it willingly and readily? Did you see how Christ was glorified?

2. Have you brought your unsaved relatives to Christ? Pray about it and think of ways you could witness to them, then do it.

 

challenge
Jesus is and must be more than a friend. Surely He is your friend, but what more to you is He?

memorize

• “Behold the Lamb of God!” John 1:36

• “Jesus said to them, ‘Come and see.’” John 1:39

• “Andrew brought his brother Simon Peter to Jesus.” John 1:41-42