John - Week 3

Andrew and Peter 

READ 

John 1:40-42 

40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of these men who heard what John said and then followed Jesus. 41 Andrew went to find his brother, Simon, and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means “Christ”). 42 Then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus. Looking intently at Simon, Jesus said, “Your name is Simon, son of John—but you will be called Cephas” (which means “Peter”).  

Andrew stands out as an example of how believers can share their faith about Jesus. He told his brother, Peter, “We have found the Messiah.” And then Andrew brought his brother to meet Jesus. At this meeting, Jesus changed Peter’s name from Simon Peter to “Cephas.” This was an Aramaic word, a language remotely related to Hebrew. In Aramaic this word means “rock” or “stone,” and the Greek word for Peter (petros) also means the same. It likely looked ahead to when Peter’s confession would be a rock for the Christian faith (see Matthew 16:15-16). 

REFLECT 

Have you told family members about Jesus, as Andrew did? Pray you will be able to do so. 

RESPOND 

Even though your name does not mean “rock,” is your life a solid testimony for the Lord Jesus? Talk with a friend and encourage each other to be like this.  

 Come Follow Me 

READ 

John 1:43-46 

43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Come, follow me.” 44 Philip was from Bethsaida, Andrew and Peter’s hometown.  

45 Philip went to look for Nathanael and told him, “We have found the very person Moses and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth.” 46 “Nazareth!” exclaimed Nathanael. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” “Come and see for yourself,” Philip replied.  

Others in the same hometown were learning about Jesus. Philip became a Christ-follower and told Nathanael, but Nathanael was not impressed. Notice what Philip told him, “Come and see for yourself.” Jesus was there and could be seen. Today He can be seen in the Scriptures, as prophesied by Moses and the prophets and by eyewitnesses in the New Testament.  

REFLECT 

As a Christ-follower, have you shared with others in your hometown about Jesus? 

RESPOND 

When facing a doubter like Philip did with Nathanael, to what knowledgeable source can you direct them? Possibilities are the Bible, a pastor, a Sunday school teacher, or an older Christian in the faith. You do not have to have all the answers, but you can direct a person to a source for an answer. 

A Man of Complete Integrity 

READ 

John 1:47-48 

47 As they approached, Jesus said, “Now here is a genuine son of Israel—a man of complete integrity.” 48 “How do you know about me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus replied, “I could see you under the fig tree before Philip found you.”                   

Jesus was fully Man and fully God when He lived on the earth. He did not always demonstrate His ability to know all things, but this incident with Nathanael reveals He knew about him beforehand. David lived in Old Testament times and wrote Psalm 139:1-2 about God’s all-knowledge. In the New Testament, the writer of Hebrews said something similar in 4:13: “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.” 

REFLECT 

Are you motivated to live more honoring to God as you realize He knows everything about you? 

RESPOND 

Have you thanked God lately that even though He knows more about you than anyone else, He also loves you more than anyone else because He gave His life for you? Share your gratitude to God with a friend and pray together giving God thanks.

Stairway Between Heaven and Earth 

READ 

John 1:49-51 

49 Then Nathanael exclaimed, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God—the King of Israel!”  

50 Jesus asked him, “Do you believe this just because I told you I had seen you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” 51 Then he said, “I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of Man, the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth.” 

Nathaniel gave a great testimony about Jesus being “the Son of God—the King of Israel.” Jesus told him he would see greater things than just knowing He saw him under a fig tree. Nathaniel did not think anything good could come out of Nazareth, but Jesus promised he would see things in the future that would prove to him something good could come out of Nazareth.  

REFLECT 

As a believer in Christ, spend some time thinking about what your reaction will be when you see Jesus face-to-face. Write down a few of your thoughts. 

RESPOND 

What do you think it meant when Jesus said He “is the stairway between heaven and earth”? Talk with a friend about this. Think of a way you can use this in witnessing. 

A Wedding in Cana 

READ 

John 2:1-4 

1 Two days later Jesus’ mother was a guest at a wedding in the village of Cana in Galilee, 2 and Jesus and his disciples were invited too. 3 The wine supply ran out during the festivities, and Jesus’ mother came to him with the problem. 4 “I can’t help you now,” he said. “It isn’t yet my time for miracles.”  

When the Bible was first written there were no chapter divisions. Chapter and verse divisions were added much later for easy referencing. Remember this when going from one chapter in the Bible to the next chapter. Jesus was invited and attended a wedding. It is unknown why He and His disciples were among the invited guests. His example, however, reveals that Christian couples being married today need to make it known that Jesus is present at their ceremony. Jesus knew that what His mother was asking would take a miracle to solve the problem, but He did not believe it was in the plan of His heavenly Father to do that at the time. 

REFLECT 

If you are single now, will you determine to marry only another Christ-follower and make it known to others that Jesus is present when you marry? 

RESPOND 

If you are now married, what are you and your spouse doing to build your marriage on a solid biblical foundation? The best assurance that a marriage will last is the relationship of each individual to the Lord Jesus Christ. As each draws closer to Jesus the individuals will draw closer to each other. You should be reading a devotional together that is based on the Bible and then praying for each other, your family and Christian ministries.