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1. The ministry of John the Baptist was to prepare the way to Jesus...
a. He came to bear witness of the Light, that all might believe -

!"#
b. John indeed did bear witness of Jesus
1) As the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world -

!$%
2) As the Son of God who baptizes with the Holy Spirit ŷ

!$&

2. Due to the testimony of John the Baptist, Jesus began to attract

disciples...
a. The first disciples were those who had been disciples of John ŷ

!"
b. Because of John's testimony, they began to follow Jesus ŷ

!'%

[In his gospel, John the apostle describes those who were c   
 c, beginning with...]

( )*


+(+)(((
1. His background
a. From Bethsaida of Galilee - cf.
!&&
b. Brother of Simon Peter, sons of Jonah - cf.
!&$
 c. A fisherman - cf. &#
2. His call to discipleship and then apostleship
a. He was first a disciple of John the Baptist, who pointed
him
to Jesus -
!&,
1) This happened in Bethabara beyond the Jordan - cf.

!$#
2) Some think the other disciple was John the apostle
3) He stayed with Jesus that day and then found his
brother
Simon -
!%&
b. Later, Jesus officially called them to be His disciples
- &#$,
1) This occurred by the Sea of Galilee
2) After John the Baptist was cast into prison - cf.
&$
c. Then he was selected to be one of the twelve apostles ŷ
,$
1) Pointed Jesus to the lad with five loaves and two fish
-
!"#%
2) Assisted Philip in introducing some Greeks to
Jesus ŷ
!$$,$$
3) Among those who questioned Jesus about the destruction
of
Jerusalem -  &
4) Listed among those in Jerusalem after the ascension of
Christ - +$
3. According to apocryphal (doubtful) literature (cf. ISBE)
a. His mother was Joanna, and was of the tribe of Reuben
b. Like Thomas, compelled to believe in the resurrection of
Jesus by touching His feet
 c. Various sources attribute missionary work in Bithynia,
Scythia, Greece, Ephesus
d. Thought to have been crucified in Greece, on a cross in
the
form of an X
+- ./.
/! *01 !/.
21 3 0
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/-

*((((
1. His background
a. From Bethsaida of Galilee - cf.
!&&
b. Brother of Andrew, sons of Jonah - cf.
!&$
c. A fisherman - cf. &#
2. His call to discipleship and then apostleship
a. Introduced to Jesus by his brother Andrew -
!&,&$
1) In Bethabara beyond the Jordan - cf.
!$#
2) Jesus named him "Cephas" (Aramaic), "Peter" (Greek),
meaning "a rock"
b. Later, Jesus officially called him to be His disciple
1) As he was fishing by the Sea of Galilee -  %
2) Along with his partners, James and John -  ,
c. Then he was selected to be one of the twelve apostles ŷ
 "&
1) His prominence evident by his name mentioned first in
the
lists
2) Included among the "inner circle" - cf.
'$6$"'
3) Known for his denial of Christ, and subsequent
restoration - cf.
!#$6$
 4) A key figure in the first half of the book of Acts
3. According to apocryphal (doubtful) literature (cf. ISBE)
a. Supposedly died a martyr at Rome about 67 AD
b. Purported to have been crucified by Nero, upside down at
his
own request
  5 0/.!./70/!08/2  ! / 0!-+
 3 0 /5 /. 4/ /0!./707 1.05 -
70!!/02 / /.- 

[With two brothers now as His disciples, Jesus next calls...]

( ) 

+(
(((
1. His background
a. From Bethsaida of Galilee -
!&&6$$
b. Greek name suggests Greek connections - cf. also

!$$,$$
2. His call to discipleship and then apostleship
a. Initial call to follow Jesus occurs here in Bethabara
beyond
the Jordan -
!&&&
b. He immediately tells Nathanael about Jesus -
!&&"
1) That he has found Him of whom Moses and the prophets
wrote
2) Inviting skeptical Nathanael to "Come and see"
c. Selected to be one of the twelve apostles -  "&
1) Asked by Jesus about bread in feeding the 5,000 ŷ

!"'
3) Approached by Greeks who wished to see Jesus ŷ

!$$,$$
4) It was he who asked, "Lord, show us the Father" ŷ

!&#
3. According to apocryphal (doubtful) literature (cf. ISBE)
a. Supposedly of the tribe of Zebulun
b. Some identify him as the one who wanted to first bury his
father - cf. #$
c. Spent latter part of his life in Phrygia, crucified there
9!30/!./00!0 /c /7 0!- c0!
20/!/. /!0 30!4 7

*(+
++(((
1. His background
a. Of Cana in Galilee -
!$$
b. Probably a fisherman also - cf.
!$
2. His call to discipleship, and (possibly) apostleship
a. Approached by Philip, who told him of Jesus -
!&
b. Nathanael was at first skeptical, because Jesus was of
Nazareth -
!&"
1) "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"
2) Cf. "Will the Christ come out of Galilee?" -
!'&
3) Cf. "Search and look, for no prophet has arisen out of
Galilee" -
!'$
-- People were not expecting anything good coming from
Nazareth of Galilee
c. Jesus convinces Nathanael -
!&'
1) Identifying him as an Israel in whom is no deceit
2) Telling how He saw him under the fig tree before Philip
called him
-- Perhaps Jesus saw him engaged in private devotion
d. Prompting Nathanael to proclaim...
 1) "Rabbi, You are the Son of God!" - cf. &
2) "You are the King of Israel!" - cf. $6$'
-- Nathanael is convinced that this teacher (Rabbi) is the
Messiah
e. Jesus Promises Nathanael greater blessings due to his
faith
1) Greater evidences of His Messiahship
2) E.g., heaven opening and angels of God ascending and
descending upon Him
a) An allusion to Jacob's dream? -  !$#$
b) An implication that Jesus was the way (ladder) to
heaven? - cf.
!&"
c) A reference to the day of Judgment, when Jesus comes
with His angels? - cf. "$'6$6$""&6
$ '
-- Note that Jesus refers to Himself as "the Son of Man"
(which the gospel writers never do), emphasizing His
humility and humanity
f. Nathanael may have been Bartholomew, one of the apostles
- cf. ,6 "&
1) Cf. Bartholomew's connection with Philip in the
apostolic
lists
2) The synoptists never mention Nathanael, and John never
mentions Bartholomew
3) Bartholomew ("son of Ptolemy") is not a proper name;
perhaps it was Nathanael
-- Leading many to conclude they are one and the same
3. According to apocryphal (doubtful) literature
a. He was Simon, son of Cleopas (not Bartholomew), and one of
the Twelve (ISBE)
 b. He was the bridegroom at the marriage of Cana, to which he
belonged (Fausett's Bible Dictionary)
  0/.00!0  3 07/ 08/2
20!00!0 
7 . 8 /5

 

1. c    c offered their testimony concerning Jesus...

a. "We have found the Messiah" -
!&
b. "We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the
prophets, wrote" -
!&
c. "You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" -
!&%
+ :/!!2 -/.//5
21 !00..70/!/.
.05/2-8 /!.7 -

2. From His initial contacts with these new disciples, we learn...

a. That Jesus knows the heart of men - cf.
!$$
b. That if we have faith in Jesus, it will be continually
strengthened; the evidence will grow brighter and brighter - cf.

!,
c. That if we believe his word, we shall yet see full proof that
his
word is true - cf.
!''

Does anyone wonder if Jesus is truly the Son of God, and that His
words
are true? Perhaps the best response one can offer to the honest
skeptic
is the invitation offered by Philip: c /7 0!- (c

Come to Jesus as revealed in the gospels and see who He is...!