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Matthew 16:18 ESV

And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

 

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Sunday School Lesson

October 13

Lesson 7 (KJV)

Active Faith

Devotional Reading: Proverbs 3:1–10

Background Scripture: 1 Kings 17:1–24

 

1 Kings 17:8–16

8. And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying,

9. Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.

10. So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.

11. And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand.

12. And she said, As the Lord thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.

13. And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.

14. For thus saith the Lord God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth.

15. And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days.
16. And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by Elijah.

Key Verse

The barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by Elijah.—1 Kings 17:16

Lesson Aims

After participating in this lesson, each learner will be able to:

1. Cite the risks that Elijah and the widow of Zarephath took to obey God.

2. Explain the relationship between behavior and confidence in God’s willingness to reward.

3. Identify one way that his or her behavior betrays a lack of faith in God and formulate a plan to correct it.

HOW TO SAY IT

Ahab	Ay-hab.
Baal	Bay-ul.
Canaanites	Kay-nun-ites.
Jericho	Jair-ih-co.
Jezebel	Jez-uh-bel.
Phoenicia	Fuh-nish-uh.
Tyre	Tire.
Zarephath	Zair-uh-fath.
Zidon	Zye-dun.

Introduction

1. The Need to Reward Good Work

Ralph Waldo Emerson famously said that “the reward of a thing well done is having done it.” Emerson, it should be noted, did not work in a human resources office. Today’s hiring managers know that relying on intrinsic motivators—‌like the satisfaction of doing a good job—is not often successful for recruiting and retaining talent.

Fortune 500 companies were studied to discover how they incentivized their employees in ways other than increasing salaries. The lengths that these large companies went to in order to reward their best employees are mind-boggling. Google, the internet giant, offered free food and outdoor workout facilities to employees. The Mayo Clinic offered free massages and mental health services to employees at its Arizona site. Aflac hosted an annual employee appreciation week complete with trips to theme parks, movie screenings, and prize drawings. Most employers can’t bankroll such ambitious employee incentive programs. However, smaller employers also see the value of incentives and offer extra time off, gift cards, etc.

God offers incentives for obedience to Him (see Leviticus 26:3–12; Psalm 19:7–11; etc.), but His motivation isn’t to jockey with other deities for the loyalty of a committed work base. Instead, God’s rewards flow from His just character (Romans 2:6; Hebrews 11:6). God’s justice not only punishes the wicked but rewards those who faithfully obey Him (Revelation 22:11, 12), especially when they do so in the face of adversity.

1. Lesson Context: Literary

Most scholars believe that the books of 1 and 2 Kings, originally a single book, were written after the fall of both halves of the divided kingdom of Israel but before Judah returned from Babylonian exile in about 539 BC. The author of these books, whom some believe to be Jeremiah or one of his contemporaries, drew on hundreds of years of historical sources. He viewed Israel’s history through the lens of God’s covenant with His people as described in Deuteronomy. The author of 1 and 2 Kings meticulously organized Israel’s history to make it obvious to his fellow Israelites that they were suffering exile and humiliation because of their lack of faithfulness to God’s covenant.

Throughout the books of 1 and 2 Kings, the Lord honored the faith of individuals—whether kings, prophets, or the lowly—who remained true to the God of Israel. The exiles who first read 1 and 2 Kings struggled to understand why God allowed them to be handed over to their enemies and how they might find forgiveness and restoration. The history served in part to assure them that God would honor their faith, no matter where the people found themselves.

1. Lesson Context: Historical

Our narrative is set in the northern kingdom of Israel during the reign of King Ahab (874–853 BC). The details of his reign reveal the king’s unwillingness to trust God to reward the northern kingdom if they would remain faithful to the terms of the Mosaic covenant (1 Kings 16:30–33). God initiated a covenant with His people that was similar to political treaties that earthly kings entered into with a newly conquered population (see Lesson 6). As king, Ahab had been charged with the task of being a steward of the covenant, just like every king before him (Deuteronomy 17:14–20).

The blessings and curses of the covenant should have provided every incentive needed for Ahab to lead his people into a season of covenant renewal. However, his contempt for the covenant and the Lord could not have been clearer. Ahab placed no stock in God’s sovereignty or in His ability to reward the faithful or judge the wicked.

Instead of trusting God, Ahab cemented a political alliance with the Zidonians by marrying Jezebel, a princess from the coastal city Zidon. This alliance incited Ahab to completely disregard God’s covenant. Jezebel turned his heart to the Canaanite god Baal and away from the Lord (1 Kings 16:31). Ahab in turn promoted Baal worship in the northern kingdom by constructing an altar in his honor (16:32). Ahab also allowed for the rebuilding of the city of Jericho (16:34), even though Joshua had placed a curse on anyone who attempted such folly (Joshua 6:26).

The author of 1 Kings draws parallels between Moses (the original prophet of the covenant) and Elijah (the ninth-century BC prophet who called the nation back to covenant loyalty). Both Moses and Elijah challenged rulers who defied God (Exodus 5:1; 7:10, 20; 1 Kings 18:17, 18). Both prophets hid from evil kings (Exodus 2:11–15; 1 Kings 17:1–7). Both confronted the false gods of their day (Exodus 32:19–35; 1 Kings 18:20–40). Both experienced the presence of God in a unique way (Exodus 33:17–23; 1 Kings 19:9–18). These parallel narratives suggest to the reader that Elijah has inherited Moses’ authoritative role to call the people to covenant faithfulness.

The narrative of Elijah’s ministry stretches from 1 Kings 17 through 2 Kings 2. First Kings 17 opens with Elijah defying King Ahab’s chosen deity, Baal. Baal was thought to control the dew and rain, concerning himself with the fertility of the earth. Because the Canaanites were an agricultural society, Baal was one of the predominate gods in that land.

Elijah sought to make known to all God’s people Ahab’s foolishness in revering Baal. Elijah invoked the name of God and declared that there would be no more rain until the Lord permitted it (1 Kings 17:1). God protected Elijah from Ahab’s retaliation by leading him to a hidden place near a brook. Every morning and evening, God sent ravens to Elijah with food (17:2–6).

Jesus noted that the drought lasted three and a half years (Luke 4:25). Sometime during that period, the brook dried up. When it did, Elijah lost his source of drinking water (1 Kings 17:7). This brings us to today’s text.

1. Sent to Zarephath

(1 Kings 17:8–10a)

1. The Lord’s Command (vv. 8, 9)

8, 9a. And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there.

The drying of the brook forces Elijah out of his hiding spot. But God doesn’t leave Elijah to his own devices to find a new source of food and water. God provides, but the new hiding spot may surprise His prophet. God leads Elijah to Zarephath, a seaport in Zidon (later Phoenicia). The city lies approximately 22 miles north of Tyre with which it is often associated (Ezra 3:7; Jeremiah 25:22; Matthew 11:21, 22; etc.). This puts Elijah squarely in evil Queen Jezebel’s homeland (1 Kings 16:31)—surprise!

9b. Behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.

God’s second surprising choice regarding Elijah’s hiding is to choose a widow to serve as the prophet’s patroness. Widows in particular are economically vulnerable within a patriarchal society where men control the mechanisms of commerce. Without a living husband or other adult men in their families, widows and their children often find themselves destitute (compare Exodus 22:22).

The prospect of God’s burdening a widow with the task of caring for Elijah must be disorienting to the prophet. Ordinarily, he would be tasked with caring for widows, not the other way around. God charges His people to care for the widow and the fatherless (Deuteronomy 10:18; 14:29; 24:19–21; 26:12, 13, 19; etc.). David later writes that God is the defender of both (Psalm 68:5; see also 146:9). Yet the Lord chooses instead to sustain Elijah through a widow.

What Do You Think? How can we discern whether a seemingly unattractive opportunity might be God’s opening a door for our protection or blessing? Digging Deeper How will you know if such an opportunity is optional for you to accept or reject vs. being a divine directive?

1. Elijah’s Obedience (v. 10a)

10a. So he arose and went to Zarephath.

The Scripture doesn’t detail any internal struggle that Elijah may have over complying with God’s counterintuitive plans. Instead, the narrative simply states that Elijah does as God directs. Elijah thus becomes an expatriate and remains separated from the comforts of home.

Perhaps part of God’s purpose in sending Elijah out of Israel is to make it hard for Ahab and Jezebel to find him (1 Kings 18:10). After all, Jezebel will react to the Lord’s prophets who reject Baal by ordering their slaughter (18:4, 13). She will gladly have Elijah killed along with all the others (19:2). Elijah needs to be kept safe until it is time for him to expose Baal for the false god he is (18:16–40).

1. Meeting at the Gate

(1 Kings 17:10b–12)

1. Elijah’s Request (vv. 10b, 11)

10b. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.

The gate of the city is a highly trafficked area. The comings and goings of people create such a steady flow of witnesses in the vicinity of the gate that the judges of the city often settle court disputes there (Genesis 34:20–24; Deuteronomy 17:5; 21:18–21; Ruth 4:1–12; etc.). The narrative doesn’t reveal how Elijah picks the widow out of the crowd. Somehow God prompts the prophet.

The task of drawing daily water from the well customarily falls to women. (Genesis 24:11 provides an early example.) They draw the water for their households in the evening or early morning when the harsh Middle Eastern sun isn’t beating down on the world (contrast John 4:6, 7). However, instead of coming to the gate to gather water, this woman is intent on the gathering of sticks to build her fire. The prophet’s request is an interruption to her agenda.

11. And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand.

The widow complies with Elijah’s request. As she goes to fetch the water, Elijah interrupts her to add a second. God has revealed His command to Elijah that the widow is to sustain him (see above on 1 Kings 17:9). But even with that knowledge, Elijah asks in incremental steps to have his needs met: first water, [then pause], then a morsel of bread.

The text doesn’t reveal the cause of Elijah’s tentativeness. Perhaps his thirst is greater than his hunger when he first meets the widow. More likely, the prophet recognizes the widow’s precarious economic situation. Even as he imposes on her for food, he only asks for a morsel of bread, not an entire meal.

1. Widow’s Response (v. 12)
2. And she said, As the Lord thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.

The widow’s reply as the Lord thy God liveth is a strong oath. It swears truthfully that she is unable to honor the prophet’s request (compare 1 Kings 1:29, 30; 22:14; Jeremiah 5:2; etc.). Unlike Ahab (see Lesson Context), the widow isn’t resisting the prophet’s request out of brazen disobedience. Rather, she speaks honestly about the reality of her situation. Her status as a widow and the impact of the drought combine to make her destitute. She has no hope of generating a sustainable income. She has enough oil and meal left only to make one final loaf of bread for herself and her son before they die in their poverty, which she recognizes will not take long. The plan reveals her despair and resignation.

What Do You Think? How can we challenge those who don’t believe they are able to give much, so that they may be blessed to do more than they realize? Digging Deeper In what contexts of the question above would it be appropriate and inappropriate to point out this account of the poor widow? Why?

III. Faith in a Foreign Land

(1 Kings 17:13–16)

1. Elijah’s Confidence (vv. 13, 14)

13a. And Elijah said unto her, Fear not.

Refusing to fear emboldens individuals to trust God, especially when circumstances suggest that conformity to God’s will isn’t the safest or wisest course of action (compare Mark 5:36). The command not to fear is found throughout the Old Testament, often paired with a reminder of God’s presence (Genesis 15:1; Joshua 10:25; Isaiah 43:5; Zechariah 8:13; etc.). The frequency with which God and/or His prophets repeat this concise command underscores its importance.

13b. Go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.

Notice the sequence: the widow is to prepare Elijah’s food first and bring it unto Elijah. Only then may she prepare food for herself and her son. What faith this will require!

14. For thus saith the Lord God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth.

In identifying the source of his request as the God of Israel, the prophet assures the widow that her need will not go unmet, no matter how long the drought lasts. The Lord is at war with fictitious Baal for the purpose of provoking King Ahab and the people of Israel to return their affections to him (see Lesson Context).

God well knows that faithful people are adversely affected by the drought, to the point that obedience might look foolish and even life-threatening. But here we see that God is capable of caring for His prophet and the widow while simultaneously commanding the attention of His unfaithful king. Through Elijah, God assures the widow that her modest pantry will not be depleted until God again allows the rain to nourish the now barren land.

Elijah’s confidence in God’s provision reinforces what the drought suggests: God’s power is not limited to a certain geopolitical area (contrast 1 Kings 20:23–25). He can withhold rain not just in the land of His own people but wherever He chooses. God can rescue a widow in Zidon as easily as He can rescue a widow within the confines of the promised land.

What Do You Think? What are some ways to encourage the hesitant to trust God to provide? Digging Deeper What role should your personal example serve in answering the above question?

Promise of Plenty

Twice the offices of a well-known “health and wealth” TV evangelist have been raided by government investigators. Part of what prompted the investigation were questions about whether millions of dollars in donations were used as promised. Ultimately, no charges were brought.

Yet many Christians still have questions about this person’s ministry. Health and wealth preachers teach that Christians are meant to prosper, especially if they tithe their income to the evangelist’s ministry. They propose that every Christian should be healed of sickness. Those who promote themselves as conduits of such healing are surely open to criticism when promises go unfulfilled.

Elijah also had been investigated by his government. But in his case he had been found guilty as charged. So he fled, eventually finding refuge in a widow’s home. God promised the woman that her food supply would never diminish as long as she provided for Elijah, and God kept his word. How do you demonstrate trust in God, no matter your circumstances? See Luke 7:23.

—C. R. B.

1. The Widow’s Obedience (v. 15a)

15a. And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah.

The widow listens to Elijah and abandons her original, hopeless plan. Perhaps Elijah’s exhortation fills her with faith. Maybe she complies out of love for her son, even though she is not fully convinced that God will provide (compare Matthew 17:20). Either way, her faith allows her to act where King Ahab is unwilling: she puts her trust in the one true God and places her future in His hands.

1. The Lord’s Provision (vv. 15b, 16)

15b. And she, and he, and her house, did eat many days.

The result of the widow’s faithful action is exactly as Elijah says. Rather than consuming a final meal with her son, everyone in her house can eat for much longer than her provision would have lasted naturally. The Lord’s work through her obedience sustains everyone involved.

16. And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by Elijah.

In the Old Testament, the formula the word of the Lord frequently attends a prophecy from God (2 Kings 20:16–18; Jeremiah 33:19–26; Zechariah 7:4–10; etc.). The repetition in these two verses of the fact that the widow’s meal and oil fed the family for many days emphasizes God’s work on behalf of these obedient people.

God has braided together the fates of the prophet Elijah, the unnamed widow, and the widow’s son. The latter two, at least, would not have survived the drought otherwise. Because the widow welcomed the prophet, she shares in his reward (compare Matthew 10:41, 42).

A Joint Venture in Faith

My family and I served as missionaries in an African country for a time. An employer there was a foreign mining company that was extracting the country’s iron ore deposits. The company was a joint venture of American and Swedish corporate interests that cooperated with the national government to create wealth for each party.

While we were there, the workers went on strike for a raise of a few cents to 25 cents per hour. The corporations were willing to grant the raise, but the government refused. Many speculated that the government didn’t want to cut into the profits the officials were believed to be skimming.

Elijah and the widow of Zarephath were involved in a joint venture of faith. At the outset, the widow’s point of view was that no “profit” was at stake—only the break-even prospect of staying alive. But through active faith she may have indeed reaped a unanticipated spiritual profit. What might that profit have been?

—C. R. B.

What Do You Think? How will you respond to those who say they cannot believe in God because so many in the world lack the basics for having their physical needs met? Digging Deeper How will your response differ, if at all, due to the attitude and agenda of the one making the observation?

Conclusion

1. The God Who Rewards Generously

Due to the nation’s apostasy under King Ahab, God-honoring faith was almost absent in Israel (compare 1 Kings 19:18). So God called an unlikely widow—a foreigner familiar with God only by reputation—to put her trust in Him. Her faith in God was shown through her in obedience, feeding Elijah before providing for her son and herself. She responded to God in faith even though she was not among God’s covenant people.

In Jesus’ first public appearance after His temptation, He saw fit to mention the widow as an example of faith. He had returned to Nazareth to worship in the synagogue. After reading a prophecy from the book of Isaiah concerning the anointed one, Jesus proclaimed himself to be the fulfillment of that Scripture (Luke 4:14–30; compare Mark 7:24–30). Though the congregation spoke well of Him momentarily, Jesus’ response to their marveling at a hometown hero infuriated them. He reminded His audience that God hadn’t sent Elijah to any of the widows within the confines of Israel. God had chosen an outsider who would demonstrate obedient faith.

The exiles who read these accounts in 1 Kings (see Lesson Context) were reminded as we are that God’s influence is not limited to one group of people or one piece of land. God had not entered into a covenant with the widow’s people. He had not revealed himself to them through the law. But God favored her modest faith by blessing her obedience. God still honors faithful obedience, no matter how tentative those attempts initially are.

What Do You Think? Under what circumstances, if any, would liberal giving change from being an act of faith to an act of foolish failure to plan for the needs of oneself and one’s own household? Explain. Digging Deeper Which of the following passages cause you most to reevaluate your response to the question above: Leviticus 5:6, 7; 14:21, 22, 30–32; Matthew 6:34; Luke 14:28–30; 18:22; 21:1–4; 2 Corinthians 8:1–5; 1 Thessalonians 2:9; 1 Timothy 5:8, 16?

1. Prayer

God, we desire to obey You, but sometimes our hearts are rebellious, and sometimes we are simply discouraged. We know that You honor those who strive to obey You. May this knowledge strengthen us. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

1. Thought to Remember

God honors the faithful. Always has, always will.

KID’S CORNER

How Believers Come to Believe in Jesus

Sunday, October 13, 2019

John 1:43-51

John 1:43-51

(John 1:43) The next day He purposed to go into Galilee, and He *found Philip. And Jesus *said to him, “Follow Me.”

After spending a few days with John the Baptist and his disciples, Jesus decided to go back to Galilee, where He was from and where some of John’s disciples were from (Jesus was raised in Nazareth in Galilee, but we learn in Matthew 4:13, that “Jesus left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali”). From reading John 1:43, we do not know if Jesus found Philip among John’s disciples and invited Philip to go with Him and the other disciples back to Galilee or if Jesus met Philip in Galilee and called Philip to follow Him. I lean toward Philip being one of John’s disciples and being invited (or commanded) to go with Jesus to Galilee. Philip knew enough about Jesus to obey Him.

(John 1:44) Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter.

When we learn that Philip, Andrew, Peter, and John (the writer of this Gospel) were all from Bethsaida, and that they all could have been John’s disciples, it seems reasonable that Jesus called Philip from among John the Baptist’s disciples. Jesus would not call Philip to blindly and without good reason follow Him, though Jesus had the power to do so. From reading the four gospels, we know that Jesus did not conduct His ministry by compelling people to obey Him. Jesus would never teach by example that someone should just blindly follow someone who seemed to have special powers or a persuasive personality. In John 6:44, Jesus explained how His followers are “drawn” to Him: “No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father who sent me; and I will raise that person up on the last day.” Remembering the way Jesus conducted His ministry, it is reasonable to think that John the Baptist had prepared Philip to meet the Lord and that Philip had seen Jesus earlier and had learned even more about Jesus from the testimony of Andrew, Peter, and John. So, knowing what was in Philip, Jesus called to him, “Follow me.” Perhaps Philip was too shy to ask Jesus if he could follow Him; so, Jesus knowing Philip’s heart called Philip to be one of His disciples. Jesus will reach into the life of the most fearful and humble believer and call to himself those who do not feel worthy to ask if they can follow Him. The name Philip means “lover of horses.” We do not know the exact locations of Bethsaida or Bethany (archaeologists differ). John baptized in Bethany, which means “house of affliction or misery” or “house of dates or figs,” located somewhere east of the Jordan River. Bethsaida means “house of fish” or “place of nets” and was also located east of the Jordan River, probably near Capernaum, which means “village of Nahum or village of consolation.” Therefore, we do not know how far Jesus and His disciples travelled between these places.

(John 1:45) Philip *found Nathanael and *said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

John does not tell us how far Andrew had to travel to find Peter to lead him to Jesus or how far Philip had to travel to find Nathanael and tell him about Jesus. John leaves us with the impression that Philip found Nathanael in Galilee, perhaps in Bethsaida or in Cana, which means “place of reeds.” The name Nathanael means “God given.” In John 21:2, we learn that Nathanael was of Cana in Galilee, where Jesus would soon change water into wine.  In Deuteronomy 18:15, Moses prophesied, “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you shall heed such a prophet,” and Philip had learned that Jesus fulfilled this prophecy and Jesus should be heeded. He also knew the Old Testament prophets that John had pointed to when preparing people to meet Jesus. John, the writer of this Gospel, truthfully tells what people believed in the early stages of learning about Jesus. Philip would later learn that Jesus was the son of Joseph by adoption, which we learn in Matthew and Luke, for Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus was from Nazareth, and Philip probably did not yet know that Jesus had been born in Bethlehem, the city of King David, if fulfillment of prophecy In Micah 5:2, we learn, “But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.” The readers of John’s Gospel will learn more about Jesus as they study, just as Philip learned more about Jesus as he followed Him.

(John 1:46) Nathanael said to him, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Philip *said to him, “Come and see.”

Philip did not know everything he would eventually learn about Jesus, but he knew enough about Jesus to tell Nathanael about Jesus, and the Holy Spirit used the truths that Philip shared with Nathanael to lead him to inquire about Jesus and seek to learn more about Jesus. The Holy Spirit can use the truths about Jesus that we know to lead others to want to know more about Jesus and come to faith in Him. We do not need to know everything about Jesus to witness for Jesus. We do know that after these disciples met Jesus, they wanted to tell someone else about Him and lead them to Him. We do not know why Nathanael felt as he did about Nazareth. Being from nearby Cana, perhaps he thought the town was insignificant, or perhaps the town was known to have many wicked people living there, because after Jesus preached in Nazareth those in the synagogue were so enraged they tried to throw Jesus off a cliff (see Luke 4:28-30). But in Matthew 2:23, we learn that Jesus came from Nazareth to fulfill prophecy: “There he made his home in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, ‘He will be called a Nazorean.’”

(John 1:47) Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and *said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!”

Jesus spoke to Nathanael first. In Genesis, we learn God how changed Jacob’s name to Israel. The name Jacob meant “supplanter.” Jacob used deceit or guile to acquire his brother Esau’s birthright and blessing (see Genesis 25:33 and Genesis 27:36). After the LORD encountered Jacob and Jacob wrestled with a man the LORD changed his name to Israel. In Genesis 32:28, we read, “Then the man said, ‘You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans, and have prevailed.’” The name Israel means, “soldier of God or “contender with God.” Jesus gave Nathanael a great commendation when He said Nathanael was not like a deceitful Jacob but a true Israelite who was honest before God. Remember: Jesus knew what was in everyone (John 2:25).

(John 1:48) Nathanael *said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”

Nathanael wanted to know how Jesus knew him and his true character, for Nathanael was no hypocrite. He truly wanted to serve God, and after speaking to Philip was drawn to Jesus to learn more about the Messiah. We do not know what Nathanael was doing under the fig tree, but whatever he was doing it was significant enough for him to recognize that Jesus had truly seen him. Jesus might have described more of what Nathanael was doing than John reports. Perhaps he was praying and pouring his heart out to God or reading the Scriptures, we simply do not know.

(John 1:49) Nathanael answered Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel.”

Because Jesus could see where Nathanael was physically located, and also see into Nathanael’s heart, Nathanael knew only a divine Person could do that, so he proclaimed Jesus the Son of God and the Messiah (the King of Israel). As the Holy Spirit guided his thoughts, Nathanael affirmed the truth about Jesus being the Messiah that he had first heard from Philip.

(John 1:50) Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these.”

Compared to what Jesus would do in the future for His disciples and others to see so they could learn more about His true character and nature, Jesus expressed the idea that comparatively speaking His ability to see Nathanael and what he was doing under the fig tree was pretty insignificant. He promised that as His disciple Nathanael would see greater things that John called “signs” and these “signs” would further strengthen his faith in Him as Son of God and Messiah. Jesus performed His first sign in Cana, where He changed water into wine—in a similar way, Jesus transformed and still transforms those who believe in Him into children of God.

(John 1:51) And He *said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

 “Very truly” are two different English words that translate the same word in two different ways. Jesus often used the same word twice and together for emphasis, “Verily, verily” (KJV), before telling people an important truth. The two words in the Greek New Testament are “Amen, Amen,” which can be translated “So be it” or “This is certainly true.” Jesus alluded to Jacob’s dream on his way to Haran. In Genesis 28:12, we learn Jacob “dreamed that there was a ladder set up on the earth, the top of it reaching to heaven; and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.” Jesus probably meant that He is the ladder between heaven and earth. As the Son of Man, He is the ladder to God the Father and Jesus did mighty works, “signs,” as though angels were coming from heaven to earth to do them.

Jesus used “Son of Man” to most often describe or speak of himself. By calling himself “Son of Man” instead of Messiah (which He was), He would not be making a political statement about himself that could lead to such hostility from the authorities that He would not be able to complete His mission as Rabbi (Teacher) of His disciples among other duties. “Son of Man” communicates at least three truths. First, Jesus is humble, and even as He worked many miracles and blessed others, He remained humble. Jesus never walked around proclaiming with a loud voice to draw a crowd, “I am the Son of God!” Jesus never bragged about being the Messiah or Son of God; Jesus just did what the Messiah and Son of God would do in fulfillment of Scripture and His Father’s will. Second, Jesus is truly Man as well as truly God. Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He is the Son of Man and the Son of God. Third, Jesus used the title that the LORD used when speaking to Ezekiel, “Son of Man” (translated “Mortal” in the NRSV), so Jesus was a prophet like Ezekiel. More importantly, Daniel wrote about his vision in Daniel 7:13-14: “I kept looking in the night visions, And behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And was presented before Him. And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, That all the peoples, nations and men of every language Might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed” (NASB). Jesus claimed to be this Son of Man. An otherwise usually very good translation, I believe the NRSV translation is flawed in these two verses when it translates “Son of Man” as “human being” — “As I watched in the night visions, I saw one like a human being coming with the clouds of heaven. And he came to the Ancient One and was presented before him. To him was given dominion and glory and kingship, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not pass away, and his kingship is one that shall never be destroyed.” Jesus is fully a human being and fully God, but the translation and use of Son of Man makes these verses more obvious as speaking of Jesus.

How Believers Come to Believe in Jesus

Sunday, October 13, 2019

John 1:43-51

Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. (John 1:49—KJV) Nathanael answered Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel.” (John 1:49—NASB) Nathanael replied, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” (John 1:49—NRSV)

God uses different ways to lead people to believe in and follow Jesus. Originally, Andrew and John were disciples of John the Baptist; so, through their repentance and baptism John prepared them to accept Jesus when He came as the Messiah and Lamb of God. Some of what churches and Bible study groups do is prepare people to believe in Jesus. We do not know if Simon Peter was a disciple of John the Baptist or not. Peter may have stayed home and worked at fishing while his brother Andrew studied with John the Baptist. Peter at least learned about John the Baptist and some of John’s teaching about the Messiah from Andrew when they were together. Then, Andrew introduced Peter to Jesus. Some people become Christians because they first learned about Jesus from members of their family or a co-worker; then, from further prayerful study they come to accept Jesus as their Savior. More unusual are those who become Christians as Philip did. In the Gospel of John, all we learn is Jesus walked up to Philip and said, “Follow Me,” and Philip followed Jesus immediately. Philip knew about the expectations of the Jews regarding the Messiah, but something about Jesus meeting Philip convinced Philip that he needed to obey Jesus as the Messiah. Then, in the usual way, Philip told Nathanael that he along with Jesus’ other disciples had found the Messiah. At first, Nathanael did not believe Philip. So, Philip invited Nathanael to come and meet Jesus. After meeting Jesus, Nathanael accepted Jesus as his Teacher (the meaning of Rabbi) and proclaimed Jesus the Son of God and the King of Israel.

Thinking Further

How Believers Come to Believe in Jesus

Sunday, October 13, 2019

John 1:43-51

Name ____________________________________

1. What is the first thing John tells us that Philip did after Jesus called him to follow Him?

2. How did Philip describe Jesus when he talked about Him. Was he totally right in his description? How was Philip almost right or almost wrong?

3. When Nathanael objected to Philip’s conclusions about Jesus, what did Philip tell him to do? What can we learn from their responses?

4. How did Jesus describe Nathanael? How did Jesus say that He knew that about Nathanael?

5. After talking with Jesus, what did Nathanael decide about Jesus? Do you believe Nathanael was right or wrong?

Discussion and Thinking Further

 

1. What is the first thing John tells us that Philip did after Jesus called him to follow Him? He obeyed Jesus and followed Him, and then he sought Nathanael to tell him about Jesus the Messiah.

 

2. How did Philip describe Jesus when he talked about Him. Was he totally right in his description? How was Philip almost right or almost wrong? Philip said, “We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.” He did not know yet that Jesus is the adopted son of Joseph, because Jesus is the Son of God conceived by the Holy Spirit in the Virgin Mary. Jesus is fully God and fully man. Jesus was born in Bethlehem but was from Nazareth.

 

 

3. When Nathanael objected to Philip’s conclusions about Jesus, what did Philip tell him to do? What can we learn from their responses? Philip said, “Come and see.” We can invite people to study the Bible with us or come to our church or Bible study group to “come and see” if they will believe in Jesus as their Lord and Savior, the Son of God and Messiah.

 

4. How did Jesus describe Nathanael? How did Jesus say that He knew that about Nathanael? Jesus described Nathanael as an Israelite in whom was no deceit or guile. Jesus said He saw Nathanael under the fig tree before Philip called him.

 

5. After talking with Jesus, what did Nathanael decide about Jesus? Do you believe Nathanael was right or wrong? He decided that Jesus was a Rabbi and Jesus would be his teacher. More importantly, he said Jesus is the Son of God and the King of Israel. Nathanael was right.

 

 

Word Search

How Believers Come to Believe in Jesus

Sunday, October 13, 2019

John 1:43-51

Name ____________________________________

B K V K P L N D I T X M V P C

W E R D N A J Q G M D I R W L

O U G T G E S A X C Q O M S E

S X Q F S P L Q W G P V H U A

J T Y U H I G P K H N I Z S N

O N S I L C S L E T G S G E A

S R L E A O H T N R Q R Y J H

E I E Y L D S Y D W P A C I T

P L O F K N I V R T O E V P A

H F M H T E R A Z A N L T R N

C Y P Q M F B P S F Z I L E H

X U A S E O T U K H K T W O R

S E J Q I P S I O X T E L P F

A N G E L S N E U W D E R Q T

G J M C Y G M H S G H X B W N

Galilee

Philip

Follow

Jesus

Bethsaida

Andrew

Peter

Nathanael

Moses

Joseph

Nazareth

Prophets

Israelite

King

Angels

True and False Test

How Believers Come to Believe in Jesus

Sunday, October 13, 2019

John 1:43-51

Name ____________________________________

Circle the True or False answers. Correct the False statements by restating them.

1. When Philip saw Andrew and Peter going with Jesus to Galilee, he asked Jesus if he could follow Jesus too. True or False
2. When Nathanael asked if he could follow Jesus, Jesus asked if he were an Israelite, for He allowed only Israelites to follow Him. True or False

3. Nathanael asked if anything good could come from Nazareth.

True or False

4. Philip told Nathanael to come and see Jesus. True or False

5. Jesus said Nathanael was truly an Israelite in whom there was no deceit. True or False

6. Before Philip called Nathanael, Jesus saw him under a fig tree reading about the Messiah in the book of Isaiah. True or False

7. Philip called Jesus the son of Joseph from Nazareth. True or False

8. Nathanael called Jesus the Son of God, the King of Israel. True or False

9. Because it was so dangerous, Philip and Nathanael chose not to follow Jesus when Jesus went back to Jerusalem. True or False

10. Jesus told Nathanael that someday he would see angels ascending and descending on Jacob’s ladder. True or False

 

True and False Test Answers

1. False
2. False
3. True
4. True
5. True
6. False
7. True
8. True
9. False

10.False

Prayer

God, we desire to obey You, but sometimes our hearts are rebellious, and sometimes we are simply discouraged. We know that You honor those who strive to obey You. May this knowledge strengthen us. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.