The First Disciples
Come and see
Two things you can tap
- A verse number shows the Bible’s exact words.
- An underlined word shows what it means.
Story
What happened?
Tap a verse number, like , to read the Bible’s exact words.
The whole story, in shortWhat happens, start to finish. Open it if you want the ending first.
John the Baptist pointed to Jesus and said, "Look, the Lamb of God!" and two of his followers went after Jesus, who said, "Come and see." One of them, Andrew, brought his brother Simon, and Jesus named him Cephas, or Peter. The next day Jesus called Philip, and Philip told his doubtful friend Nathanael, who was amazed that Jesus already knew him and called him the Son of God, and Jesus promised they would see heaven open.
Where it is in the Bible: John 1:35-51
Who’s who and what came beforePeople, places, and the story so far. Open it anytime.
Scene Card
Cast
- Jesus: The one the Gospels present as the promised Messiah and the Son of God. He has just been baptized.
- John the Baptist: A prophet who baptized people in the Jordan River and told them to get ready for Jesus.
- Andrew: One of John the Baptist's followers. He becomes one of Jesus's first followers.
- Simon Peter: Andrew's brother. Jesus gives him a new name.
- Philip: A man from the town of Bethsaida, the same town as Andrew and Peter.
- Nathanael: Philip's friend. He is not sure anything good can come from Nazareth.
Setting
- Near the Jordan River, where John was baptizing. Then on the way to Galilee.
When
- About 2,000 years ago, over a few days, right at the start of Jesus's work.
Before the Story
John the Baptist had been telling people to get ready. He said he was not the Christ. He was "a voice of one calling in the wilderness" (1:23).
The day before, John saw Jesus coming. He said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (1:29). A lamb was offered to God as a sacrifice. John meant that Jesus would give his life to take away sin.
John saw the Spirit come down on Jesus at his baptism. God had told John this would show him who the Son of God is (1:32-34).
A long time before, God gave Jacob a dream. Jacob saw a ladder reaching up to heaven, and "God's angels were going up and down the ladder" (Genesis 28:12). Remember this. It comes back at the end.
Map of the Story
| Scene | Verses | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1. "Look, the Lamb of God!" | 1:35-37 | Two of John's followers go after Jesus |
| 2. "Come and see" | 1:38-39 | Jesus invites them to spend the day with him |
| 3. Andrew finds his brother | 1:40-42 | Andrew brings Simon, and Jesus gives him a new name |
| 4. "Follow Me" | 1:43-44 | Jesus finds Philip |
| 5. Can anything good come from Nazareth? | 1:45-46 | Philip finds Nathanael |
| 6. Under the fig tree | 1:47-49 | Jesus already knows Nathanael |
| 7. Greater things | 1:50-51 | Jesus promises they will see heaven open |
Plain Retelling
Scene 1 of 7"Look, the Lamb of God!"
The next day, John the Baptist was standing there again with two of his followers.
Jesus walked by. John watched him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God!" (1:36).
The two followers heard John say it. So they left John and followed Jesus.
John did not try to keep them. He wanted people to follow Jesus.
Scene 2 of 7"Come and See"
Jesus turned around and saw them following. "What do you want?" he asked (1:38).
They said, "Rabbi... where are You staying?" (1:38). Rabbi means teacher.
"Come and see," Jesus answered (1:39).
So they went with him. They saw where he was staying, and they spent the rest of the day with him. It was about four o'clock in the afternoon.
Scene 3 of 7Andrew Finds His Brother
One of the two was Andrew. Andrew had a brother named Simon.
The first thing Andrew did was find Simon. "We have found the Messiah," he told him (1:41).
Messiah is a Hebrew word. Christ is the same word in Greek. Both mean "anointed one," the King God promised to send.
Andrew brought Simon to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas" (1:42).
Cephas means "rock." In Greek, the name is Peter. That is why he is called Simon Peter.
Scene 4 of 7"Follow Me"
The next day, Jesus decided to go to Galilee.
He found a man named Philip. Jesus said to him, "Follow Me" (1:43).
Philip came from Bethsaida. That was the same town where Andrew and Peter came from.
Scene 5 of 7Can Anything Good Come from Nazareth?
Philip went and found his friend Nathanael.
He was excited. "We have found the One Moses wrote about in the Law, the One the prophets foretold—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph" (1:45). To foretell means to say ahead of time what will happen.
Nathanael was not impressed. "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" he asked (1:46).
Nazareth was a small village. Nathanael did not expect God's promised King to come from there.
Philip did not argue. He said what Jesus had said: "Come and see" (1:46).
Scene 6 of 7Under the Fig Tree
Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him.
Jesus said, "Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is no deceit" (1:47). Deceit means tricking people or not being honest. Nathanael said what he thought.
Nathanael was surprised. "How do You know me?" he asked (1:48).
Jesus answered, "Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree" (1:48).
Jesus had not been there. But he knew.
Nathanael's doubts were gone. "Rabbi," he said, "You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" (1:49).
Scene 7 of 7Greater Things
Jesus said to him, "Do you believe just because I told you I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these" (1:50).
Then Jesus made a promise.
"Truly, truly, I tell you, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man" (1:51).
To ascend means to go up. To descend means to come down. "Son of Man" is a name Jesus used for himself.
This is the picture from Jacob's dream. In the dream, the angels went up and down a ladder. Now Jesus says they go up and down on him. Jesus is the way between heaven and earth.
Meaning
What does it mean?
Read It
What Does This Mean?
| The text says | It means |
|---|---|
| "Look, the Lamb of God!" (1:36) | John pointed people away from himself and toward Jesus. |
| "What do you want?" (1:38) | Jesus asks what we are looking for. He listens. |
| "Come and see" (1:39) | Jesus did not give them a speech. He invited them to spend time with him. |
| "We have found the Messiah" (1:41) | Good news is meant to be shared. Andrew told his brother first. |
| "You will be called Cephas" (1:42) | Jesus sees who we will become, not only who we are now. |
| "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" (1:46) | Nathanael judged Jesus by his hometown. Jesus welcomed him anyway. |
| "I saw you under the fig tree" (1:48) | Jesus knew Nathanael before they met. |
| "Ascending and descending on the Son of Man" (1:51) | Jesus is like Jacob's ladder. He connects heaven and earth. |
Back Then
Hours were counted from sunrise. John writes "the tenth hour" (1:39). Days were counted from about six in the morning, so the tenth hour is about four in the afternoon.
Nazareth was a small village in Galilee. The Old Testament never mentions it. Some people looked down on places in Galilee. Leaders in Jerusalem once said, "No prophet comes out of Galilee" (7:52).
Bethsaida was a fishing town. It was on the shore of the Sea of Galilee (Easton's Bible Dictionary). Andrew and Peter were fishermen.
Sitting under a fig tree was a picture of peace. The prophet Micah said that one day "each man will sit under his own vine and under his own fig tree, with no one to frighten him" (Micah 4:4).
Literal Reader Alert
Did Jesus see Nathanael with his eyes? John doesn't say how Jesus knew. Jesus was not there. He knew because of who he is. That is what amazed Nathanael.
Will we see real angels on a real ladder? This is a picture from Jacob's dream. Jesus means that he connects heaven and earth. Through him, God comes close to us.
Was Nathanael being mean about Nazareth? He was being honest, and a little rude. Jesus did not scold him. Jesus called him "a true Israelite, in whom there is no deceit" (1:47). Jesus liked that Nathanael said what he really thought.
Is Nathanael one of the twelve disciples? His name is not on the lists of the twelve in the other Gospels. Many Christians think he is the same person as Bartholomew, who is listed next to Philip. John later says Nathanael was from Cana (21:2).
This is not the same as the story where Jesus calls the fishermen from their boats. Luke tells that story (Luke 5:1-11). Many readers think Andrew and Peter first met Jesus here at the Jordan, then went back to fishing, and later left their nets to follow him.
How People Feel
| Who | Feeling | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The two followers | Curious | They wanted to know where Jesus was staying (1:38) |
| Andrew | Excited | "We have found the Messiah" (1:41) |
| Philip | Excited | He found the one Moses wrote about (1:45) |
| Nathanael | Doubtful | "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" (1:46) |
| Nathanael | Amazed | Jesus knew where he had been (1:48-49) |
For you
What does it mean for me?
Your Turn
What would you say if Jesus asked, "What do you want?" Tap one.
I want to know you
That's what the two followers wanted. Jesus said, "Come and see." You can keep reading about him.
I'm not sure
That's okay. The disciples didn't have it all figured out either. Jesus asked the question so they could start.
I have doubts
So did Nathanael. Jesus did not send him away. He met him.
I want to tell someone
Andrew and Philip did that. You can say what Philip said: "Come and see."
You Might Have Heard
"You have to argue people into believing in Jesus."
What's true: It's good to give honest answers to people's questions.
What the story is mainly about: Jesus is the one who finds people. He found Philip (1:43). He already knew Nathanael (1:48). Philip didn't win an argument. He said, "Come and see" (1:46), and Jesus did the rest.
Where Jesus is: Turning around to meet two followers, and seeing a doubter before he arrives. He is the way between heaven and earth.
Good News
Nathanael didn't think anything good could come from Nazareth. But Jesus already knew him, and welcomed him.
"Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree" (1:48).
Jesus sees you too, before you come to him. He knows your doubts. He still says, "Come and see."
Jesus finds people and calls them to follow him. He knows you, and he welcomes you.
Big Idea
Jesus finds people, calls them to follow him, and says, "Come and see." He is the way between heaven and earth.
If this story brings up big feelings, talk with someone you trust, like a parent, pastor, or counselor.
For leaders and parentsLuther, church readings, and notes for teaching.
From Luther
In the Small Catechism, Luther explains the Third Article of the Creed. He teaches that we cannot come to Jesus by our own understanding or strength. The Holy Spirit calls us through the gospel. In this story, people come to Jesus because someone tells them, and because Jesus finds them first.
In Church
Many churches follow the Revised Common Lectionary. On the Second Sunday after the Epiphany, it reads John 1:29-42 in Year A, and John 1:43-51 in Year B.
We quote Luther for what he got right about grace. He also wrote terrible things about Jewish people. Read our note on that.
Memorize
How do I keep it?
One line from this story to learn by heart. Practice a little now. It will come back later so it sticks.
We have found the Messiah
How did that feel?
Using this at church
Read in church on
- Second Sunday after the Epiphany Year AGospel, John 1:29–42
- Second Sunday after the Epiphany Year BGospel, John 1:43–51
For a newsletter or sermon notes
The First Disciples, explained in plain words. Jesus asks, "What do you want?" A doubter finds out Jesus already knows him. About 11 minutes. https://freescripture.org/stories/the-first-disciples/
Lines for the next eight Sundays, on Digital Lutheran Church