Week 3: John the Baptist and the Start of Jesus' Ministry (John 1:19–2:11)

John 1:19–2:11

This introductory section of John’s Gospel gives the account of the first week of Jesus’ ministry. Jesus is declared to be “the Lamb of God” by John the Baptist; is followed by his first disciples; and performs his first sign, turning water into wine at the wedding at Cana. The first half of John’s Gospel (1:19–12:50) highlights Jesus’ messianic1 identity through the many signs2 that he performs.

John 1:19–2:11 shows us that Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away sins, calls disciples, and performs miraculous signs.

This section of John contains three significant events in the early ministry of Jesus. Read John 1:19–2:11 and consider the following questions. (For further background, see the ESV Study Bible, pages 2020–2023; also available online at www.esvbible.org.)

1. The Testimony of John the Baptist (1:19–34)

The Pharisees3 sent messengers to John to ask him one question: “Who are you?” (v. 19). Who are the three people John denies being, and how does John answer the Pharisees’ question in verse 23?

In verse 23 John the Baptist identifies himself with the prophet Isaiah’s words. Read Isaiah 40:1–5. What is John the Baptist saying about who he is and who Jesus is?

In John 1:29 John the Baptist declares who Jesus is and what Jesus does. Read Exodus 12:1–14. What connections do you see between this description of Jesus and the grace God showed his people in instituting the Passover ritual? What does John 1:29 say about what our broken world most needs?

How would you explain the difference between the baptism4 performed by John and the baptizing Jesus came to do?

2. Jesus Calls the First Disciples (1:35–51)

What made the disciples5 of John the Baptist decide to follow Jesus? What do the events of John 1:35–37 teach us about John the Baptist’s ministry and about what all Christian ministry is ultimately meant to do?

After leaving John the Baptist to follow Jesus, Andrew exclaimed to his brother, Peter, “‘We have found the Messiah’ (which means Christ)” (John 1:41). The Old Testament repeatedly speaks about the coming Messiah, the coming king or “anointed one.” Isaiah 9:6–7 sums up many of these expectations. What does this Old Testament passage teach us to expect from the Messiah?

In John 1:35–51 Jesus calls his first five disciples. As these disciples get to know Jesus, they say different things about him. List these various declarations. What is the significance of each of these declarations, and how do they deepen our understanding of who Jesus is and what he came to accomplish?

In John 1:51 Jesus alludes to Genesis 28:12 and Jacob’s vision of a ladder between heaven and earth. Here Jesus reveals that he is the ladder that links heaven and earth. In today’s culture, what “ladders” do people try to build between heaven and earth, attempting to bypass Jesus as Savior?

3. Jesus Performs His First Sign (2:1–11)

Jesus’ first sign is turning water into wine, an act that saved a party from ending early. What do we learn about the ultimate purpose of what Jesus came to do, given that his first miracle kept a party going?

According to John 2:11, why did Jesus perform this first sign, and what was the effect of this sign?

Read through the following three sections on Gospel Glimpses, Whole-Bible Connections, and Theological Soundings. Then take time to reflect on the Personal Implications these sections may have for your walk with the Lord.

THE SIN REMOVER. John 1:29 summarizes who Jesus is and what Jesus does: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” Jesus takes away sin. In the Old Testament the people of God traveled to the temple and made sacrifices, following elaborate instructions, in order to ensure that their sins were taken away. These sacrifices all pointed forward to the day that an ultimate sacrifice would be made for sin. Now, with the arrival of Jesus, we don’t need to do anything to cover for our sins. Jesus covers for our sins. Jesus takes away the sin of the world. To have our sin totally taken away, all we must do is believe in him.

THE CALL OF DISCIPLESHIP. In John 1:35–51 Jesus summons five men to follow him, to be his disciples. Notice that Jesus initiates the relationship. And notice that Jesus doesn’t ask his disciples to meet certain qualifications. To enter into a relationship with Jesus, only one thing is required: faith. As the Gospel accounts all testify, Jesus’ original band of disciples didn’t have it all together—they routinely sinned, failed, and made a mess of things. Yet Jesus loved them. It was Jesus who first called them to follow him. This passage makes clear that the deciding factor in this relationship is Jesus and his grace, not us and our qualifications. In fact, the only way to have a relationship with Jesus is to know that you do not qualify!

A LADDER TO HEAVEN. Recalling events and imagery from Jacob’s dream (Genesis 28), Jesus tells his first disciples of the great things they will see from him: “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man” (John 1:51). Ever since man’s relationship with God was severed in the garden of Eden, we’ve been trying to bridge the gap between heaven and earth, trying to construct a ladder from earth to heaven. Here Jesus proclaims that no such ladder can be built—that we need a ladder that moves from heaven to earth, a ladder that only God can provide. Jesus states that he is this ladder; he has come from heaven to earth to be the ladder men and women need in order to enter back into a relationship with the God of heaven and earth. This ladder stands on grace, not works. In Jesus, God has moved toward us, providing access to heaven for sinners. Faith in Jesus takes us to the top of the ladder.

LAMB OF GOD. Jesus, by his perfectly righteous life, sacrificial death on the cross, and victorious resurrection from the grave, fulfills all the symbolism of the Passover lamb and other Old Testament sacrifices. As the apostle Paul states, “Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed” (1 Cor. 5:7). In the Old Testament, deliverance through the shed blood of an animal, most notably the Passover lamb, prefigured the coming of Jesus as the Lamb of God who once and for all obtained salvation for God’s people. John, the author of this Gospel, continues to speak of Jesus in this way in the final book of the Bible, Revelation, as he depicts Jesus as the apocalyptic warrior Lamb who brings final judgment to the world (Rev. 5:6–13; 7:17; 21:22–23; 22:1–3).

MIRACLES. Throughout Scripture, whenever God is up to something big and new, his work is accompanied by miracles. We see this most notably in God’s creation of the universe (Genesis 1–2), the exodus from Egypt (Exodus 1–12), and God’s reforming work through the prophets Elijah and Elisha (1 and 2 Kings). In John, immediately after calling his first disciples, Jesus performs a miracle (sign), turning water into wine. As John’s Gospel progresses, so do the miracles of Jesus—the miracles become more and more significant. Consistent with the story line of Scripture, the many miracles in Jesus’ ministry are a sign that a new epoch has arrived in God’s dealings with his people.

MESSIAH. Jesus’ identity as the long-awaited Messiah is clearly proclaimed in this section of John. Consider the diversity of declarations made about Jesus in this section. John the Baptist: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (1:29) and “I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God” (1:34). Andrew: “‘We have found the Messiah’ (which means Christ)” (1:41). Philip: “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph” (1:45). Nathanael: “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” (1:49). And Jesus himself reveals his messianic identity: “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man” (1:51).

HOLY SPIRIT. The third person of the Trinity shows up in this section of John, as John the Baptist testifies: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him [Jesus]” (1:32). Reminiscent of the presence and activity of the Spirit in the opening sentences of Genesis, here we see the Holy Spirit fill and remain upon Jesus. This was a messianic anointing, empowering him to begin his ministry of discipleship, miracles, teaching, and suffering. We see in the ministry of Jesus what we see throughout the Bible: the Holy Spirit is the one who empowers ministry.

Take time to reflect on the implications of John 1:19–2:11 for your own life today. Make notes below on the personal implications for your walk with the Lord of (1) the Gospel Glimpses, (2) the Whole-Bible Connections, (3) the Theological Soundings, and (4) this passage as a whole.

1. Gospel Glimpses

2. Whole-Bible Connections

3. Theological Soundings

4. John 1:19–2:11

Take a moment now to ask for the Lord’s blessing and help as you engage in this study of John. And take a moment also to look back through this unit of study, to reflect on a few key things that the Lord may be teaching you—and perhaps to highlight or underline these to review again in the future.

Definitions

1 Messiah – Transliteration of a Hebrew word meaning “anointed one,” the equivalent of the Greek word Christ. Originally applied to anyone specially designated for a particular role, such as king or priest. Jesus himself affirmed that he was the Messiah, sent from God (Matt. 16:16–17).

2 Signs – Miracles that attest to Jesus’ identity as Messiah and Son of God and lead unbelievers to faith.

3 Pharisee – A member of a popular religious/political party in NT times characterized by strict adherence to the law of Moses and also to extrabiblical Jewish traditions. The Pharisees were frequently criticized by Jesus for their legalistic and hypocritical practices. The apostle Paul was a zealous Pharisee prior to his conversion.

4 Baptism – Literally “to immerse” or “to wash.” Refers to the Christian practice of immersing a new believer in water as an outward sign of the inward reality of regeneration. This regeneration is the work of the Holy Spirit (see John 3:5, 8; Titus 3:5) and may be received only by grace through faith (see Eph. 2:8). Considerable disagreement exists as to method of baptism (e.g., pouring or sprinkling versus immersion) and who may be baptized (e.g., believers and their infant children versus believers only).

5 Disciple – Any person who submits to the teachings of another. In the NT, refers to those who submitted themselves to the teaching of Jesus, especially those who traveled with him during his earthly ministry.

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