Come and See: Jesus Calls His First Disciples
(John 1:35-51)
The next day, John the Baptist was standing with two of his disciples, the people who followed him and learned from him. When Jesus walked by, John looked at Him and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God!" The two disciples heard John say this, and they followed Jesus.
Jesus turned around and saw the two men following Him. "What are you seeking?" He asked. They said, "Rabbi, where are you staying?" Rabbi means Teacher. Jesus answered, "Come and you will see." So they went and saw where He was staying, and they stayed with Him that day.
One of those two men was Andrew. The first thing Andrew did was find his own brother, Simon. "We have found the Messiah," Andrew told him. Messiah means Christ, God's promised King. Andrew brought Simon to Jesus. Jesus looked at Simon and said, "You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas." That new name means Peter. Say "Peter" slowly, because this will become a very famous name.
The next day, Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found a man named Philip and said, "Follow me." Philip was from Bethsaida, the same town as Andrew and Peter. Philip went and found his friend Nathanael. "We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote," Philip said, "Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." The Law and the prophets are the Old Testament, the part of the Bible written before Jesus came.
Nathanael said, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip answered with the same invitation Jesus had given: "Come and see." Say those three words slowly.
So Nathanael came. When Jesus saw him coming, He said, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit." Deceit means lying or tricking, so Jesus was saying Nathanael was honest. Nathanael asked, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." Nathanael said, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel."
Jesus said to him, "Because I said to you, 'I saw you under the fig tree,' do you believe? You will see greater things than these." And He said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man." Son of Man is a name Jesus often used for Himself.
A Curious Question
Why do you think Jesus told Nathanael he would see angels going up and down on the Son of Man, instead of just telling him who He was?
Old Testament Connection
When Jesus talked about angels going up and down, Nathanael would have thought of Genesis 28:10-17. There Jacob dreamed of a ladder set on the earth with its top in heaven, and the angels of God were going up and down on it. The Lord stood above it and made promises to Jacob. Jesus told Nathanael he would see "heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man." Jacob saw a ladder. Nathanael was looking at the one who joins heaven and earth. Jesus is where God and people meet.
Discussion Questions
- John the Baptist pointed his own followers to Jesus. Why do you think he did that?
- Nathanael was surprised that Jesus had seen him under the fig tree. What did that show Nathanael about Jesus?
- Philip said, "Come and see." Why is that a good way to invite a friend to meet Jesus?
So What? What Can I Do?
- When you learn something true about Jesus, tell a friend or family member this week, the way Andrew told Simon.
- If a friend has doubts about Jesus, do not argue. Say, "Come and see," and invite them to church or to read a Gospel with you.
- Each night this week, thank Jesus that He sees you and knows you, even when no one else is watching.
- Read Genesis 28:10-17 with a parent and thank God for keeping His promises.
Memorize God's Word
John 1:41: "We have found the Messiah" (which means Christ).
- We have found cup your hand around your eyes like you are searching, then open both hands as if you found something.
- the Messiah point up to heaven with one finger, then point to your heart to show He is the promised Savior.
Praying with Kids
Dear Father, thank You for sending Jesus, the Lamb of God and the promised Savior. Help us follow Him like Andrew, Philip, and Nathanael did. Open our eyes to see who Jesus really is, and give us courage to invite others to come and see. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Craft or Activity
Come and See Binoculars
Kids make simple binoculars from cardboard tubes to remind them to "come and see" who Jesus is, just as Philip invited Nathanael.
Materials Checklist:
- Decorate the tubes: Give each child two cardboard tubes and let them decorate the tubes with markers and stickers.
- Join them: Tape the two tubes side by side so they look like binoculars.
- Add a strap: Use the hole punch to make a hole near the top of each tube, then tie a piece of yarn through the holes to make a strap.
- Write the words: Write "Come and see" on one tube and "John 1:41" on the other tube.
- Practice inviting: Let kids look through their binoculars and practice telling a friend, "Come and see who Jesus is."
Effective Teaching Techniques
- For Younger Children: Act out the story with simple motions. Have kids cup their hands around their eyes when Philip says, "Come and see."
- Prep Shortcut: Pre-cut the yarn and pre-tape the tubes for younger classes so the craft stays short and simple.
- Classroom Management: Let kids take turns being Andrew, Philip, and Nathanael. Give clear boundaries for the "fig tree" corner so everyone stays calm.
- For Older Kids: Read Genesis 28:10-17 together and let them draw Jacob's ladder beside a picture of Jesus to show how the Old Testament points to Him.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What happened when Jesus said, "Come and you will see"?
- Two men had asked where Jesus was staying. Jesus invited them to come, so they went, saw where He was staying, and stayed with Him that day.
- Why did Jesus give Simon a new name?
- Jesus looked at Simon and said, "You shall be called Cephas," which means Peter. The Bible does not say more about it in this passage.
- How did Jesus know Nathanael under the fig tree?
- The Bible does not say how. Jesus told Nathanael, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." That is why Nathanael said Jesus is the Son of God and the King of Israel.