John Series Part 9 Series

(1:50–51) Introduction: Jesus bore witness to Himself. He clearly declared who He is.

1. The response of Jesus to Nathanael (see vv.46–49).

2. Jesus is the revelation of God: the One who reveals greater things (v.50).

3. Jesus is the mediator: the One who opens the doors of heaven (v.51).

4. Jesus is the Son of Man: the pattern, the perfect representative of man (v.51).

1 (1:50) Nathanael: Nathanael’s experience with Jesus (vv.46–49) was the background for what Jesus said in this passage.

2 (1:50) Jesus Christ, Revelation of God: Jesus Christ is the revelation of God, the One who reveals greater things. Note two points.

a. It was belief in Jesus that brought “greater things” into Nathanael’s life. Nathanael believed Jesus; therefore, he could expect to receive greater things, to receive more and more from God.

“Verily, I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you” (Mt. 17:20).

“Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth” (Mk. 9:23).

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (Jn. 10:10).

“O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!” (Ro. 11:33).

“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him” (1 Co. 2:9).

“That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God” (Ep. 3:17–19).

b. It is Jesus Himself who is the revelation of God; therefore, it is Jesus who reveals the “greater things” of life. (See note—Jn. 14:6 for more discussion.)

1) Jesus Christ is the embodiment of revelation.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God” (Jn. 1:1–2).

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (Jn. 14:6).

“For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily” (Col. 2:9).

2) Jesus Christ is the communicator of revelation.

“In him was life; and the life was the light of men” (Jn. 1:4; cp. Jn. 1:1–3).

“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (Jn. 1:14).

“Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works” (Jn. 14:9–10).

3) Jesus Christ is the liberator of revelation.

“If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (Jn. 8:31–32).

“I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (Jn. 10:10).

3 (1:51) Jesus Christ, Mediator: Jesus Christ is the mediator between God and man. This is seen in the picture Jesus painted by the words, “Ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man” (v.51).

This is a picture of Jacob’s ladder (Ge. 28:10–22). It is a picture of open access into the very presence of God: the door of heaven is open and the angels are ascending from earth to heaven. Jesus was saying …

• He is Jacob’s ladder; the ladder is a symbol of Him. He is the One who opens heaven.

• He is the One who reaches from earth to heaven, the One by whom man has his communication carried up into heaven.

Thought 1. Three critical facts should be noted.

(1) A man can approach God and enter heaven through Christ (Jn. 14:6). The gulf, the loneliness, and the alienation which man knows have been bridged.

(2) A man has access to God only through Christ (Jn. 14:6).