John 1:37 Commentary and Bible Study

Here are these two disciples; they are obviously pious Jews. There are so many children of Israel in the New Testament who are not earnest believers. They worship according to the Jewish ceremonies, and think they are servants and followers of God, but they feel no need of a Messiah, a sin-bearer, a Saviour from sin. They do not understand the meaning of the types and the shadows, and are not looking for Messiah or expecting him. But some are, and among them are these disciples. They do believe that the types and the shadows, the sacrifices of the Old Testament point to one who is to come, who is going to fulfil all those ceremonies, and somehow take away sin. So when they hear, ‘Look! The Lamb of God’, they are astonished. This is far greater than somebody who sees some great celebrity in the street. This is the Lamb of God, the one prophesised and depicted in the types and shadows of ceremonies, the hope of Israel. Yes, but, think Andrew and John, he is not very regal. He is an ordinary man, clothed in relatively poor garments. They have had their heads filled with ideas that the Jewish clergy were teaching at that time: that he will be a national Messiah, a political Messiah, a deliverer from the Romans. But here he is without an entourage, without bodyguard, without officers of state. He is by himself and he is a Galilean. They have got their doubts. How could he be the Messiah?