Commentary on the Gospel of John

                                     Chapter One

                                                                                                                                       Verses 30-36

John the Baptist testified that Jesus "was before me," which combined with that which John said in verse 34 can only mean that John bore record that Jesus is the eternal Son of God.

John reaffirmed that he baptized with water to witness to the fact that the coming Christ would baptize with the Holy Ghost. John recognized Jesus as the coming Savior when he saw the Spirit of God descend like a dove and remain on Jesus after John had baptized Him.

The next day John witnessed to two of his disciples that Jesus is the Lamb of God.

                                                                                                                                    Verses 37-42

These two disciples of John turned to follow Jesus which meant they believed that Jesus was the Savior. Jesus allowed them to come to Him and stay with Him which meant that He accepted them as His believers. Jesus does the same with all believers saved by His grace. One of the two disciples named Andrew went and found his brother, Simon Peter, and witnessed to him that they had found the Savior, and he brought Simon to Jesus. This was the first time that someone came to Jesus by means of a personal witness. John the Baptist's witness of Jesus came by direct revelation from God to be recorded in scripture which made it a witness to the world.

When Jesus saw Simon Peter, He immediately gave him the nickname Cephas which means "a stone." Jesus prophesied that Simon Peter would be the first living human to make a public profession of faith in Christ as his Savior. In order for a believer to become an official member of the universal Church of Christ, that believer must witness to his faith by public confession and water baptism that he believes that Jesus is the Son of God and that believer's personal Savior. John 6:67-69. Many believers saved by grace never even have an opportunity to join a local church. For this reason, believers who are members of a local church should strictly obey the command of Christ in Matthew 28:18-20. Only members of the Church of Christ will be His Bride. Revelation 19:7-9.

Jesus told Peter when he confessed his faith that he had become the first "stone;" that is, the first member of His Church, Jesus Himself being the chief cornerstone. Matthew 16:17-18. Peter himself wrote that Christ's Church is like "lively stones" built upon the "chief cornerstone." I Peter 2:3-8.