Single lesson
Andrew, Peter, Philip and Nathanael Meet Jesus
John 1:35–51
In this lesson, children trace how several people first met Jesus in John 1:35–51. They will sequence the account, notice each person’s response, and talk about what the passage shows about Jesus and those who came to him.
Before you teach
In these verses, John is standing with two of his disciples and points to Jesus, saying, “Behold, the Lamb of God.” The two disciples follow Jesus. Andrew then brings Simon to Jesus. On the next day Jesus tells Philip, “Follow me,” and Philip brings Nathanael to meet him.
Students will be able to retell the order of John 1:35–51 and name at least two choices people made when they heard about Jesus.
Welcome: Who says, “Come and see”?
4 minWelcome children and explain that today’s story moves from one person to another. Ask them to listen for who points to Jesus, who follows Jesus, who brings a brother, who says “Follow me”, and who says, “Come and see.” Introduce two important words from the passage: “Rabbi” means Teacher, and “Messiah” means Christ.
John 1:36, John 1:38, John 1:41, John 1:43, John 1:46
Read and explain: From John to Andrew and Simon
8 minRead John 1:35–42 aloud. Point out the order carefully. John says, “Behold, the Lamb of God,” and two disciples follow Jesus. Jesus asks, “What are you looking for?” and invites them, “Come and see.” Andrew then finds Simon and brings him to Jesus. Jesus gives Simon the name Cephas, interpreted as Peter.
John 1:35, John 1:36, John 1:37, John 1:38, John 1:39, John 1:40, John 1:41, John 1:42
Discuss: Philip and Nathanael
6 minRead John 1:43–46. Show that Jesus says, “Follow me” to Philip. Then Philip finds Nathanael and tells him they have found the one written about by Moses and the prophets. Nathanael questions Nazareth, but Philip does not argue for long. He simply says, “Come and see.” Discuss how this invitation matches Jesus’ earlier words.
John 1:43, John 1:45, John 1:46, John 1:39
Make and respond: Sequence cards
8 minChildren make simple sequence cards for the main steps: John points to Jesus, two disciples follow, Andrew brings Simon, Jesus calls Philip, Philip brings Nathanael, Nathanael speaks with Jesus. As they arrange the cards, ask what each person chose to do after hearing about Jesus. Keep answers tied to the words and actions in the passage.
John 1:36, John 1:37, John 1:41, John 1:42, John 1:43, John 1:45, John 1:46
Closing: What does this passage show?
4 minRead John 1:47–51 again. Explain that Jesus knows Nathanael before Nathanael speaks much to him, and Nathanael responds by calling Jesus “the Son of God” and “King of Israel”. Finish by reviewing the sequence and asking children to say one true thing this passage teaches about Jesus and one response people made to him.
John 1:47, John 1:48, John 1:49, John 1:50, John 1:51
Questions to explore
What happened after John said, “Behold, the Lamb of God”?
Look closely at the next step in the passage and notice what the two disciples chose to do when they heard John’s words.
John 1:36, John 1:37
How did Andrew respond after staying with Jesus?
Find the verse that tells whom Andrew looked for first and what message he gave to his brother Simon.
John 1:39, John 1:41, John 1:42
What changed Nathanael’s response to Jesus?
Compare Nathanael’s question about Nazareth with what happened when Jesus spoke about seeing him under the fig tree.
John 1:46, John 1:48, John 1:49
Make, think or respond
Story Sequence Cards
What you’ll need
- Plain paper or card
- Pencils or textas
- Scissors
- Bible
Try it together
- Write or draw six moments from the passage on separate cards.
- Read the passage again and work together to place the cards in order.
- Ask children to match a character to each card and say that person’s choice or words.
- Invite children to retell the story from the ordered cards in their own words.
This activity helps children follow the order of John 1:35–51 and notice how each person responded to Jesus or invited someone else to come to him.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, prepare the six card titles in advance and let them add simple drawings before ordering them.
- For older or confident readers, ask them to add a short Bible phrase to each card, such as “Come and see” or “Follow me”.
An optional closing prayer
You may pray: “Lord Jesus, thank you for this passage. Please help us listen carefully to what it says about you, and help us respond truthfully and gladly.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
John 1
35 Again, the next day, John was standing with two of his disciples,
36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!”
37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
38 Jesus turned and saw them following, and said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which is to say, being interpreted, Teacher), “where are you staying?”
39 He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about the tenth hour.
40 One of the two who heard John and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.
41 He first found his own brother, Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah!” (which is, being interpreted, Christ).
42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” (which is by interpretation, Peter).
43 On the next day, he was determined to go out into Galilee, and he found Philip. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.”
44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.
45 Philip found Nathanael, and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets, wrote: Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
46 Nathanael said to him, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”
47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said about him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!”
48 Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”
49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are King of Israel!”
50 Jesus answered him, “Because I told you, ‘I saw you underneath the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these!”
51 He said to him, “Most certainly, I tell you all, hereafter you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.
Source passages
Something to make together
These activities connect with the passage. Choose one that suits your group and the time you have.
