John 1:43-46 - Lesson #12

The first followers of Jesus had an understanding of what they had found. They didn't yet understand the full plan for Christ: "they will condemn Him to death, and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again" (Matthew 20:18-19), but they understood He was the one promised throughout scripture - and they couldn't keep the news to themselves.

John 1:43-46
"The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, 'Follow Me.' Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 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.' And Nathanael said to him, 'Can anything good come out of Nazareth?' Philip said to him, 'Come and see.'"

In the first few days of Jesus' ministry, we see four different people who begin to follow. Andrew came to Jesus after hearing John the Baptist proclaim He was the Lamb of God. Simon Peter was brought to Jesus by his brother. Philip began to follow after Jesus found him and made a direct call, and Nathanael was brought by a close friend. Notice the intentional lack of "formula" or method in coming to Christ. The focus is always on responding in faith to His call, never on the method of invitation.

We sometimes forget that Jesus has always been in God's plan. His coming was foretold in scripture and the Jewish people were anxiously awaiting His arrival. After Jesus was crucified and rose from the tomb, He met two men on the road to Emmaus and used scripture to explain who He was; "beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself" (Luke 24:27). This is why Philip told Nathanael that Jesus was the One written about in scripture.

But Nathanael knew the scripture and knew it said nothing about the promised one coming from Nazareth. The prophet Micah wrote about a king coming out of Bethlehem (Micah 5:2), but nothing was written about that contemptable town of Nazareth. Nathanael had formed a few preconceived ideas about Nazareth and its people - and these views formed an initial barrier in coming to Jesus. But rather than debate with his friend, Philip wisely replied "Come and see!"

Many people have formed barriers to Christ - prejudices and ideas which make it difficult to draw close to the Savior. But rather than debate with all the "correct" answers, it's best to live a consistent life of faith, fully experience His love and then lovingly encourage a commitment to "taste and see that the Lord is good" (Psalm 34:8). Let's fully experience His love by surrendering each and every moment into His hands; and let's encourage others, by all possible means, to take the step - to come, taste, and see - and receive all He desires to give.