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In the Word
by Chuck Livermore
Philip and Nathanael
Date Posted: March 31, 2009
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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."
Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed,
in whom is no deceit!" Nathanael said to Him, "How doYou know me?" Jesus answered
and said to him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."
Nathanael answered and said to Him, "Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King
of Israel!" Jesus answered and said to him, "Because I said to you, 'I saw you under the
fig tree,' do you believe? You will see greater things than these." And He said to him,
"Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God
ascending and descending upon the Son of Man." John 1: 43-51 NKJV
When Philip continued the witnessing chain, he sought to bring Nathanael to Jesus. But
Nathanael derided the idea. He tells Philip that this is not what he expected. Messiahs
didn't come from places like Nazareth in Nathanael's mind. But Philip didn't have to
defend Jesus. He simply told him to, "Come and see." Philip knew something that we
often don't acknowledge. Jesus doesn't need humans to defend Him. Philip knew if
Nathanael would come to Jesus, he wouldn't need to be convinced. He could see Jesus
for himself.
Sometimes, our attempts to bring others to Jesus will be met with derision. "My marriage
has just fallen apart, how can Jesus do anything about that?" Or we may hear, "My little
girl is dying of leukemia. Jesus can't help me feel good about that!" We may be tempted to
debate the issue with them. But all we really have to say is, "Come and see."
"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."
Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed,
in whom is no deceit!" Nathanael said to Him, "How doYou know me?" Jesus answered
and said to him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."
Nathanael answered and said to Him, "Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King
of Israel!" Jesus answered and said to him, "Because I said to you, 'I saw you under the
fig tree,' do you believe? You will see greater things than these." And He said to him,
"Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God
ascending and descending upon the Son of Man." John 1: 43-51 NKJV
When Philip continued the witnessing chain, he sought to bring Nathanael to Jesus. But
Nathanael derided the idea. He tells Philip that this is not what he expected. Messiahs
didn't come from places like Nazareth in Nathanael's mind. But Philip didn't have to
defend Jesus. He simply told him to, "Come and see." Philip knew something that we
often don't acknowledge. Jesus doesn't need humans to defend Him. Philip knew if
Nathanael would come to Jesus, he wouldn't need to be convinced. He could see Jesus
for himself.
Sometimes, our attempts to bring others to Jesus will be met with derision. "My marriage
has just fallen apart, how can Jesus do anything about that?" Or we may hear, "My little
girl is dying of leukemia. Jesus can't help me feel good about that!" We may be tempted to
debate the issue with them. But all we really have to say is, "Come and see."
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Chuck Livermore's knowledge of the word is the result of a lifetime of study and reading. He is part of Galilee South Community Church, a multi-ethnic congregation in South Denver. He attended Wayland Baptist University and has participated in world evangelism through research of unreached peoples.
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