Come and See the Son of Man

Read

John 1:43–51 (ESV)

43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and 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 anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there 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 the King of Israel!” 50 Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

Opening Prayer

Jesus’ public ministry is on the scene...

We’re seeing Jesus building His Church.

We’re seeing the effects of an encounter with Jesus.

So, now we’re told the next day...

Jesus Found Philip

John 1:43–44 (ESV)

43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.

So, it seems from the context that can deduce that Andrew & Peter know Philip.

All three were from Bethsaida...

Which was a fishing village.

We cannot be sure, but it’s quite possible that in addition to them being fisherman...

All three were disciples of John the Baptist.

We don’t know details around Jesus finding Philip.

It’s perfectly normal to think that Andrew & Peter told Jesus about Philip.

About his dedication to the Scriptures.

Maybe even that he, also, was a follower of the Baptist.

But, either way, Jesus found Philip and challenged him with a command...

Follow me.

This is a present active verb that is an imperative/command...

And because of this it is like saying...

Start following Me, and keep following me as a habit of life.

Philip’s response to Jesus’ challenge was to drop what he was doing...

Submit to the leadership of Jesus...

And, follow Him.

Applicational Thoughts

Two things:

We don’t know much about Philip.

Not much is said about him.

John’s gospel has the most about him and it isn’t very much.

He didn’t think they had enough money or resources to feed the crowd.

He wanted Jesus to show them the Father, and that would be enough.

Some of the Apostles seemed to have great ability.

Philip comes off as ordinary & practical.

There’s not a lot of history about Philip.

Some traditions of Philip the Apostle are thought to be confused with Philip the Evangelist.

But there’s one thing written about him in history that is the only thing that ultimately matters.

Philip was a follower of Jesus Christ.

The Lord Jesus Christ saved Philip.

Let me say this, especially in the light of our culture.

Our culture feasts upon being celebrated.

Our culture sets us up to think you’re nothing if you’re not noticed, written about, and do things that draw attention to your self.

But, Philip is a prime example of someone ordinary.

He doesn’t stand out in his crowd of peers.

He doesn’t make the list of most likely to be admired as an Apostle.

He doesn’t make the highlight reel of Apostolic accomplishments.

But, he is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

What is on your list of things to celebrate?

What are you seeking to be known for?

What do you want people to remember you for?

Hopefully, at the top of the list, and undergirding everything else, is that your name is in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

Let our prayer be that our actions, reactions, pursuits, words, relationships point to the fact that our names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life...

And, that truth is because of the life giving, sin atoning, righteousness imputing, redeeming work of the Lamb of God.

We don’t know what Philip was doing when Jesus found him.

We don’t know exactly where he was.

But, we know what he does after an encounter with Christ.

John 1:45 (ESV)

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.”

Here we get some insight into the concerns of the disciples...

What would Nathanael want to hear?

Who had they conversed about?

Philip has an encounter with Jesus...

And, he like the previous disciples want those whom he knows to have an encounter with Christ, as well.

Philip says to Nathanael...

We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.

Specifically speaking about what Moses says in...

Deuteronomy 18:15 (ESV)

15 “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen—

Moses all the way back in Deuteronomy foretells of One coming who should be heard above all.

But, not just Moses...

And, this is the One that not just Moses spoke about...

But all the prophets.

This was the Prophet, the Anointed One, the Messiah.

Philip adds Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.

Very likely, since the baptism of Jesus...

The word had spread about who the Baptist was actually calling the Lamb of God, the Messiah.

Maybe word had spread about the heavens opening up and the Spirit of God descending upon Jesus of Nazareth.

Maybe Nathanael had heard these whisperings and was as skeptical as one could be...

His response to Philip about Jesus being from Nazareth is filled with skepticism...

And, Philip names Jesus as if it is something Nathanael could have been familiar with...

Nonetheless, not much was thought of Nazareth at this time, for sure...

It was a very obscure town that sat on a ridge about 1640 feet above sea level.

It is estimated that in the time of Jesus, Nazareth held a population of a few hundred people.

The ascent to Nazareth was very steep and the terrain difficult...

That mixed with it’s small population would have made it less than attractive for anyone outside it’s own inhabitants.

It seems that it enjoyed no notability and therefore little esteem in the days of Jesus.

John 1:46 (ESV)

46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”

IOW, how could any one of significance come from such an insignificant place.

Rather than argue with Nathanael as his skepticism leads one to believe Nathanael would have argued...

Philip says, “Come and see.”

This was a Rabbinic saying that meant...

There is a solution to our problem and it should be sought together.

Philip is telling Nathanael...

We have found the solution to our problem, come with me and we will go to the Solution together.

The solution is Jesus.

Applicational Thoughts

Anyone have a problem right now?

Let me tell you how the real solution is Jesus.

We tackle problems two ways:

We find a way to get rid of the problem.

We find a way to tolerate the problem with it still lingering.

Both of those solutions fall desperately short of joy.

Here’s how:

If you found a way to get rid of the problem, wait a short while and the next problem will appear.

If the problem didn’t go away then you’re level of joy has been diminished.

Either way, you either have your next problem which at least lowers your level of joy temporarily or with each problem your joy gets lower and lower.

And, if the problem didn’t go away your joy lessened and is most likely continuing to diminish as the problem lingers or worsens.

So, how is Jesus a solution to both of those problems?

As Christians, what we are trying to grow in...

Is our awareness that whether we have problems or not...

Our joy is rooted in:

the presence of Jesus in our life

the redemption that we have in Him

the future that awaits us because of Him

His love for us and comfort to us in/through our daily problems

And, learning to let Christ be our source of joy...

And not a problem free or problem filled life be the source or lack of joy in our life.

This is what Jesus did when problems arose.

He went to His Father with His cares.

He entrusted Himself to His Father.

He found His joy in His communion with His Father.

He found His solace in doing the work of the Father no matter the response of the people around Him.

And, as Christians we are learning to relate to our problems in a different way.

Our circumstances are not the source of our joy, nor should they be the reason our joy lessens.

If they are then we are looking to circumstances to be our Savior...

When in reality only Christ is and can fulfill that role.

Like Philip said to Nathanael...

We have a problem, and we have found the solution, and His name is Jesus.

This is a calling and a purpose of the church.

We look around and say to one another...

We have a problem, and we have a solution, His name is Jesus. Let’s work with one another to keep our eyes fixed upon Him.

Back to the passage, Nathanael is either convinced enough to investigate...

Or he thinks his friend Philip needs rescuing from a false trail.

Either way, he heads out with Philip to see Jesus of Nazareth.

And we are given another encounter with Jesus.

John 1:47–48 (ESV)

47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!”

Jesus’ comment about Nathanael being an Israelite with no deceit is saying something about the character and quality of the person of Nathanael.

Additionally, and in light of the OT story that Jesus points to in v.51-52...

We’re allowed to see that this word deceit is the same word used in describing Jacob when he deceived Isaac into giving him Esau’s blessing.

This was before Jacob received a dream that began the transformation of his character...

In which God revealed to Jacob that the covenant blessings to his grandfather Abraham were his...

And, the One who would bless the nations would come from his lineage.

Later, Jacob’s name was changed by God from Jacob (deceiver) to Israel.

Jesus is saying about Nathanael, there’s no Jacob in this Israelite.

Nathanael responds to this comment made by Jesus with...

48 Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?”

Nathanael doesn’t say it’s not true...

It seems that Jesus’ remark has hit the mark...

And, Nathanael wants to know how Jesus knows anything about him.

How would Jesus know this about his character?

Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”

The fig tree, because if it’s shade, was associated as a place for meditation and prayer.

Quite possibly, at some point previous to Philip finding Nathanael and bring ing him back to Jesus...

Nathanael was under a fig tree, quite possibly meditating on Scripture and praying.

But, the main point of what John is telling is the supernatural knowledge of Jesus.

In a way that no one could have known, Jesus knew about Philip’s activity.

It has been conjectured that Philip was reading this OT passage about Jacob’s dream...

We can’t know for sure...

I do wonder if Nathanael was praying about the whisperings that the Messiah was among them...

The words of John the Baptist preaching that the Christ had arrived...

And, that their hearts needed to be prepared to receive Him as Savior and Redeemer...

That Nathanael was praying that God would reveal the Christ to him…that he wouldn’t miss Him.

And, Jesus is saying to Nathanael...

I heard your prayers and, yes, God is in this place...

Here I am!

It’s conjecturing and so we just aren’t told for sure what is taking place between Jesus and Nathanael...

But, what is easy to see is that the weight of what Jesus says to Nathanael about his character...

And, the fact that Jesus knew that he was under a fig tree...

Had such significance that it changed this skeptic who had just belittled this Jesus of Nazareth...

To exclaiming that Jesus is:

the Son of God

and

the King of Israel

Not a son or a king…

But the as in only, true Son and King.

This truly pointing back to not only Jesus being the Prophet and Messiah of Andrew and Philip’s exclamation...

But, Nathanael is saying Jesus is the fulfillment of Psalm 2.

He is the King set on the holy hill of Zion.

The Son of God made King of an eternal Kingdom...

That will have citizens from every nation, tribe, and tongue.

Jesus responds...

John 1:50 (ESV)

50 Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.”

It’s like Jesus is saying you’re making such a change of heart based on supernatural knowledge...

You will see more than supernatural knowledge...

You will see the greatness of the Christ...

And, as we will see the journey through the gospels are going to unfold great and marvelous things.

John 1:51 (ESV)

51 And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

Jesus is Doing a Few of Things Here

#1 – He’s changed from v.51, speaking to Nathanael...

Singular pronoun “you” to a plural pronoun “you”...

He’s now addressing all the disciples who are with Him.

#2 – He’s informing His disciples know that He is the ladder in Jacob’s dream.

He’s letting them know that He is the connection between Heaven and Earth.

The unveiling of heaven is here.

God come down, became flesh, dwelling among you.

All the goodness of God towards mankind through the Christ.

The only way to the Father is through Him.

If you want to enter heaven, the only way is Jesus.

#3 – Jesus is not denying the titles named by Nathanael...

But, He is giving them a title that tells of His suffering.

Son of Man (there’s more to say about this title, but…)

This speaks of His humanity.

His humanity is so that He can represent and die for those whom He will represent in the court room of God.

Take Away

Christ came to seek and to save.

And, we see Him, here in this passage, building His church.

A blessing of Christ’s work is being brought into a new covenant.

A covenant that is unconditional.

Christ bore the curses, so that we would only enjoy the blessings.

Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Closing Prayer