Disciples Make Disciples

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.”

Witness in Your Community

(43-44) Jesus, with tow men from Philip’s community at His side, seeks out and calls Philip to follow him.

Andrew and Peter’s witness was likely determinative in Philip’s acceptance of Jesus’ call.

(45-46) Philip seeks out Nathanael and witnesses to him.

The Witness

“We have found” the One about whom both the Law and the Prophets testify.

It was critical for the earliest disciples to see the continuity between the Messiah promised by Moses & the Prophets and Jesus.

What questions are critical to people you will witness to?

Philip clearly identifies for Nathanael this Messiah is Jesus of Nazareth, son of Joseph.

Who or what are you identifying other than Jesus as a source of hope? What are you persuading people to believe in?

The Response: Skepticism!

The Call: Come and see; investigate for yourself.

Nathanael, though he held some unfounded presuppositions, was willing to investigate and have his mind changed if his observations warranted revaluation.

Conversion Depends on Openness to Jesus’ Self-Revelation

Jesus calls Nathanael an Israelite in whom there is no Jacob.

Jesus confirms for Nathanael His supernatural knowledge.

Nathanael affirms Jesus as Rabbi, Son of God, and King of Israel.

The latter two terms were loaded with misguided Messianic baggage.

Jesus’ self-revelation + Nathanael’s openness resulted in conversion. Jesus made Nathanael a convert, not Philip.

Jesus Promises Greater Revelation to Come for Those Who Choose to Follow Him

Jesus references Jacob’s dream at Bethel (Gen. 28) as the specific revelation Nathanael will see.

Jesus uses Son of Man to replace Jacob/Israel (not the ladder).

Son of Man was a term without the misguided Messianic baggage many other first-century terms of Messiah carried.

Jesus shapes the meaning of the term to combine the authority of the figure described in Daniel 7 with the Suffering Servant motif of Isaiah 42:1-53:12.

John uses the term with the themes of crucifixion, revelation, and eschatological authority.

John clearly communicates that Jesus understood there could be no glory without obedience; no glorification without the cross.

Following precedes revelation, not vice versa.

People Need to Know and Follow Jesus

Not a political party or ideology.

Not a social movement.

Not a religious system.