Epiphany 2 (4)

John 1:43–51 (NIV84): 43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. 45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip. 47 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false.” 48 “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.” 49 Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.” 50 Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that.” 51 He then added, “I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

Have you ever been recruited? It is the dream of outstanding athletes in high school to be recruited by a major college to be a member of at least one of their major sports teams.

Locally you are aware of Rich Seubert from Rozellville who played high school for the Dons, college football for Western Illinois, and for the Giants in the NFL. The signs entering Rozellville remind us of this. A classmate of mine in college, Bill Zeitler, was not very athletic but his son, Kevin, sure is. Zeitler was born in Waukesha, Wisconsin. He attended Wisconsin Lutheran High School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and played for Wisconsin Lutheran Vikings high school football team. A three-year letterwinner in football, Zeitler was honored first-team all-conference, first-team all region and second-team all-area as a junior. In his senior year, he gathered first-team all-conference, conference lineman of the year, first-team all region, and first-team all-area honors.

Regarded as a three-star recruit by Rivals.com, Zeitler was ranked the No. 39 offensive guard prospect in his class.[1] Coincidentally, the No. 1 offensive guard in this class was Trevor Robinson, who would later play alongside Zeitler for the Cincinnati Bengals. Having numerous offers, Zeitler narrowed his decision down to Wisconsin and Michigan,[2] before eventually picking the Badgers.[3]

In both cases these men were recruited because of their athletic ability.

You may have not been recruited to play college sports or in the NFL, but you may have been recruited to play on a high school sports team, in the band, the glee club, or a cheer leader. We have all probably been asked to be a part of group in which we could use our unique talents and be part of an important organization. Since our congregation depends on the volunteer services of it members, you undoubtedly have been recruited to serve on an appropriate board, group, or committee.

If nothing else, our father recruited us to mow the lawn or our mother recruited us to baby sit.

Why these thoughts on recruitment? Well, our text recalls some of the recruiting that Jesus did at the beginning of his ministry. Here an explanation is in order. When you compare the early chapters of John with Matthew, Mark, and Luke; the latter are silent on the events in our text. Only John records the events in the first several chapters of John so we may not know that in the other Gospels accounts of the calling of the disciples, that was almost a year after Jesus knew them and they had spend some time off and on him. John alone records the initial recruiting of Andrew, Peter, Philip, and Nathanael. In Andrew’s case it was more of a case of volunteering and in Peter’s case it was Andrew who was doing the recruiting. The recruiting of Philip is quickly summarized. John 1:43 (NIV84): 43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”

What was Jesus asking Philip to do? He was recruiting him to be a student who would spend the majority of his time with Jesus, the Rabbi (Teacher) This was a common practice in Jewish religion even if it is not as common for us today. A teacher would gather together around himself a group of men whom he would indoctrinate with his teachings. Sometimes people would volunteer for the position. Sometimes they were referred. Sometimes they were chosen by the teacher.

Here we have a multi level brand of recruiting. Jesus would ask people to follow him as disciples. He would also ask them to believe in him as their Savior. The two were not always combined because even though Judas would follow Jesus as a disciples, he would not follow him as his Savior because John tells us that Judas did not believe and we understand that his unbelief led to him betraying Jesus.

Illustration: Sometimes I am asked why I decided to become a pastor. It is a good question. In part, it was because I was recruited by my pastor when I was only 13 years old. He must have noticed something about my respect for God’s word, faith in Jesus, and academic ability, etc. I remember at one point he suggested that I consider becoming a pastor. He did not push it but his gracious comment had a tremendous influence on me later deciding to attend Northwestern College in Watertown, WI. Unlike my bishop vicar year who said I would never make it as a pastor, I cherish his kind attempt to recruit me at such a young age.

One could ask, why did these men become disciples? Because Jesus had called them to follow him and they had responded with a “yes”. (Not everyone Jesus asked to follow him actually did.) We can debate why some said “yes” and others said “no” but we do know that Jesus had called them. Later, when Jesus was teaching them for one of the last times, he had this to say about his relationship with them.

John 15:15–17 (NIV84): 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 17 This is my command: Love each other.

John 6:68–71 (NIV): 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.” 70 Then Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!” 71 (He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him.)

Our Lord has also called us to follow him and led by the Holy Spirit we have responded with a “Yes”.

Ephesians 1:4–5 (NIV84): 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—

Verse by verse explanation.

Timeline

Jesus had been baptized by John the Baptist.

The next day John referred two disciples to Jesus. One was Andrew. Andrew in turn recruited Peter.

The next day is when Jesus recruited Philip. Then Philip recruited Nathanael. Already Philip confesses what he beleives about Jesus.

John 1:45 NIV84

45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

PHILIP THE APOSTLE (Φίλιππος, Philippos). One of Jesus’ twelve disciples and later an apostle (Matt 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:14; John 1:43; Acts 1:13).

Biblical Accounts

Although the Synoptic Gospels list Philip as one of Jesus’ twelve disciples, John is the only canonical Gospel in which Philip engages in a dialogue with Jesus and other disciples. In all three Synoptic Gospels and Acts, Philip is listed fifth among the Twelve (Matt 10:2–4; Mark 3:14–19; Luke 6:13–15; Acts 1:13). John does not include a list of the Twelve—despite mentioning them in John 6:67, 70–71; 20:24—but Philip is included among Jesus’ close disciples in his Gospel.

Philip plays a much larger role in the Gospel of John than in the Synoptic Gospels. Following his own call to follow Jesus, Philip is instrumental in the calling of Nathanael (John 1:43–51). In John 6:5–7, Jesus, perhaps in order to test Philip, asks him where they might obtain food to feed the multitude gathered to listen to Jesus near Bethsaida—Philip’s hometown (Morris, John, 303). In John 12:21–22, when some Greeks ask Philip for an audience with Jesus, Philip goes first to Andrew, who then notifies Jesus of the Greeks. (This may show a hierarchy among the disciples, suggesting that Andrew was over Philip.) These Greeks may have come to Philip because he and Andrew are the only members of the Twelve with Greek names (Morris, John, 525). In John 14:8–9, Philip asks Jesus to show the Father to him and the other disciples.

Nathanael isn’t too sure about Jesus. Nathanael was sort of a racist. A racist is someone who judges all members of an ethnic group because of the characteristics of that group. Nazareth apparently had a bad reputation so Nathanael questioned whether that village could produce anyone worth following: “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Rather than argue, Philip invited him to see for himself.

Jesus quickly and effectively convinced Nathanael that he was something good that came from Nazareth.

John 1:47–51 NIV84

47 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false.” 48 “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.” 49 Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.” 50 Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that.” 51 He then added, “I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

How does this apply to us? Well, our God has recruited us to follow Jesus. As Luther says, “The Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, strengthens and enlightens me with his gifts”. Our God has brought us into his kingdom through baptism. He uses the means of grace to strengthen our faith. Although there are those who abuse this either by taking no responsibility for their relationship with Jesus and their responsibility to him and other put too much emphasis on making the decision to follow Jesus, we do well to believe the Bible when it says that it is God who has chosen us to follow Jesus — to believe in him as the one whom Moses wrote about and about whom the prophets also wrote, the Son of God; the King of Israel.

This is not all the recruiting that Jesus does. He also recruits us to serve him with our time, talents, and treasures. This can be done in an organized way through the local congregation and/or can be done as we carry out our responsibilities as spouses, parents, children, employers, employees, volunteers, etc.

Jesus teaches this at the same time he reminded the disciples he had recruited them to follow him. He also chose them to bear fruit. One way we can interpret bearing fruit is that we are to live our lives for Jesus by serving in the ways he commands.

John 15:16–17 NIV84

16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 17 This is my command: Love each other.

Peter would later apply being recruited to serve in this way: 1 Peter 4:7–11 (NIV84)

7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Application: So when you see an opportunity to volunteer, or someone you know is recruiting you to serve, recognize the call of Jesus to recruit you to action and respond by willingly participating as you live for Jesus.

2 Corinthians 5:14–15 (NIV84)

14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

Roberts, R. D. (2016). Philip the Apostle. In J. D. Barry, D. Bomar, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, D. Mangum, C. Sinclair Wolcott, … W. Widder (Eds.), The Lexham Bible Dictionary. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.