Sermon Tone Analysis

The calling continues

Calling, pointing to the One who would come after, to identifying Him, to the calling of the disciples, the early disciples who would become Apostles.

Some quick reminders:

John Baptist called as forerunner (Jn1:6-8)

John Baptist called Jesus the Lamb of God (Jn1:29)

John Baptist called Jesus the Son of God (Jn1:32-34)

Jesus called Andrew and Peter to be followers (disciples) (Jn1:38-42)

Notice it was John the Baptist that testified and by his testimony men started to follow Jesus, our passage today will continue with the early disciples.

Gleaning from the scripture:

Who sought and found who (v.43)?

What were the instructions given (v.44)?

Where was Phillip from (v.44)?

What did Philip do (v.45)?

What evidence did Philip offer (v.45)?

Focus back on Philip again, what did Philip do in response to Nathanael’s doubt (v.46)?

What did Nathanael do in response to Philip’s request (v.47)?

What was the convincing fact for Nathanael to believe?

And, what did he believe (v.49)?

What did Jesus say was going to happen because of Nathaniel's belief (vv.50-51)?

So, now we have pulled facts from the scripture, now we will go and look at these two disciples, two friends to be added to the two brothers we looked at last week.

Philip

As you will see, Philip was a man of action, and questions too.

Let’s see what we can learn about the history, the call and the calling of Philip.

Background: He was from Bethsaida of Galilee (1:44, 12:21)

This is the same place that Andrew and Simon came from, who were fisherman.

So the chances are he too was a fisherman.

The call as a disciple: Jesus found Philip (vv.43-44)

Jesus sought Philip, called Philip, Philip trusted Him, believed Him.

Maybe should give the verses again to be safe

While he was from Bethsaida, the call came in Bethabara beyond the Jordan.

The calling as an apostle and some other facts: (Lk6:13-14, Jn6:5-7, 12:20-22, 14:8-11)

He was a disciple before he was an apostle the calling as an apostle is seen here

As an apostle he was questioned by Jesus at the feeding of the 5000

Jn6:5-7 “5 Therefore Jesus, lifting up His eyes and seeing that a large crowd was coming to Him, said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these may eat?” 6 This He was saying to test him, for He Himself knew what He was intending to do.

7 Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, for everyone to receive a little.””

As an Apostle was asked to show others to Jesus who wanted to see Him.

Jn12:20-22 “20 Now there were some Greeks among those who were going up to worship at the feast; 21 these then came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and began to ask him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip came and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip came and told Jesus.”

Yes, the disciple, the apostle who was with Jesus had questions check this out.

In the Apocrypha it states that he was from the tribe of Zebulun and that he spent the latter part of his life in Phrygia and it was there that he was crucified.

(Transition) wait, hold on, there is more to see and learn for application from Philip.

There is significance in actions and words of Philip.

He believed that Jesus was the Prophet, the one the Prophets wrote about (v.45).

He believed and acted on that belief (v.45)

He went and found Nathanael and shared his belief and invited him to come and see (v.46)

Philip is a good example of personal evangelism, a personal invitation to come and see! (expand for application purposes here)

(Transition) We have seen the invitation offered to Nathaniel, we know from the passage we read before that Nathaniel accepted the invitation, but now may we turn to the history, the call, the calling and some application from Nathanael.

Nathaniel

Nathaniel while opinionated was still open and honest (hence why no guile).

Let’s journey together and look at Nathaniel.

Background: He was from Cana of Galilee (Jn21:2)

Notice that he was with Peter and with Thomas the brother fishermen, so a good chance he was a fisherman too who became of fisher of man.

Background: Occupation, Fisherman (Jn21:1-3)

The call (1:46); the convincing (1:47-48); the conversion (1:49)

We know it was Philip who called Nathaniel, “come and see”

It was expressed that his belief was nothing good could come out of Nazareth.

In another place it is stated Jn7:41

So it was not uncommon belief that the Christ would come, just not from Galilee; and the reason given

Jn7:52 “52 They answered him, “You are not also from Galilee, are you?

Search, and see that no prophet arises out of Galilee.”” - there had been no others from this little insignificant place, they were expecting one to come from royal line, kingly line, to Jerusalem, not from outline area Galilee.

It was Jesus who did the convincing

Jesus said he was a man of no deceit, of complete integrity, why?

Because he was honest.

The convincing was from Jesus, how He say him before Philip called him.

- God saw you, and sent His Spirit to draw you even before you were called through the gospel message to Him.

That brought Nathanael to place of response!

Because of the response by Nathanael look what Jesus had to say to Him

Now a side note: the angels going up and down, this can be a reference back to Jacob’s dream Gen28:12 “12 He had a dream, and behold, a ladder was set on the earth with its top reaching to heaven; and behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.”

Can this be the an implication that Jesus is the ladder (Jn14:6)?

One more quick note: look at (v.51) again, you see Jesus calls Himself the Son of Man, he emphasizes his humility and humanity.

(Transition) from the history, to the call, to the calling, now you need to bear with me.

The calling (Mt10:3; Lk6:14)

Nathanael may have been Bartholomew, one of the apostles.

You can see the tie with Philip here in the apostolic list.

In the synoptic gospels they never mention Nathanael, and John never mentions Bartholomew.

- many historians, commentators draw the conclusion that this is the same person.

It was common to have two name is the culture at that time.

Some commentators believe that it was Nathaniel/Bartholomew who was the bridegroom in Cana, which we will get to, Lord willing next week.

(source ISBE; Fausett’s Bible Dictionary)

The call, the calling of Nathanael reveals more about Jesus than about Nathanael himself.

(transition to conclusion)

(Insert - come and see picture here)

The first disciples offered their testimony

We have found the Messiah (Jn1:41)

Come and see (Jn1:46)

He is the Son of God (Jn1:49)

So, continue to have faith, belief, grow your faith and share you faith fulfilling the Great Commission.

May we be prepared to share the hope that is in us, JESUS.

(Prayer) (Exit)