Jesus calls Philip and Nathanael

The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. 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.” 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 there is no deceit!” 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.” Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” 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.” 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 calls Philip (vs 43-44)

Galilee. Most of Jesus’ inner circle of disciples were Galilean.

He found Philip.

• In last week’s study (vs 35-42) we saw that Andrew sought out Jesus, and after spending time with him, he went to get his brother and introduced him to Jesus. But here Jesus takes the initiative and seeks out Philip.
• Philip is a Greek name, which may indicate that he spoke Greek. Not everyone in Judea and Galilee would have spoken Greek.
• Philip is much more prominent in the Gospel of John than in the other gospels (John 6:5-7, John 12:20-22, John 14:8-9). Notice that he introduced the Greek-speaking seekers to Jesus.
• Although Matthew, Mark and Luke don’t include these references to Philip, all the gospel writers include him in the inner circle of followers from whom Jesus named twelve apostles (Mark 3:13-19, Matthew 10:1-4, Acts 1:12-14 – written by Luke) .

Philip seeks out Nathanael (vs 45-46)

Philip found Nathanael

• His name means “God has given” or “Gift of God”
• He isn’t named as one of the apostles in Matthew, Mark, Luke or Acts, but is listed again as a disciple in John 21:2
• This could mean that although he was a close follower of Jesus (a “disciple”), he was not among the apostles. Not all disciples were apostles. See Acts 1:15-23.
• Another possibility is that he is identified with Bartholomew (which is probably a last name – bar tolmai, i.e. “Son of Tolmai”). Quite likely John was identifying him by his given name, which – as part of Jesus’ inner circle – John would have known. Bartholomew is listed directly after Philip in the lists of apostles in Matthew and Mark.

We have found Him Everyone was eagerly looking for the Messiah.

The son of Joseph This was how Jesus was legally identified, and how he would have been known within the community (Luke 4:22, John 6:42).

Can anything good come out of Nazareth? Jesus came from a very ordinary place. It might even have had a bad reputation. But that’s where the Messiah spent his growing-up years. See Matthew 15:10-11,17-19 . What’s on the inside is what counts – not how things look on the outside (as Nathanael was soon to find out).

Come and see. This is almost identical to what Jesus had said to Andrew the day before (John 1:39). In today’s language, “come and check it out”. Jesus invites scrutiny. He has nothing to hide. Time spent with him changes people, so that they want to invite others into what they have found.

Nathanael meets Jesus (vs 47-51)

Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him Evidently John is speaking on more than one level. Jesus not only saw Nathanael physically coming toward him. He also looked into his inner man and saw a snapshot of his character. See vs 48.

Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit! Jesus recognized Nathanael’s forthrightness and honesty, and praised him for it. He is looking for followers who are “straight as an arrow”. Proverbs 4:23-25. He could possibly have found fault with Nathanael’s critical assessment of Nazareth, but he didn’t focus on that. He focussed on identifying a godly quality that he wanted to call forth in Nathanael’s life.

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

• John 2:24-25
• This was revealed to Jesus by Holy Spirit. Acts 10:38.

Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel

• These were signs of the inauguration of the Messianic Age. See Luke 4:16-21.
• See also John the Baptist’s question in Luke 7:18-23
• Why do you think John asked this?

You will see greater things than these

• What things?
• What do you think Jesus’ response about the angels means?
• See Genesis 28:12

For Reflection

Do you want to see what Jesus promised Nathanael he would see? Let’s ask God for an open heaven. Let’s ask him for a greater revelation of His glorious presence in our lives.