John 1:43-51
Today’s wonderful gospel reading, unique to John. The calling of Philip and Nathanael is that we are all called to be disciples, so this passage in particular deserves a closer look because it is the most detailed story we have of Jesus calling his disciples.
A disciple is a follower of and an adherent (stick like glue) to the teachings of Jesus, so we look at the passage thinking about what it means to follow Jesus.
In a sense, every sermon is about what it means to follow Jesus, but there are some aspects today that strike us I think.
The first is so obvious that we miss it. Right at the start of the story (v.43), John writes that Jesus “found Philip and said to him, ‘Follow me.’“
Philip didn’t find Jesus. Jesus found Philip. The great and gracious truth at the heart of the Christian story is not that you and I have found Christ, but Christ has found us. We think we may have decided to believe, but God decided for us.
The great story-line that runs through the bible is of a God who constantly seeks out his people. From Adam and Eve onward, remember God walking in the garden, calling out to Adam and Eve, “‘Where are you?’” (Gen 3:8-9)
I think the knowledge that God has sought us out, rather than vice versa, is important in keeping us humble before God. Even our own faith is not our own decision!
And once Jesus finds Philip, he issues a single command: “Follow me”. It will be as radical a commitment to us as it was to the first disciples, because what is demanded when we follow Jesus and adhere to his teaching is everything.
Jesus is Lord of all, or not at all (I don’t know who said that, not me).
Now when something so dramatically affects every aspect of our lives, we will be always getting things wrong. Never worry about that. Keep a pure heart and loving intent and all things will come to pass.
Following Jesus is a thorough and deep commitment that demands every aspect of our being. Of course we get it wrong from time to time and fall short of the ideal – but the intention of radical discipleship should always be before us.
The second point that struck me this week was that other people, even Christians, will often not understand your passion and try and deflate your zeal. It can be hard to keep going despite the knocks.
When we hear something really exciting that we have been waiting for or looking for, we long to tell someone – it is human nature.
So an excited Philip rushes off to tell Nathanael that (along with his hometown fellow disciples, Simon Peter and Andrew): “’We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth’ (v.45).
Nathanael’s response is not ‘How great! Will you take me to him!’ But bah humbug! “‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’ (v.46).
Cynicism is always discouraging I’d suggest. But Philip didn’t get into some theological debate about the merits of Nazareth as a geographical region or its place within the salvation history of Israel, or anything like that.
He just said to Nathanael, “Come and see!” This is a work of God not theology.
So if they ‘come and see’ in Drayton parish, what will they find? Will people receive a warm welcome here? Will they get a sense of God changing lives? Will they have an experience of worship that gives them access to God?
Will they go away with a sense of excitement that something is happening here? Is Jesus at the centre of this place? If they come and see, will they meet with God?
I think they would, as these things are already happening each week, like little spot-fires.
The final aspect that comes to mind in today’s reading is that being a disciple means receiving peace and blessing from God.
Jesus’ response to Nathanael is really interesting. “When Jesus saw Nathanael coming towards him, he said of him, ‘Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!’ Nathanael asked him, “Where did you come to know me?” Jesus answered, “I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you’” (vv.47-48).
Now, there’s two things to be said here. Firstly about the word “see”. Jesus “sees” Nathanael twice; once coming toward him, and once under the fig tree.
This word translated “see” here does not mean to see with human eyes, but used in Scripture only to describe the way God “sees” all of creation and the spiritual realm.
That is to say, he saw into Nathanael’s heart as he approached and recognised him for who he truly was.
The second time he uses this “see” is, “I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you”. This suggests (as Nathanael’s response shows) that Jesus knew of Nathanael before this encounter, not in a physical sense of having seen him before, but in a more spiritual sense of having had his hand on Nathanael’s life before that encounter from all eternity past.
Jesus found Nathanael, just as he found Philip, even though both Philip and Nathanael thought they had found Jesus. And there is a real sense of peace that we can derive from the knowledge that God has had his hand on us even from before we became aware of him
It is interesting that Jesus says: “I saw you under the fig tree”. That’s a phrase that is used three other times in the Bible (1 Kings 4:25; Micah 4:4; Zechariah 3:10), and each time, sitting under the fig-tree is a symbol of living in the peace and blessing of God..
In this passage Jesus has perceived in Nathanael the obedience of a well lived Jewish life. He says, “here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!” (v.57). Meaning that Nathanael has known the peace and blessing of God on his life.
But, in a relationship with Jesus, there is even more for Nathanael to receive: far more than obedience to the Jewish law could ever give him. Jesus says to him: “’Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these’” (v.50).
I think Jesus is commending him for having been an obedient Jew, but calling Nathanael into a deeper place of peace and blessing through a relationship with him.
And, as Christians, we know that peace and blessing can only derive from our relationship with Jesus. The more we allow Jesus to be the centre of our lives, the more we know peace in our hearts.
So this is a seemingly very simple passage, a lovely story about the calling of Philip and Nathanael, is full to the brim with deep teaching on the nature of discipleship.
We are called into a life of peace and blessing with God; Jesus sees us, he knows everything about us and perceives our deepest needs. And if we follow him, as he says to Nathanael, “’[we] will see heaven opened’” (v.51).
Jesus Christ is truly a Saviour to be followed, it’s our lifetime’s work for us to live out these two simple instructions: “Follow me!” and “Come and see!” Let me pray ...