Introduction

Good morning, dear family of God. It's a joy to be in your presence today, to stand here on this blessed, ordinary Sunday, where we gather together in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Isn't it a wonder how we can come together, week after week, and find new treasures in the Word of God? Isn't it a marvel how the Word of God, as ancient as it is, continues to speak to us, to our situations, to our hearts, today?

We turn our attention today to the Gospel of John, specifically John 1:43-51. Let's read the passage together:

"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 about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.' Nathanael said to him, 'Can anything good come out of Nazareth?' Philip said to him, 'Come and see.' When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, 'Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!' Nathanael asked him, 'Where did you get to know me?' Jesus answered, 'I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.' Nathanael replied, 'Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!' Jesus answered, 'Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.' And he said to him, 'Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.'"

A rich passage, indeed! A passage that tells us about discipleship, about doubt and discovery, and about dedication. It's a passage that invites us to reflect on our own response to Jesus' call to follow Him.

The great preacher Charles Spurgeon once said, "Discernment is not a matter of simply telling the difference between right and wrong; rather it is telling the difference between right and almost right." Today, as we listen to the Word of God, let's ask for that discernment, that we may not just know what is right, but that we may also live it out in our lives.

Let's pray.

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for this day, for the privilege of gathering together as a family in your name. We thank you for your Word, which is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. As we reflect on your Word today, we ask for your Holy Spirit to guide us, to give us discernment and understanding. May the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

So, dear family, are we ready to hear what the Lord has to say to us today? Are we ready to respond to His call? Are we ready to follow Him? Let's find out together.

Divine Directive for Discipleship

In the passage we read, Jesus finds Philip and simply says to him, 'Follow me.' It's a short sentence, but it's packed with meaning. It's an invitation, a command, and a promise all rolled into one. It's the beginning of a relationship that will transform Philip's life in ways he can't even begin to imagine.

Jesus doesn't give Philip a detailed plan or a list of tasks to accomplish. He doesn't tell him where they're going or what they'll be doing. He simply calls him to follow. This is the essence of discipleship. It's not about a set of rules or a religious routine. It's about a relationship with Jesus. It's about walking with Him, learning from Him, and becoming more like Him.

Philip's response to Jesus' call is immediate and complete. He doesn't hesitate or make excuses. He doesn't ask for time to think it over or to finish up his current projects. He simply follows. This is the kind of obedience that discipleship requires. It's not a half-hearted commitment or a casual affiliation. It's a total surrender of our lives to the Lordship of Jesus.

But discipleship is not just about following Jesus. It's also about leading others to Him. After following Jesus, the next thing Philip does is to find Nathanael and tell him about Jesus. He doesn't keep the good news to himself. He shares it with others. This is the mission of every disciple. We are called not just to follow Jesus, but to make disciples of all nations.

Nathanael's initial response to Philip's announcement is skepticism. 'Can anything good come out of Nazareth?' he asks. But Philip doesn't argue with him or try to convince him with logical arguments. He simply invites him to come and see for himself. This is a powerful approach to evangelism. We don't need to have all the answers or to win every argument. We simply need to invite people to come and see who Jesus is and what He has done for them.

When Nathanael meets Jesus, he is amazed by His knowledge and insight. 'Where did you get to know me?' he asks. Jesus' answer reveals His divine nature. He saw Nathanael even before Philip called him. This is a reminder that Jesus knows us intimately. He sees us, He knows us, and He calls us by name. This is the kind of personal relationship that Jesus offers to each of us.

Nathanael's encounter with Jesus leads him to a profound confession of faith. 'Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!' he declares. This is the ultimate goal of discipleship. It's not just about following Jesus or leading others to Him. It's about recognizing who He truly is and confessing Him as our Lord and Savior.

Jesus' response to Nathanael's confession is a promise of greater things to come. 'You will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man,' He says. This is a reminder that the journey of discipleship is not a static or stagnant one. It's a dynamic and exciting journey that leads us to deeper revelations of who Jesus is and what He has done for us.

Doubt and Discovery in Nathanael's Response

As we continue to reflect on the passage from John's Gospel, we find ourselves in the company of Nathanael, a man whose initial response to the news of the Messiah is skepticism ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO