The Disciples of Jesus
Sermon: Nathanael – Come and See!
Philip (John 1:43-51) from Bethsaida, introduced Nathanael to Jesus!
Scripture Text: John 1:43-51
Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael
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.”
Introduction:
The Role of the Twelve Disciples is an important point for us to know!
Jesus entrusted the twelve disciples with the responsibility of spreading His message of salvation and redemption. He empowered them to perform miracles, heal the sick, and cast out demons (Matthew 10:1, Mark 3:13-15, Luke 9:1-2). See Acts 2!
The disciples played a crucial role in the spread of the Kingdom of God:
Spreading the Gospel: They preached about The Kingdom of Heaven specifically Jesus' teachings, death, resurrection and ascension. They were empowered by the Holy Spirit and established the early Christian church.
Performing Miracles: They demonstrated God's power through healings, exorcisms, and other miraculous acts.
Providing Leadership: After Jesus' ascension, the disciples, particularly Peter, James, and John, provided guidance and leadership to the early Christian community.
Lessons from the Twelve Disciples
The lives of the twelve disciples offer valuable lessons for us Christians today- we find ourselves today living in a society which accepts the teachings of Jesus and those who hate the teachings of Jesus – it’s a spiritual war – don’t be fooled – it’s not the people but a spiritual war:
The apostle Paul said it well:
Ephesians 6:11-13 - Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
In this spiritual and cosmic battle – spirits both good and evil battle over the control of your mind and heart! Evil spirits seek to plant doubt in your heart and mind whereas good spirits seeks to encourage you to have faith and be obedient to the teachings of Jesus.
The disciples were in this same battle in their day – same spirits by the way! I see a pattern in the lives of the disciples which I think is a pattern for most believers today:
Pattern 1: The disciples go from doubt to faith and then to obedience: The disciples did not start out as great men of faith, they doubted a lot. Just think of Nathanael in our text today saying “What good can come out of Nazareth” or think back to what Thomas said “I won’t believe until I touch the wound of Jesus” or Peter denying Jesus three times. We also have Philip saying to Jesus in the Gospel of John, Philip asks Jesus, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us". This request, made during the Last Supper, reveals Philip's desire to see God directly and his difficulty understanding Jesus's relationship with the Father. Jesus responds by explaining that seeing him is the same as seeing the Father, emphasizing their unity. Jesus, with a hint of gentle rebuke, points out that Philip has been with him for a long time and should already understand their unity. He states, "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father". Philip was still doubting who Jesus was three years into traveling and doing ministry with Jesus. So, we see doubt fighting against faith in the lives of the Disciples. But notice all of them grew see the book of Acts and demonstrated unwavering faith and obedience to Jesus, even in the face of adversity. Except one Judas. They left their livelihood behind to follow Jesus! This takes faith and obedience! Question - Would you do that?
Pattern 2 of the disciples: The disciples go from pride to humility and then become servants of the Kingdom: In the beginning they had humility problems, they were shown in Scripture debating and fighting over who would be the greatest in the coming Kingdom of God (See Luke 22:24-30). But eventually they choose to die to themselves and pick up their crosses for Jesus. See Luke 9:23 “And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.” The disciples accept this truth and then they exemplify humility and servant mindsets, by recognizing their role as servants of Jesus and His message. The key change I see was them being filled with the Holy Spirit in Acts 2. Things really changed after that spiritual event! This reveals why we all need the infilling of the Holy Spirit! Kathryn Kullman said, “The Holy Spirit is not a luxury but a necessity!”
Pattern 3: The disciples knew what failure was, but they learned to persevere through failure and hardship and when they did this courage rose up inside of them: Yes, the disciples failed numerous times – like when they could not cast out a demonic spirit out of a child and Jesus had too. See Matthew 17: The Healing of a Boy With a Demon: 14 When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. 16 I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.”17 “O unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” 18 Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment. 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” 20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” The disciples faced numerous challenges, including spiritual warfare, lack of faith, persecution and even imprisonment, yet they persevered and continued to spread Jesus' message with courage and conviction. They grew into what Jesus wanted them to be! They became courageous witnesses to the Kingdom of Heaven! The Bible often speaks of courage as a strength derived from faith in God, rather than an inherent human quality. Key verses include Joshua 1:9, which commands believers to be strong and courageous, and Psalm 27:14, urging those who wait on the Lord to take heart. The Bible also presents examples of courageous individuals like David, who faced Goliath with faith in God. We are to do the same today as the disciples did!
Today I want to look at the call of Nathanael to follow Jesus in a little more detail. There are spiritual lessons to be learned here: Reference is from John 1:43-51:
I. Nathanael comments to Philip after discovering Jesus - “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”
a. Imagine saying this to Philip and Jesus letting him know he heard his words of judgment and prejudice.
i. As soon as Phillip said Jesus was from Nazareth Nathanael’s prejudice kicked in and he found himself dismissing any chance that the Messiah had come because Jesus’ hometown had a reputation of being unrefined, uneducated, evil, corrupt, and full of sinful people!
1. Also, Nathanael knew Scripture taught Jesus would come out of Bethlehem or at the least Jerusalem – But Nazareth!
2. Question: This religious attitude is not uncommon even today in our society – people think they know more than they do and they in their prejudice and pride miss out on God moments.
b. The background on Nathanael is important to know!
i. The Bible tells me in 2 Timothy 2:15: "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth," according to the King James Version of the Bible.
ii. This verse highlights several key aspects:
1. Study: It emphasizes the importance of diligent study of the Bible. This involves more than just reading; it requires careful examination, reflection, and engagement with the text.
a. Show Yourself Approved:
i. This means striving to live a life that reflects God's will and pleases Him. It involves not just knowing the truth, but also putting it into practice.
b. A Workman that Needeth Not to be Ashamed:
i. This speaks to the need for integrity and faithfulness in one's service to God. It implies a life lived with honesty and a clear conscience, not one marked by hypocrisy or shame.
c. Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth:
i. This emphasizes the importance of accurate interpretation and application of Scripture. It calls for a careful and thoughtful approach to understanding God's word, avoiding misinterpretations or misapplications.
2. Conclusion: In essence, the verse is a call to a life of intentional discipleship, where believers actively pursue a deeper understanding of God's word and strive to live in accordance with its teachings. This process of studying and applying the Bible is a lifelong journey that leads to spiritual growth, greater intimacy with God, and a life that is pleasing to Him.
a. It takes work and diligence!
iii. Back to Nathanael: What little that can be known about Nathanael comes mostly from the Gospel of John. For instance:
1. Nathanael is a Greek name that means “God has given” and his Jewish surname Bartholomew means “son of Tomai.”
a. While Nathanael’s genealogy is not given anywhere in the Bible or historically, some scholars suggest that Maach, wife of King David, was daughter of King Talmai of Geshur (2 Samuel 3:3) which would mean that Nathanel was of Davidic descent.
b. Nathanael’s hometown was Cana of Galilee (John 21:2). It’s interesting that Cana was an isolated small village even more so than Nazareth so for him to have a prejudice against Nazareth would be like saying Cleveland has better people than Buffalo!
i. According to John MacArthur, Nathanael was most likely a professional fisherman along with Phillip, Thomas, and the other four apostles Peter, Andrew, James and John (John 21, Mark 1:21, 29; Luke 5:10).
ii. They were most likely fishing partners and lifelong friends.
iii. Even though the name “Nathanael” has been identified as “Bartholomew” since the 9th century.
iv. Nathanael’s name is listed in sixth place in each of the lists of Apostles (Matthew 10:2-4; Mark 3:16-18; Luke 6:12-15) as his surname Bartholomew.
c. By Philip mentioning that Jesus was the one whom Moses and prophets wrote about and Philip knowing scripture as a student of the Old Testament this would peak Nathanael’s interest and grab his attention.
i. Why would it - you may be thinking?
1. Scholars believe that Nathan was an ardent student of the Old Testament. To hear that the heart of the Old Testament had been finally fulfilled in Jesus would have been profound for any Jewish person to hear, especially for one who meditated on Scripture all those days sitting under the fig tree outside his home!
a. Remember Jesus words to Nathan – I saw you under the fig tree!
b. The fig tree study! Studying God’s Word!
i. He studied under the fig tree which was common around people’s house in those days for the shade and the figs.
ii. God saw him doing this faithfully!
2. He might have heard what John the Baptist has said about Jesus – What did John the Baptist say about Jesus?
a. John the Baptist publicly identified Jesus as the Messiah during Jesus's baptism. John proclaimed Jesus to be the "Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. All academic scholars of the Old Testament would understand what John was saying – Jesus is the Messiah!
d. Philip challenges Nathan to “Come and See” for himself who Jesus is!
i. This was a Great challenge “Come and See” for yourself!
1. Illustration: Come And See Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Aug 22, 2023 Scripture: Matthew 11:28, John 4:29
a. Come and See
i. When was the day you received the invitation? Come and see. Come and see.
ii. When was the day you heard the Master’s voice? Come and See
iii. When was the day you made Christ your choice? Come and See
iv. When was the day you allowed Jesus the Savior in? Come and See
v. When was the day you were cleansed from sin? Come and See
vi. When was the day you heard Him calling, Come and See
1. The Woman at the Well: "Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?" John 4:29 © March 2019 Loyd C Taylor, SR
ii. Jesus is the first to coin this phrase John 1:39 when he invited some of the disciples to “Come and See!”
1. New King James Version – shares it like this, “He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour).”
2. They said, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” Jesus said, “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying and spent that day with him. It was about the tenth hour.
a. The Holy Bible: New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1984), Jn 1:38–39.
3. Come and See: Quote from sermoncentral.com https://sermoncentral.com/sermons/come-and-see-mark-neilly-sermon-on-jesus-ministry-39040
a. There is nothing that beats firsthand experience. It is harder to believe what someone tells us if we cannot experience it for ourselves. Surely this is the very reason John the Baptist pointed out the "Lamb of God", and why in v39 Jesus says, "Come and see". Philip then uses the same words when speaking to Nathaniel about Jesus, emphasizing the need for first-hand experience of the Christ.
b. Christians our task is surely to say to believers, "Come and see" and encourage them to meet with the risen Christ as we have, not just to hear about him. We need to let the Holy Spirit do what He is called to do with people – reveal Christ to them!
i. The Story of Muhamed!
T.S. – Jesus reveals his omniscience in his statement to Nathanael about seeing him under the fig tree! It is really a compliment to this disciple’s character!
II. Nathanael as he comes to Jesus receives a compliment from him, and a word of knowledge which opens his eyes to who Jesus really is.
a. John 1: 47-48: 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.”
i. In John 1:47-51, Jesus identifies Nathanael as a truly honest Israelite and then reveals that he saw him under a fig tree before Philip called him.
1. How important is this Word of Knowledge – this insight of Jesus? This encounter is significant because it demonstrates Jesus's divine knowledge and ability to see into people's hearts and lives. Nathanael, recognizing Jesus's divine insight, declares him to be the Son of God and the King of Israel.
a. He is the long-awaited Messiah of Israel! He see’s it for himself – he experienced it for himself!
ii. It’s important to note that John’s Gospel is making the point again who Jesus is - was and will be in the future!
1. McArthur notes, “John is writing to show the many ways in which Jesus manifested Himself as God. And here in the first chapter he gives the testimony of Nathanael that this Jesus is the omniscient Son of God. He is of the very same essence as God.”
a. He sees things no one else could see or know!
i. MacArthur, John F.. Twelve Ordinary Men: How the Master Shaped His Disciples for Greatness, and What He Wants to Do with You (pp. 145-146). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.
b. The Apostle John highlights the Word of God – the logos who came in the flesh!
i. John's first words are a powerful declaration of Jesus' deity ("In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.")
ii. Every point in his Gospel is designed to prove that Jesus is the Son of God—sharing the same essence as God—by highlighting His miracles, His sinless character, the divine wisdom of His teaching, and His attributes, which are the very attributes of God.
1. MacArthur, John F.. Twelve Ordinary Men: How the Master Shaped His Disciples for Greatness, and What He Wants to Do with You (p. 145). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.
c. Question is “Are you seeking out God?” – Then Come and See Jesus – Love personified – God in the flesh – The Savior of the world!
i. Come and meet Jesus!
b. Nathanael is a unique disciple in the eyes of Jesus – he did not see any hypocrisy in this student of the Word of God.
i. Israel was filled with hypocrites in the academic world of the Jewish people – prime example is the bulk of the Pharisee’s and Sadducees were constantly rebuked by Jesus. Jesus rebuked them the hardest because they should have known their Messiah who was standing right in front of them!
1. He fulfilled 1,000 of Scriptures and they were still blind to who He was – I feel mostly their pride and arrogance blinded them to the truth of Jesus!
a. Pride will always blind us to truth!
c. Jesus’ ability to see into the heart of Nathanael won him over – and it’s sad that so many others missed who Jesus was!
i. MacArthur states, “His omniscience, His spiritual insight, His ability to read the heart of Nathanael was enough to convince Nathanael that He was indeed the true Messiah.”
1. What are you looking for Jesus to say to you?
ii. Nathanael's familiarity with the Old Testament messianic prophecies is clearly seen in his reply to Jesus ("You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!"). Psalm 2 clearly indicated that the Messiah would be the Son of God. Many Old Testament prophecies spoke of Him as "King of Israel, " including Zephaniah 3:15 ("The LORD has taken away your judgments, He has cast out your enemy.)
1. MacArthur, John F.. Twelve Ordinary Men: How the Master Shaped His Disciples for Greatness, and What He Wants to Do with You (p. 146). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.
d. Arte you seeking Jesus out – Are you looking for the One – The hope of the world – The great I Am? Then Come and See!
T.S. – Jesus knew what to say to Nathan and he also saw a heart that was not filled with deceit or hypocrisy – he was a genuine seeker with no personal agenda!
III. Nathanael recognized Jesus as the Messiah – the Son of God – God in the flesh!
a. I know not much is noted about Nathan but here is what I see in this disciple – he recognized who Jesus was right out of the gate!
i. His studious heart and opened heart revealed that Jesus was who He said He was, and he believed!
b. He started off following Jesus and understanding who He was while the other disciples struggled over time - again and again - with Jesus’ true identity – that is until Pentecost!
i. Pentecost and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit changed the disciples and revealed to us how much we all need the infilling – empowering of the Holy Spirit.
1. See Acts 2
ii. When I look at Nathanael – I see his heart and love for God!
1. MacArthur notes, “How wonderful to see someone so trustworthy and trusting from the very beginning, so that for him the whole three years with Jesus was just an unfolding panorama of supernatural reality!’
2. He adds, “In the Old Testament, Jacob had a dream in which "a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it" (Genesis 28:12).
a. Jesus' words to Nathanael were a reference to that Old Testament account. He was the ladder. And Nathanael would see the angels of God ascending and descending upon Him. In other words, Jesus is the ladder that connects heaven and earth.
i. MacArthur, John F.. Twelve Ordinary Men: How the Master Shaped His Disciples for Greatness, and What He Wants to Do with You (p. 147). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.
b. Once again Nathans understanding and study of the Old Testament was crucial to know what Jesus has said to him – he got it because he knew Scripture!
i. We need to be stewards of God’s Word – we need to put as much emphasis on studying God’s Word as we do worship.
ii. It’s a balance that cannot be neglected!
iii. We must know the Bible – the teachings of the Word of God!
Conclusion
MacArthur stated, “That's all we know about Nathanael from Scripture. Early church records suggest that he ministered in Persia and India and took the gospel as far as Armenia. There is no reliable record of how he died. One tradition says he was tied up in a sack and cast into the sea. Another tradition says he was crucified. By all accounts, he was martyred like all the apostles except John.”
The twelve disciples of Jesus Christ were ordinary individuals who demonstrated extraordinary faith, dedication, and perseverance. Their lives serve as a testament to the power of God's love and redemption. As Christians, we can draw valuable lessons from their experiences, striving to emulate their faith, study habits, humility, and servitude as we spread the Gospel message to a world in need.
Quote: What do we know about Nathanael? “What we do know is that Nathanael was faithful to the end because he was faithful from the start.” He saw and recognized who Jesus was because he knew His Old Testament! While the religious leaders missed who Jesus was due to their pride and arrogance!
What does it mean to be studious with the Word of God?
2 Timothy 2:15: "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth," according to the King James Version of the Bible.
This verse highlights several key aspects:
Study: It emphasizes the importance of diligent study of the Bible. This involves more than just reading; it requires careful examination, reflection, and engagement with the text.
1. Show Yourself Approved: This means striving to live a life that reflects God's will and pleases Him. It involves not just knowing the truth but also putting it into practice.
2. Be a Workman that Needs to Not to be Ashamed: This speaks to the need for integrity and faithfulness in one's service to God. It implies a life lived with honesty and a clear conscience, not one marked by hypocrisy or shame.
3. Rightly learn how to Divide the Word of Truth: This emphasizes the importance of accurate interpretation and application of Scripture. It calls for a careful and thoughtful approach to understanding God's word, avoiding misinterpretations or misapplications.
