Cecil A. Fayard
Elliott Baptist Church
September 11, 2005
The
Calling of Philip and Nathanael
John
1:43-51
INTRO:
In verses 43-51 of the first chapter of John’s Gospel, we have the
account of two conversions. The
first account is that of Philip. It
is Jesus Himself who says to Philip: “Follow me.”
There are those who criticize the passing out of tracts, the preaching of
the Gospel b y way of radio, and door to door evangelization; but notice here in
John’s Gospel that Jesus personally deals with Philip, calling him to be a
disciple.
The second account given is that of Nathanael’s conversion. Nathanael was sought out by his friend Philip who had just
been converted. Philip lovingly
invited his friends to “come and see” Jesus.
Each believer needs to bid sinners to come to Jesus. Philip personally invited his brother to Christ.
I.
VSS 43-44, PHILIP CALLED TO FOLLOW JESUS
A.
Vs 43, This verse illustrates perfectly our Lord’s Words in Luke 19:10:
“The son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
1.
I am glad that Jesus came seeking the lost.
It is not that we loved Him because the Bible says: “All have sinned
and come short of the glory of God. . . .There is none righteous no not one.”
Everyone of us has gone astray, but Jesus came seeking the lost.
a.
Why do we who are saved love Him? I
John 4:19 gives us the answer: “We love Him because He first loved us.”
He sought us.
b.
“Our seeking of Him is only the reflex action of His first seeking
us” (Pink 72).
2.
Jesus words, “Follow me,” were obeyed by Philip.
Because Philip followed Jesus, not in mind only but in heart, he was
saved.
a.
Hosea 6:3 says: “Then shall we know if we follow on to know the
lord…”
1-
Sinner Friend, turn to God; follow Him; and be saved.
2-
You may know about the Lord, but do you know Him?
“Then shall we know if we follow on to know.”
b.
Just as Matthew got up from the “receipt of custom” and followed
Jesus, so must the sinner get up from his sinful life and follow the Lord (Mt
9:9).
3.
“Philip” means “lover of horses.”
Arno Gaebelein tells of a Spanish church in Mexico named “San Filipe”
– “St Philip’s Church.” On an outside wall of this church was a painting of a
race-horse with outstretched neck toward the finish line.
a.
Like Philip, everyone who has set out to follow the Lord has a race
before them and a prize at the end of the race (I Cor 9:24).
b.
Every believer is to patiently run the race set before him (Heb 12:1)
B.
Vs 44, Philip was from Bethsaida; the same city that Andrew and Peter
were from.
1.
Bethsaida means “house of fishing.”
2.
Philip went from the house of fishing to fishing for men (vs 45).
II
VSS 45-46, PHILIP INVITES NATHANAEL TO COME TO JESUS
A.
Vs 45, Jesus had compassion on Philip, and now Philip has compassion on
Nathanael.
1.
Just as Jesus loves the lost, now Philip loves the lost.
2.
Just as Jesus sought to rescue the perishing, now Philip seeks to rescue
the perishing. “Rescue the perishing, Care for the dying, Snatch them in
pity from sin and the grave; Weep o’er the erring one, lift up the fallen,
Tell them of Jesus the might to save. Rescue;
the perishing, care for the dying, Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save.
3.
Philip has a fire burning in his heart, and he cannot keep silent.
He must tell Nathanael about Jesus the Messiah, the one Moses and the
prophet’s pointed to.
4.
Jesus was born in Bethlehem, but spent most of his life in Nazareth.
I was born in Biloxi, Ms, but have spent most of my life elsewhere.
B.
Vs 46, If you expect to win souls, you must expect to face opposition.
1.
Nazareth was a place marked by unbelief (Mk 6:5-6).
Nathanael like most Jews were looking for a conquering king, one who
would deliver them from Rome, one coming from Jerusalem, David’s city.
2.
Philip did not argue with Nathanael. He simply said: “Come and see.”
a.
When witnessing, we need not try to answer all the objections.
What we need to do is keep on pointing to Jesus and saying: “Come and
see.”
b.
Trust God by faith to honor His Word and bring conviction on the lost.
III
VSS 47-51, NATHANAEL’S CONVERSION
A.
Vs 47, As Nathanael, accompanied by Philip, approaches Jesus, the Savior
says: “Beholod an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile.”
1.
“Guile” is the Greek word dolos.
It probably means to decoy, as in baiting a hook.
2.
Jesus was saying that Nathanael was not like the patriarch Jacob (Gen
27:35).
3.
Nathanael was an honest man. “A
really honest and sincere Israelite, a Jew without duplicity, had become such an
exception that at the approach of Nathanael Jesus exclaimed, “Look, truly an
Israelite in whom deceit does not exist” (Hendriksen 110).
B.
Vs 48, Nathanael asks Jesus, “How do you know me?” He wants to know the source of Christ’s knowledge.
1.
Jesus had at first demonstrated His insight and omniscience (vs 7).
Now, He reveals His supernatural sight, omnipresence. Both of these attributes prove that Jesus is God.
2.
When Nathanael was under the fig tree, Jesus saw him, omnipresence, and
read his heart, omniscience.
a.
Jesus knew Nathanael’s heart before Nathanael ever came to Him.
Jesus knew him before he was saved.
b.
Jesus sees every heart and reads it.
You may hide from mom and dad. You
may hide from the preacher, but you cannot hide from God (Psa 139:1-12).
C.
Vs 49, Nathanael, realizing the omniscience and omnipresence of Jesus,
confesses Him to be the Son of God.
1.
Over and over in John’s Gospel, the Deity of Christ is proclaimed.
a.
John the Baptist (1:34).
b.
Nathanael (1:49).
c.
Peter (6:69)
d.
Jesus Himself (10:36).
e.
Martha (11:27).
f.
Thomas (20:28).
g.
The Apostle John (20:31).
2.
Because Jesus is God, the salvation of Nathanael was no surprise to Him.
D.
Vs 50, Nathanael had been greatly moved by what he had seen.
Christ’s omnipresence and omniscience had stirred him to belief.
This was not the end of the great things that Nathanael would see. It was only the beginning. Nathanael’s faith would open up the Word of God (Psa 25:14).
E.
Vs 51, As in verse 47, verse 51 refers to the story of Jacob.
1.
Jacob, in flight from Esau whom he had deceived, stops to rest one night
and has a dream. In his dream, he sees a ladder standing on earth reaching
into heaven. Ascending and
descending the ladder are the angels of God (Gen 28).
(Note especially Gen 28:14).
2.
The ladder is the link between heaven and earth, between God and man.
a.
Jesus is the ladder that links God with man.
b.
Jesus is our ladder to heaven (Heb 2:17).
c.
Jesus in the only way that sinful man can go to heaven (Jn 14:6).
d.
In and after salvation, the Lord sends abundant blessings.
CONCLUSION: Rest upon Jesus, trust in Him. He is the ladder to heaven. You don’t have to climb, but you must trust.
For additional copies of the sermon CD's, please contact the church office:
Elliott
Baptist Church
566 Nat G. Troutt Road
Elliott, Mississippi 38901
Phone:
662-226-4425
Pastors Email: cecilafayard@msn.com