Never heard of it. Or Luthern? You are the Son of God! So when Jesus said these things to him, he might have questioned if Jesus was just flattering him? Besides if Andrew got in trouble that would be Andrew's problem. The cooking was done inside, so a fire was burning even in the summer. Some people are so afraid of others religions that they closed themselves off from branches of the body of Christ. And so it goes. Blind and dead in our sins, enemies of Godthat is our natural state. He was not a hypocrite. Jesus honored Andrews faith by multiplying and feeding 5000. Indeed, in the Sacrament of the Altar, heaven and earth come together. Most accounts say that he was put to death by stoning in Asia Minor eight years after the martyrdom of James. Nazareth on the other hand was a rough town. Little is written about him the Gospels and book of Acts. In this instance, Nathanaels prejudice was confronted with the obvious, observable, and undeniable truth of who Jesus was. Phillip was the first one to hear those words and obey them. His answer shows us the contempt Nathaniel felt for the people of Nazareth. He had the ability to read Nathaniel's heart. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. What did Andrew do? Does the Bible Condemn Using Tarot Cards? The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee and He found Philip and said to him, Follow Me. Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. He was a man who worshipped God in spirit and in truth without deceit or hypocrisy. Well, thats what happens now in Jesus. Jesus called Philip, who had been a disciple of John the Baptist's ( John 1:43 ), and then Philip went and found Nathanael and told him about Jesus. As we discussed earlier, these Greeks may have come to Philip because they knew him, or simply because he had a Greek name and spoke Greek the best. How well could you feed 5000 people? And he introduced the Jews to Jesus. He hadnt put on a show or pretended to be something he was not to impress anyone, let alone Jesus. After the resurrection, Nathanael would go on to be a key leader in the early church, taking the gospel to the ends of the earth as commissioned by his lord and savior. Nathaniel however did not receive the message well. They had studied the Law of Moses and read the prophets. Those are all good. Nathanael - The True Israelite Believed to Be the Apostle Bartholomew. Come and see. Come and see if you too wont encounter the Messiah, the Savior sent from God, in this person Jesus I want you to meet.. The Synoptics describe the actual calling of these men to . While its easy to gloss over this quick interaction, a few key insights into Nathanaels character can be gleaned from this verse. Does God Really Work All Things Together for Good? Nathanael recognizes Jesus as "the Son of God" and "the King of Israel". Come on along! Can anything good come from there?" Nathanael asked. It is Elohim, a portion of Elohim. Nathanaels name is never directly mentioned again in the New Testament. Then Philip identifies this Messiah by name, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. But notice Nathanaels response: Can anything good come out of Nazareth? Apparently Nathanael, as one well-versed in the Scriptures, knew that there was no particular prophecy linking the Messiah to the city of Nazareth. One record says he died of natural causes. "Philip and Nathanael: A Story of Witnessing" (John 1:43-51) Why is the order of Jesus' calling His disciples different in some of You are headed toward heaven and eternal life with your Lord and with all his saints. Can anything good come from there?" Nathanael asked. When Jesus arrives in Jerusalem, some God-fearing Greeks want to see him, so they come to Philip: Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. The Bible doesn't say Nathanael and Bartholomew are the same person. Imagine that, this is the first time Nathaniel meets Jesus and Jesus calls him a true Israelite without deceit. Here we receive a foretaste of the feast to come. We put God in a box and when he doesn't respond the way we want him to, we demand miracles and signs that suit our image of what God should be and do. The twelve apostles opted out of this position, and then a man named Philip was chosen to be one of the Seven (Acts 6:5). He doesnt get sidetracked. As a man, in the flesh, Jesus takes our place, both in keeping Gods law and in taking the laws punishment on sinners. (The other two Philips are both sons of King Herod the Great.). If you are traveling from the Mediterranean to Galilee you would pass through Nazareth. Nathanael was from Cana in Galilee ( John 21:2) and was brought to Jesus by his friend, Philip, who also became one of Jesus' disciples. But that Jesus can heal the blind and the deaf, that he can cleanse lepers, that he can forgive sins, that he can raise the dead. In fact, Jesus sees Nathanael approaching and he says, Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit! Nathanael can tell that this Jesus somehow knows something about him, that he has divine insight. While it's easy to gloss over this quick interaction, a few key insights into Nathanael's character can be gleaned from this verse. Most Bible scholars believe Nathanael and Bartholomew were the same person. John 1:35-46 "Come and See"Real Discipleship After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. He reappears (as "Nathanael of Cana") at the end of John's Gospel, as one of the disciples to whom Jesus appeared at the Sea of Galilee after the Resurrection. This is as good as it gets! Jesus died on the cross as our substitute, taking our sin and death on himself, thus opening heaven and eternal life to us. When Jesus appeared to Philip, Philip quickly identified Him as the chosen Messiah and the one he and Nathanael had read about in the Old Testament. Try Bible Gateway Plus free today! Okayalthough you can reclaim at least some of that joy. Nathaniel lived in a society that was prejudice by temperament. John relates the first, introductory meeting of Jesus with Andrew, John, Peter, Philip, and Nathanael. Despite Nathanaels initial prejudice, Jesus saw through the sinful, the imperfect, and the ordinary to the eager heart of one who was willing to leave everything behind to follow Him. Bartholomew = son of Tolmai, probably to be identified with Nathanael. Some people won't hear a minister of a different race. We have to remember that even though he had a Greek name, he was still a Jew and would have heard Jesus say that he was sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Its possible that they knew him personally, or perhaps he spoke Greek better than the other disciples (he did have a Greek name after all). Wait There Were How Many Herods?! For less than $5/mo. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wroteJesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. And Nathanael said to him, Can anything good come out of Nazareth? Philip said to him, Come and see. John 1:43-46, He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life., Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known me, Philip? Fun fact: Johns desire to tell us who said what is the reason Thomas got stuck with the infamous moniker, Doubting Thomas. For some reason Practical Philip didnt catch on, though. Thats why we invite people. . Stromata. One tradition says that he was tied up in a sack and cast into the sea. Nathanael (Hebrew , Greek: , "God has given"), also known as Nathaniel[1] of Cana was a disciple of Jesus, mentioned only in chapters 1 and 21 of the Gospel of John. No one comes to the Father except through me. Nathanael: It is believed that Bartholomew had ministered in Armenia and was flayed to death with knives in . [2] The first disciples who follow Jesus are portrayed as reaching out immediately to family or friends: thus, 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.[3]. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. Jesus wasn't physically present to see Nathaniel under the fig tree, and Nathaniel knew that. Finding Philip, he said to him, Follow me. Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. Like Andrew, Philips first reaction after meeting Jesus was to go tell someone about him. And that was enough to convince Nathaniel that he was messiah. Obviously Phillip knew that scripture was important to Nathaniel. He wanted to go by the book all the time. But Jesus came and sought us out. 48How do you know me? Nathanael asked. In Nathanael, Christ had found a genuine and authentic believer. Heaven and earth meet in him. Jesus went to find tentative Philip and Nathanael needed a little miracle to convince him that at least one good thing could come out of Nazareth. Nathanael is described as initially being skeptical about whether the Messiah could come from Nazareth, saying: "Can anything good come out of Nazareth? . He knew their hearts. The first six disciples, then, were Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, and Bartholomew. The former is found in Numbers 1:8; 1Chronicles 2:14. It was Jesus who found Philip! It was inconceivable to Nathaniel that the messiah would come from a tacky place like Nazareth. If we stretched the metaphor, we might consider it to be the wrong side of the tracks. He might have been the same person as Nathanael. This was one Jesus could transform and equip for His glory. Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. 46 Nazareth! In Johns gospel, the author mentions that Jesus had sought out Philip shortly after calling Peter, Andrew, James, and John to be His disciples (John 1:43). Either that or because he was the administrator of the group. He leads the way, every step of the way, all the days of our life. 48 How do you know me? Nathaniel asked. Think about it, If minimum wage is $5.50/hr x 40 hours x 33 weeks = $7260. But what does this actually mean, and why would Jesus compliment someone who had expressed such obvious prejudice? Nathaniel was prejudice. Jesus answered, I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.. How does he respond? 43The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. The words I say to you are not just my own. Luke writes: So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Sir, they said, we would like to see Jesus. Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus. John 12:2022. Let me tell you about him. Common Men, Uncommon Calling: Nathanael - Grace to You [2][7] This is not supported by any early, reliable Christian tradition. His response to Jesus and reveals his character. Nathanael does come and he does see. Though flawed, Nathanael was as honest and sincere as they come, and for his eagerness and willingness to embrace Jesus as his lord and king, Christ performed a mighty work in his life, taking an ordinary man and turning him into an outspoken leader and pillar of His church. Christ came down from heaven, for us men and for our salvation. Phillip should have known better he had lived with Jesus day in and day out, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for over 18 months. Thomas says, We dont know where youre going. Excitedly, he tells Nathanael, We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote. In other words, Philip is telling his fellow Jew, Nathanael, We have found the Messiah. The Messiah, the Christ, the Anointed Onethe promised deliverer prophesied in the Scriptures, the one who will fulfill all the promises God made to our fathers: Guess what, Nathanael? I would like to have a deeper walk with God through the study of the Bible. Or crucified upside down. Even Nathanael, who was probably caught off guard by Christs compliment following a previously bigoted assumption, responded by asking Jesus, how do You know me? (John 1:48). Cana wasn't a prestigious town. That is our starting point, and it is a dead end. After all Andrew could introduce anyone to Jesus. This time were going to look through Phillip's eyes. Cana is very close to Jesus hometown of Nazareth. 4. The First Disciples (John 1:35-51) | Bible.org (Since Taco Bell wasnt an option.). That being said, we know Nathanael went on to play an important role in the formation of the early church, taking the gospel to the ends of the earth, as Jesus had commissioned His disciples to do before His ascension (Matthew 28:19-20). The one who gives me eternal life as a free gift. (C) 45Philip found Nathanael(D) and told him, We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law,(E) and about whom the prophets also wrote(F)Jesus of Nazareth,(G) the son of Joseph.(H). The Messiah has come! A second difficulty is the way in which Philip's name is introduced. So When Jesus tested his faith, Phillip responded with unbelief. He didn't know what to do. John 1:43-51 Sermon - Faithlife Sermons I am going there to prepare a place for you. How could he now say, "Show us the father"? Philip the practical did not yet know the power of Jesus the miracle worker to multiply the five barley loaves and two fish Andrew found that the little boy was willing to share. Church tradition holds that Philip preached the gospel in Scythia (a region in central Eurasia), Syria, and Phrygia (Turkey). Who was Nathanael in the Bible? - Myths and truth about Catholicism But theres good reason to believe there are probably two different people named Philip. Like the Apostle Thomas, Philips only significant mentions come in the Gospel of John (and theyre still not that significant). He is here to open heaven for us. Follow me, learn from me, as my disciples. I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.. He saw numerous demonstrations of Jesus divinity. [9], "John Wesley's Notes on the Gospel according to Saint John: Chapter 1", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nathanael_(follower_of_Jesus)&oldid=1149908118, This page was last edited on 15 April 2023, at 05:57. And regardless of the fact that Jesus came from Nazareth, he was omniscient. Sort of like Merrillville. It wouldnt taken long for him to get past his prejudice and acknowledge Jesus for who He really was. Who was Bartholomew in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org But Phillip didn't bring them to Jesus did he? There was nothing fake or insincere about him. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning. Heaven and earth meet here in Gods house, because Christ is present here. Here are the facts, you can only drawl one conclusion. John seems more interested in telling us who said what, and using Philips answer to set up Jesus miracle. Jesus first disciples Let me just say a little about his name while you're turning there. How can you say no? Its hard to say how Philip died, especially since he was confused with Philip the Evangelist early on, and there are conflicting accounts. He puts me right with God. Come and see! (John 1:46). Come and see. After Jesus tells the disciples hes preparing a place for them and that they know where hes going, Thomas asks, How can we know the way if we dont know where youre going?, Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life. One of the best trees to plant near your house is a fig tree. Think of it this way: Think of where you would be without Jesus. In fact, Nathanaels local knowledge and civic pride would come to light when called upon to follow Jesus. Jesus response to him, 9 Jesus answered: Dont you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? [2][6], Although Nathanael is sometimes identified with Bartholomew the Apostle mentioned in the Synoptic Gospels and Acts 1:13. 01/14/18 "Call and Response: Philip and Nathanael" One of the first things we learn about Philip in the Gospel of John is that like Simon Peter and Andrew, he comes from Bethsaida, a town by the Sea of Galilee (John 1:44). They were companions and had probably known each other for years. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel!(John 1:49) Nathanael responded. Start for FREE. And he did. Among these are Philip, one of the twelve apostles, who sleeps in Hierapolis, and his two aged virgin daughters, and another daughter who lived in the Holy Spirit and now rests at Ephesus.. He gives me meaning and purpose and hope in life. Maybe he didnt think very highly of that town, we dont know. He also was among those surrounding John the Baptist when the . But that was Philips spiritual side. Our final look at Phillip comes a short time after the Last Supper on the eve of the crucifixion. Story Of Bartholomew The Apostle - The Holy Apostles In the verses before ours, John tells us that Andrew was one of two men who had been John the Baptist's disciples. The Gospel of John recounts Philip's calling as a disciple of Jesus. Philip died sometime in the first century, possibly around 80 AD. Phillip & Nathaniel - Faithlife Sermons Not linked to together using the conjunction and like we see what the brothers Peter and Andrew or James and John. Just like he finds us. Many believers came to Christ under his preaching. You would have no meaning, no purpose in life. John 1:43-51 NIV - Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael - BibleGateway He seeks us out, even when we were not looking for him. Their tomb is there, and that, too, of their father.. In Luke and Matthew, an unnamed disciple asks Jesus if he can bury his father before following him. Eusebius also quotes Polycrates of Ephesus, a bishop who lived during the second century, as saying: For in Asia also great lights have fallen asleep, which shall rise again on the last day, at the coming of the Lord, when he shall come with glory from heaven and shall seek out all the saints. Imagine the amazement of the disciples as they participated in this miracle and saw the crowd fed, with a dozen baskets left over from the overflow.Philip was good about bringing people to Jesus. Like Andrew, Philip was ready in his heart to receive Jesus as his Master. Hear his personal care for you. In fact, Jesus was saying I know where your heart is, because I saw you under the fig tree. Some people won't listen to a female minister. Photo credit: Getty Images/Ascent/PKS Media Inc. He was so engrossed in his commonsense calculation, that he couldn't see an opportunity for the supernatural. The Nathaniel was skeptical. After the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Nathanael was present with the other disciples in the upper room when Jesus first appeared to them (Matthew 28:9-10; Mark 16:14-20; Luke 24:36-49; John 20:19-29). Were about to discover that Phillip is not usually a very decisive person. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it! And Jacob called that place Beth-El, the house of God, the gate of heaven. By submitting your email address, you understand that you will receive email communications from Bible Gateway, a division of The Zondervan Corporation, 3900 Sparks Drive SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 USA, including commercial communications and messages from partners of Bible Gateway. Found me when I sought him not.. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Phillip, on the other hand still hadn't gotten at two years later. 45 Philip found Nathaniel and told him, We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wroteJesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.. of This Philip is explicitly identified as the evangelist and one of the Seven. If this were Philip the Apostle, it would be odd for Luke to provide two distinguishing details and not call him the apostle. People may say: St. I want you to notice the expression Phillip used when he told Nathaniel about Jesus. Let's see, one denari can buy 12 wheat biscuits. In the Gospel of John, Nathanael is introduced as a friend of Philip, from Bethsaida (1:43-44). Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. He is called Nathanael in John 1. Andrew and his brother Simon Peter sought to find Jesus, but in the case of . The town was located on the northeast side of the Sea of Galilee and meant house of fish.We know Andrew brought Peter to Jesus. The differences between John's account and the Synoptics' account are easily explained. He did things by the book, and was practical minded. 2 In my Fathers house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. We already looked at the passage were Philips says show us the father. The remaining disciples were called at another time. These were Andrew, John, Simon Peter, Philip, Nathanael, James, and Levi Matthew. What Do We Know about Nathanael the Disciple without Deceit. Stories of Jesus: The Disciples: Philip and Nathanael Matthew received his calling as Jesus was leaving Capernaum. Its culture was largely unrefined and uneducated. We do know that Nathaniel was to faithful to the end, because he was faithful from the start. After Philip finds Nathanael and tells him they have found the Messiah, the One who was promised in the Law of Moses and the Prophets, Nathanael makes his way to see this Jesus. Furthermore, both Philip and Nathanael had studied the Word of God on their own. He knew his prejudice. Thats how it went with Philip and Nathanael. As the Son of God, he is the only one able to save us from our lost condition. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Why did Jesus single Phillip out? Not just that Jesus could see him under a fig tree. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. Similar to the way Andrew immediately went and found his brother Peter to tell him about Jesus, Philip swiftly approached his friend Nathanael with the good news. It should be noted that James and John had the same father, Zebedee (Matthew 10:2) and Peter and Andrew were brothers (Matthew 10:2). He said we have found him. By the grace of God, Nathanael was chosen to follow Christ. That's why they responded so quickly to Jesus. Before Philip invited his brother, already Jesus had an intention of calling the young man. And so Jesus not only is the King of Israel, he is the king who ushers in the everlasting kingdom of heaven in our midst. You may meet resistance when you tell others that you have found Jesus and his gifts present here at St. Matthew Lutheran Church. What does the name Nathaniel mean biblically? Who Was Bartholomew the Apostle? The Beginner's Guide As common tradesmen (possibly fishermen), their study of the Old Testament would have been something they had undertaken as both a hobby and a passion, not a profession. Proud member Nathanael: Oh, Hello! They probably came to hear John the Baptist together. You will see greater things than these. Jesus here is telling Nathanael that he will see the divine power and blessing of God displayed in Jesus ministry time and time again. We see that Philip and Nathanael were faithful servants of Jesus who had questions and concerns, doubts and fears. Blog at WordPress.com.RSS 2.0Comments RSS 2.0, Philip and Nathanael: A Story of Witnessing (John1:43-51). Its the story of Philip and Nathanael: A Story of Witnessing. Now today let their story become your story also. It's no doubt that this is where Nathaniel went to study the scriptures and pray. That's why Jesus asked Phillip where they could buy bread. January 14, 2018, Philip and Nathanael: A Story of Witnessing (John 1:43-51). Jews in Jesus day looked down on the Galilean's. Their branches are low and spread as far as 25 for 30 feet. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going., 5 Thomas said to him, Lord, we dont know where you are going, so how can we know the way?. Philip said to him, "Come and see." John 21:1-6. . Rabbit trail about a fig tree: houses in that culture were mostly small -- generally made up of one room. And whats more, this new life doesnt stop with you. The town was located on the northeast side of the Sea of Galilee and meant "house of fish." We know Andrew brought Peter to Jesus. He should have said, "Lord, if you want to feed them, feed them." Phillip doesn't like maybes. But even a Galileans looked down on the Nazarene's. He loved God with a pure heart and desired to see the messiah. Nathanael was doubtful at first. It was. (Funny sound is heard to indicate traveling in time. In all likelihood they probably studied scripture together. His prejudice caused him to be skeptical when Phillip told him that the messiah was the Nazarene. Jesus finding you and saving you and leading you day by day, all the way into eternal lifethis is what life is all about. Some traditions tell of Nathanael being flayed alive in Armenia.

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