I know what you were doing. All four of these disciples of Jesus were from the town of Bethsaida. So quite possibly, if Phillip had introduced the Greeks to Jesus, he might have been breaking a rule. Peoples ears are closed to the gospel by many kinds of prejudice. Can anything good come out of Nazareth? This question may have been precipitated by the lack of culture, unpolished speech and moral laxity sometimes attributed to Nazareth. But Phillip is the first disciple whom Jesus physically sought out, as well as the first one to whom Jesus actually said, "follow me". He is here to open heaven for us. In that passage, Nathanael is said to have come from Cana in Galilee, the same town were Jesus performed his first miracle by turning water to wine at the wedding feast (John 2:11). Nathanael does come and he does see. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. He was skeptical, analytical, pessimistic, and unsure. Here we receive a foretaste of the feast to come. January 14, 2018, Philip and Nathanael: A Story of Witnessing (John 1:43-51). I have found the one who forgives my sins. Peter and James came to the Lord because of the personal soul-winning of their brothers. You are headed toward heaven and eternal life with your Lord and with all his saints. Nathanael, probably the personal name of Bartholomew, is later referred to in John 21:1-3 as Nathanael of Cana when seven of the disciples were together and went . We see that Philip and Nathanael were faithful servants of Jesus who had questions and concerns, doubts and fears. Well, Nathanaels initial objection is overcome by Philips pleasant persistence and his clear invitation. Nathanaels story may not be chronicled in much detail. . And so Nathan-el, Nathanael is a gift of God. After Jesus calls Peter, Andrew, James, and John, he finds Philip: The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Not just that Jesus could see him under a fig tree. He simply says, Come and see. Thats it. Maybe he didnt think very highly of that town, we dont know. 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. Nathanael was one of the 12 original apostles of Jesus Christ. If we look at that phrase in the Greek, its translated as truly, genuine Israelite. Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. Now that we've looked at Philips faults, and cited his inability to look at the whole picture. After this, Nathanael would return with the remaining apostles to the upper room in Jerusalem, joining with them in prayer as they selected Matthias as a replacement for Judas Iscariot, who had recently hung himself (Acts 1:12-26). (Since Taco Bell wasnt an option.). Unless you looking for the shrine built upon the supposed location of where Jesus turned water into wine you probably wouldn't want to go there. Cana is off the beaten track, sort of like the little town pastor lives in. Their association with the Lord made them disciples who learned from Him, but their faithfulness and commitment sent them forth as apostles to proclaim the good news that Jesus is Lord. Your changed life, your verbal witness, your faith evident in your lifethis becomes a witness to others. get to know the Bible better! We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Philip found Nathanael 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." "Nazareth! Wheres that? Does the Bible Condemn Using Tarot Cards? These men were part of Jesus' inner group. As a result, the church has doubted Eusebius account of Philip for nearly a millennia. Dont you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. But that was Philips spiritual side. We have found him! Jesus answered, I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.. The Messiah has come! Hes just pleasantly persistent, inviting Nathanael to find out for himself. John's gospel is the only one that mentions a man named Nathanael, who appears to be an apostle (John 1:43-51).John also never mentions Bartholomew. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning. Were about to discover that Phillip is not usually a very decisive person. Jesus knew Nathanaels heart. He found Nathanael, presumably someone he knew or had some kind of relationship with. Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. Now of course, there are many things about our congregation we can talk about, positive things, the various aspects of our life together: the camaraderie and the fellowship, the friendliness of our members, the potlucks and the friendships we enjoy. Just like he finds us. Philip found Nathanael 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. Nazareth! He knew who look for. But when he saw the size of the crowd he began to feel overwhelmed by the impossible. Heaven and earth meet in him. Proud member When Jesus spoke out against the religious establishment in Jerusalem, the religious leaders just chalked that up to his coming from lowly Nazareth. Church tradition identifies Philip as the missionary to Greece, Syria, and Phrygia, but even early on, Philip the Apostle was frequently confused with Philip the Evangelist (also known as Philip the Deacon), which makes it hard to distinguish which details describe which Philip. He had the ability to read Nathaniel's heart. Of course, this was not a racial or ethnic prejudice, as many Jews would have had for the Gentiles or, as we see from the disciples later in the gospels, the Samaritans. Philip died sometime in the first century, possibly around 80 AD. But ultimately, above all, when we talk about our church, we want to talk about the one who is the very heart and center of our church, the churchs whole reason for existence. 43The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. The earliest reference in the West is in Rupert of Deutz (d. 1129). It is interesting to note how Andrew and John came to Christ through the faithful preaching of John the Baptist. 2 In my Fathers house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. A second difficulty is the way in which Philip's name is introduced. So if you wanted to escape the noise and the stifling atmosphere the house, you could go outside and rest under the fig tree. Did the citizens of Nazareth hold the same view of those from Cana? 'Come and see,' said Philip." John 1:43-46 "It can't be done.". Never heard of it. Or Luthern? Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. We're not talking about physical dissent from Abraham or genetics, and but rather having a pure heart, without hypocrisy. We need to take a little rabbit trail here in so that you can get the scope of his prejudice. . Nathanael declares, Rabbi, you are the Son of God! Jesus couldn't have known where I Nathaniel had been or what he had been doing and unless he had been omniscient. In John 1:46-50, Nathanael is introduced to Jesus for the first time. (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 other two Philips are both sons of King Herod the Great.). Nathanael means "gift of God." El, e-l, is the name of God. 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. First is verse 3: "Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector.". From now on, you do know him and have seen him. Philip said, Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us. Jesus answered: Dont you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? While its true that Nathanael had a heart to know God and an eager spirit, to Philips news, Nathanael responded, can anything good come out of Nazareth? (John 1:46). There's no reliable record about how he died. So that would be pretty strange if that was Philip the Apostle.Much later in Acts 21:89, Paul and his companions stay at Philips house in Caesarea with his four unmarried daughters who had the gift of prophecy. In other words between all the disciples -- at least 12 of them and probably more like 70 -- all they had was eight months worth of a single laborers wages. If you are going from Chicago to Indianapolis, you might travel through Merrillville. Jesus responds (seemingly harshly), Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God (Luke 9:60). 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.. Phillip was the first one to hear those words and obey them. Notice Philips reply to the problem that Nathanael has with Nazareth. 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 [Read John 1: 43-51], Philip and Nathanael were brothers as were Andrew and Peter. Or crucified upside down. However, John's account makes it very clear that each of the disciples had to encounter Jesus personally. Christ came down from heaven, for us men and for our salvation. 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. (Funny sound is heard to indicate traveling in time. He played an active role in leading another apostle to Jesus. we first meet Phillip the day after Jesus called Andrew, John, and Peter. Nathanael makes a second appearance in John 21:2, where he is included in a list of disciples who saw the resurrected Christ by the Sea of Tiberias. Phillip was already in the presence of the living and eternal God. Nathanael: It is believed that Bartholomew had ministered in Armenia and was flayed to death with knives in . Cana wasn't a prestigious town. Remember how Phillip had announced in Nathaniel that he had found the messiah. So, yes, you do have something to tell others about, something absolutely exciting and joyful! Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! But Jesus came and sought us out. He was not a hypocrite. He didn't need to see any further proof. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Philip, then, came to Nathanael and said to him: "We have found him of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets did write, Jesus the son of Joseph of Nazareth" (John 1:45). Philip answered him, It would take more than half a years wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite! John 6:57, Jesus already knew exactly what he was going to do, but he asked Philip what it would take to feed these peopleperhaps as a joke, or possibly, to illustrate that it would take a miracle to feed this many. Hes one of four people named Philip in the Bible, and hes often confused with Philip the Evangelist, who plays a minor role in Acts. But it does seem clear that the mention of Nazareth was an initial obstacle in Nathanaels mind. You too will be a Philip, filled up with the joy and excitement that comes from knowing the Lord. Remember how the people of his hometown felt about him? Nathanael is a boy's name of Hebrew origin that means "God has given." In the Bible, Nathanael came from Cana in Galilee and was an early follower of Jesus. You are a dear child of your heavenly Father. We already looked at the passage were Philips says show us the father. I would like to have a deeper walk with God through the study of the Bible. Nathanael (Bartholomew) was called after Philip told him about the Lord. In John's Gospel, Nathanael is introduced as a friend of Philip, from Bethsaida. 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. Sir, they said, we would like to see Jesus.. The first six disciples, then, were Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, and Bartholomew. It is Elohim, a portion of Elohim. Finding Philip, he said to him, Follow me. Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. His prejudice caused him to be skeptical when Phillip told him that the messiah was the Nazarene. These men wanted an audience with Jesus. We create research-based articles and handy infographics to help people understand the Bible. You have the word of God as your anchor and stay. Another suggests Nathanael died by crucifixion. All of this will be our focus in guiding your youth group through Episode . New International Version (NIV). You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. 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). 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. Like the called out, Philip and Nathanael, may we, too be found faithful.c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Wednesday, March 10, 2010. 45 Philip found Nathanael 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." 46 "Nazareth! Nathanael would be an Apostle, too. Remember that? Rabbit trail about a fig tree: houses in that culture were mostly small -- generally made up of one room. ",[4] but nonetheless, he accepts Philip's invitation to find out. One tradition says that he was tied up in a sack and cast into the sea. The ugly. What did Andrew do? Saw Nathanael Jesus certainly did. Save 15% for life on BibleGateway+ with code SPRINGSTUDY15. Nathaniel lived in a society that was prejudice by temperament. He leads the way, every step of the way, all the days of our life. Church tradition holds that Philip preached the gospel in Scythia (a region in central Eurasia), Syria, and Phrygia (Turkey). If we stretched the metaphor, we might consider it to be the wrong side of the tracks. We can cut through a lot of the fog and smokescreens and side issues when we point people to Jesus and invite them to meet him here at our church. Apostles Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, and Matthew . Phillip, like the other apostles was a man of weak faith and imperfect understanding. He was a man who worshipped God in spirit and in truth without deceit or hypocrisy. Add to that the legendary accounts from the Acts of Philip and Letter from Peter to Philip, and it becomes difficult to separate fact from fiction, too. 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. He did things by the book, and was practical minded. There was nothing fake or insincere about him. The first thing he does is to find Nathanael and tell him what happened. Nathanael recognizes Jesus as "the Son of God" and "the King of Israel". Bartholomew is a Hebrew surname meaning "son of Tolmai.". Barley is cheaper, so with one denari we could buy 20 barley biscuits, and if we get the small ones, and break them in half no it simply cannot be done. I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see!. Come on along! John relates the first, introductory meeting of Jesus with Andrew, John, Peter, Philip, and Nathanael. Invite the folks you knowyour friends and neighbors and your family membersinvite them to come and see. Those are all good. Allegedly, he converted a proconsuls wife, which angered the proconsul enough to have him and Bartholomew crucified upside down. The differences between John's account and the Synoptics' account are easily explained. The Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost. Thats where we werelost, wandering aimlessly, not looking for God. Bartholomew would have been Nathanaels Hebrew surname, meaning son of Tolmai. Nathanael, his first name, means God has given. Nathanael, therefore, would have been known formally as Nathanael, son of Tolmai, or Nathanael Bar-Tolmai. Jesus is telling them in this clearest possible language that he is God and to know him is to know the father. (1) St John, who twice mentions the name of Nathanael, never mentions that of Bartholomew; (2) the three Synoptists mention Bartholomew but not Nathanael. My friends, this is surely good news! . 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. Does God Really Work All Things Together for Good? Join our email list, and well send you some of our best free resourcesplus well tell you whenever we make something new. And when they come, what they will find here is Jesus giving out his gifts. Either that or because he was the administrator of the group. But maybe youll put it a different way, perhaps like this: I have found my Savior, and hes your Savior too. In Nathanael, Christ had found a genuine and authentic believer. You may meet resistance when you tell others that you have found Jesus and his gifts present here at St. Matthew Lutheran Church. Nathaniel who came from an even lowlier village was simply echoing the sentiments of the Jewish establishment when he expressed his contempt for Nazareth. The earliest identification of Nathanael with one of the Twelve Disciples is found in the 2nd-century Epistula Apostolorum, where he is identified with or takes the place of James, son of Alpheus. Their branches are low and spread as far as 25 for 30 feet. Jesus questioned Philip about how they would feed the large multitude at the Sea of Galilee. You know what life is all about. It is interesting to see Jesus characterization of Nathaniel, 47 When Jesus saw Nathaniel approaching, he said of him, Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false.. 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. This is where people will meet Jesus, their Savior, the author of life and the giver of salvation. Like Andrew, Philip was ready in his heart to receive Jesus as his Master. They walked with Jesus while he was upon earth. Phillip eventually got the message. While its easy to gloss over this quick interaction, a few key insights into Nathanaels character can be gleaned from this verse. Same thing today. Jesus honored Andrews faith by multiplying and feeding 5000. 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. The Philip we call the Evangelist or the Deacon is first mentioned in Acts 6 when the church selects seven people to distribute food. Wide open stand the gates!. Later they were present in the Upper Room in one accord, when the Holy Spirit, as promised, descended upon them and they were empowered to preach and witness in Jesus name.We dont know where Philip and Nathanael may have gone or what became of them at the end of their lives. Come and see is subjective. Phillip had to get beyond human limitation. Think of it this way: Think of where you would be without Jesus. Salem Media Group. We've already looked at this passage in detail when we studied Andrew. By now it should have been clear that he was going to his father in heaven and the only way for them to get there was through faith in Christ. Did the fig tree reference indicate his occupation, as a fig-gatherer? [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]. From Philips point of view this was the end of his search. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. And like the other apostles, Nathaniel stands to prove that God can use anyone, from any place, provided he has an open heart to build his kingdom. Or I know that you praise me all the way to work, 49 Then Nathaniel declared, Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.. I am going there to prepare a place for you. Jesus is the very Son of God, come in the flesh. Thats wonderful! No thanks. No hope to sustain you. 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. The principal obstacle to the identification of Philip as the Baptist's disciple is the failure of the Gospel to supply that identification. And that was enough to convince Nathaniel that he was messiah. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Simon and, probably, James were brought to Jesus by their brothers. We find their names together side-by-side as companions. So When Jesus tested his faith, Phillip responded with unbelief. [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.
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