John 1:43-46 PODCAST
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. ~ John 1:43-46
In biblical days Jewish boys were instructed to become disciples. Discipleship included several steps. By the age of ten, they would have memorized the Torah. Then, many of these boys would then go and learn their family trade, but the best of the group would continue to the second level of discipleship where they would spend four or five years learning and memorizing the rest of the Hebrew Scriptures, Joshua through Malachi.
At the age of fourteen, many more of these students would learn the trade of their families, but the best of the best would seek out a Rabbi and apply to be one of his disciples. The Rabbi would then grill the potential disciple to find out what he knew because the Rabbi wanted to know if he had what it took to follow him, to be like him. And many would be turned down. Only the best of the best of the best were invited to come and follow that Rabbi. And he would leave EVERYTHING behind – his family, their trade, his home and village – and he would devote his entire life to being like his Rabbi, learning to do what his Rabbi does. This is what it meant to be a disciple.
Something unique happened when Jesus came to earth, He gave these men a second shot at being a disciple. For these disciples of Jesus, their ship had come in.
Jesus found Philip who came from the same city as Andrew and Peter (and, probably, James and John, since they all came from the same area). Mentioned seven times in the Gospels, Bethsaida means "house of fish." This was the place in which Jesus performed several miracles.
Philip was the sort of man who wasn't as quickly noticed as the others. In fact, this is his only appearance in the Gospel of John; the other gospels simply list him as one of the disciples. He asked some perceptive questions of Jesus later but he is virtually unnoticed. Because Philip was so unnoticeable, the Lord Jesus had to go out and find him.
At the end of v.43, Jesus said to Philip, "Follow me." That is great advice for someone who wants to be spiritual. Philip was intelligent, and spiritually hungry. The Lord Jesus saw him and addressed to him the words that captured Philip's heart: "Follow me." This is the absolute key to growing in one's faith and spirituality.
One of the fascinating things about being a Christian is that we do not have to plan what we are going to do or be in life. Our part is to follow the leading of the Lord Jesus. Following the Lord Jesus includes reading and obeying His word, interacting with Him as often as we can, and expecting Him to speak to us and direct us throughout a given day.
In Matthew, Mark and Luke, Nathanael, also known as "Bartholomew" is always listed after Philip in the list of the Twelve. In the Gospel of John, Bartholomew is not mentioned at all; Nathanael is listed instead, after Philip. Likewise, Nathanael's presence with other disciples at the Sea of Galilee after Jesus’ resurrection suggests that he was one of the original Twelve (see John 21:2).
Philip appeals to Nathanael in v.45: "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." Nathanael came from Cana of Galilee, a little village just over the hill from Nazareth, about two miles away (where the next scene in this gospel takes place, the changing of water to wine). Cana, in those days, was the center of commerce, while Nazareth was a dusty little village with a bad reputation.
Nazareth was a small town populated by about two thousand people. The Old Testament is clear that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem of Judea (Micah 5:2) which the Lord Jesus was as seen in Matthew 2:1.
Nathanael responds to Philip’s announcement in v.46: “"Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip's answer is very wise: "Come and see." In other words, give this man a chance. Judge him by his person, not by his home town. The fact the disciples followed Him to their deaths, speaks volumes.
