Key Verse: “The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. He found Philip and told him, “Follow me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the hometown of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the law (and so did the prophets): Jesus the son of Joseph, from Nazareth.” 46 “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Nathanael asked him. “Come and see,” Philip answered.” (John 1:43-46 CSB)
Nathanael didn’t seem to be buying what Philip was selling. Earlier, Philip had encountered Jesus as He prepared to head to Galilee. Jesus had invited Philip to come and follow Him. In his enthusiasm, Philip reached out to his friend Nathanael to tell him the good news. He had found the Messiah! This was “the one Moses wrote about in the law (and so did the prophets): Jesus the son of Joseph, from Nazareth” (v.45).
But Nathanael wasn’t convinced. He wasn’t so sure that what Philip was telling him about Jesus was actually true. How could Jesus the son of Joseph be the Messiah? “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” (v.46), he asked Philip.
Why was Nathanael so skeptical? What was causing him to doubt this exciting news from his friend Philip? Perhaps it was Nathanael’s familiarity with the Jewish Scriptures. Nothing in them appeared to point to God’s anointed one coming from Nazareth. In fact, through the prophet Micah, God had said, “Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are small among the clans of Judah; one will come from you to be ruler over Israel for me. His origin is from antiquity, from ancient times” (Micah 5:2). The Messiah was supposed to come from Bethlehem.
Despite Nathanael’s skepticism and doubt, Philip remained steadfast in his conviction and enthusiasm about who Jesus was. So he simply replied, “Come and see.” If you’re not convinced, don’t take my word for it. Come and see Jesus for yourself.
Skepticism and doubt is a common hindrance for people when it comes to responding to Jesus. In some cases, they may appreciate His teachings or His example of love and sacrifice. But to really accept His claim to be God and the one and only way to experience salvation, they aren’t so sure.
When we encounter people who are wrestling with doubt, just like Philip did with Nathanael, our job is not necessarily to answer ever question and to convince them of Jesus. Our job is to do what Philip did – boldly and unashamedly point them to the Messiah. “Come and see,” Philip said to him. Come and experience Jesus for yourself.
In Nathanael’s case, this is exactly what happened. When he encountered the living Christ – the person of Jesus Christ – he was convinced. Seeing Jesus, Nathanael knew that He truly is the Son of God and the King of Israel (v.49).
Who are those around you who are wrestling to understand the things of God? Who can you invite to come and experience Jesus for themselves? Ask God for a renewed passion to reach out to others in this way.
Prayer: Jesus, grow in me a greater burden to introduce others to you. May my passion for you be so strong and real that it is contagious to others around me. Use the reality of my transformed life to draw others to experience you for themselves. Amen.
Author: Jonathan Miller has served in pastoral roles for more than 13 years in churches in Barrie, Oakville and Burlington, Ontario. He currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer at Prison Fellowship Canada, a ministry that mobilizes and equips local churches to engage in the restorative work of prisoners, ex-prisoners, their families, and victims across Canada. Jon holds degrees from McMaster University and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He and his wife Adrienne have been married since 2004, and live in Burlington, Ontario with their 4 children. Jon’s greatest passion is to know Jesus and to see lives transformed by Him and for Him.
