THE CALL TO DISCIPLESHIP
John 1:43-57
IT IS BY GOD’S DESIGN THAT WE ARE CALLED
V: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.\”
A. The first day of looking for disciples, Jesus selected Peter and Andrew
.
On the second day, Jesus selected Philip and Nathanael.- Andrew and Peter heard John the Baptist, proclaim Jesus as the Messiah.
- Jesus selected Phillip, who brought Nathanael to Jesus.
B. Making disciples take time. - Jesus could have chosen all twelve at one time, but His plan
included other directing disciples to Him. - Notice, Philip and Nathanael knew Old Testament Scriptures.
- Not only did they know scripture, but they believed what they heard.
- Their knowledge caused them to anticipate the coming of the Messiah.
- They were men who had no formal theological training.
but knew the time of the coming of the Messiah and his family
genealogy.
a. Contrast this with the teachers of the law, the Chief Priest and the
elders of the religious community.
b. They were trained in the law and the scriptures but refused to
believe what was theirs to teach. - We must be in the mindset of constant anticipation of God’s blessing
base on the promises of God. - At the command of Jesus, those selected followed Him.
- You and I were selected to follow Jesus.
JESUS CAME TO US IN HUMBLE CIRCUMSTANCES
V:46 \”Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?\” Nathanael asked.
\”Come and see,\” said Philip.
A. By Nathanael’s own admission, Nazareth was a bad place. It was
A most unlikely city for Jesus to be born.
1. Consider the most crime-ridden city in the world and place the
family of Jesus there.
2. Consider Mary and Joseph living a life of righteousness in a place
of high crime.
B. Sometimes God places His best in the worst place.
1. Out of the worst circumstances, many great and successful
men and women have been born.
2. It may be God’s design that strength and character is born under
adverse situations.
3. Nathanael found the answer to his question by believing
in Jesus,
4. Those who seek to know Jesus will be given holy knowledge
of Him.
a. Come see said, Philip.
b. God puts people in our lives to direct us to Jesus.
c. Our testimony about Jesus comes through our circumstances.
JESUS CALLS LEADERS WHO ARE READY TO SERVE
V:47 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, \”Here is a true
Israelite, in whom there is nothing false.\”
A. It is a good thing when Jesus recognizes your good character.
1. This gives us insight into the men Jesus chose to be His disciples.
2. He chose men like Himself who were born in humble
circumstances.
3. To be a disciple of Jesus, you need a desire to know Him.
B. Jesus not only knows your character, but He knows your family.
1. If there are true Israelites, then there must be impostors.
2. Who does Jesus call a true Israelites?
Gal 3:7-9
Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham. 8
The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and
announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: \"All nations will be
blessed through you.\" 9 So those who have faith are blessed along
with Abraham, the man of faith.
3. The impostors of Israel are those who claim the heritage of Abraham
but have no faith in the word.THE OMNISCIENCE OF JESUS
V:48 \”How do you know me?\” Nathanael asked.
Jesus answered, \”I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.\”
A. Before Jesus calls you into the ministry, He knows all about you.
1. The Lord has been watching you all your life.
2. The Lord has been protecting you all your life
3. The Lord has been providing for you all your life.
4. The Lord knows when you work and when you sleep.
5. The Lord knows your location at all times.
B. How do you know me, Jesus?
1. You have been with me all the time.
2. You have been directing my life since the day I was born.
3. You ordered my steps until you call me out.
YOUR TESTIMONY OF FAITH
V:49 Then Nathanael declared, \”Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.\”
50 Jesus said, \”You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that.\”
A. Watch this, Nathanael went from seeking Jesus to knowing Jesus.
1. Nathanael went from doubting that Messiah could come from a
bad place to know He did.
1, The knowledge that Jesus was the Son of God did not come
Nathanael, but from the Holy Spirit.
2. Jesus asked Peter, who do you say I am. Peters\’s answer was
you are the Son of the living God. Jesus replied this did not
come from flesh and blood, but by the Holy Spirit.
B. Take a note, Nathanael knew who Jesus was before Peter
gave Jesus his answer.
- Nathanael came to the conclusion of who Jesus was at first sight.
- Nathanael came to an early belief in Jesus.
- Peter had to walk with Jesus to come to that conclusion.
- Peter was Jesus\’s rock of faith from the beginning.
Peter was slow to come to that conclusion. - God gives each of us a measure of faith, that works for
our individual personalities.
JESUS WILL ENLIGHTEN YOUR HEART
V: 51 He then added, \”I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.\”
A. Take a note. Nathanael’s confession of faith bought him immediately
Into the heavenly realm with Jesus.
- When you start meditating on the Word of God, He will open
up a heavenly knowledge about Himself. - I cannot imaging what heaven looks like.
- Because of Nathanael’s faith, Jesus promised that while he
lived, he would see the door of heaven open.
B. Not only that, Jesus promise Nathanael that he would see the
Angels of God ascending and descending on Him. - Jesus promised Nathanael that he would see God’s divine
communication with the Father. - Some come to faith sooner than others, but it is by God’s design. John 1:50-51
As the Son of Man, Jesus left heaven to come to the earth. Jesus used the
term \”Son of Man\” of Himself more than 80 times. It speaks of His
humanity and suffering and His work as \”the ideal Man.\” I tell you the
truth (\”Verily, verily,\” KJV; lit., \”Amen, Amen\”) occurs
(from Bible Knowledge Commentary/Old Testament Copyright © 1983, 2000
Cook Communications Ministries) - It was Peter’s experience with Jesus that brought him into a deep faith
about Jesus. - God designed each of us to learn about Him in our own ways.
THANK GOD FOR THE MINISTRY OF JESUS
Rev. M. Mitchell
Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church
5510 West Sam Houston Parkway North
Houston, Texas 77041
