46And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.
47Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!
48Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.
49Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.
Introduction:Nathanael's confrontaion with Jesus was dramatic.Nathanael was a man of prejudice and strong feelings,yet he knew despair and hopeless;therefore,he was difficult to lead to Christ.However, despite all, his freind Phillip persisted and refused to give up in witnessing to him.As a result, Nathanael was won to Christ.
[1] (1:46) Nathanael, Prejudice,Witnessing: Nathanael's experience.Note three facts.
a) It was Nathanael's close friend Phillip who shared the good news with him(jn.1:45). He had the
privilege of hearing the gospel from someone who cared for him very deeply.He was so loved by Phillip that he was the first one with whom Phillip shared the most important experience of his life.
b) Nathanael was a man gripped by despair and predjudice.
1) The despair is seen in his response to phillip.He rejected Phillip's testimony and did it in a negative,skeptical,reactionary spirit:"Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?" He struck out at what Phillip had said.He questioned it;he would not accept it nor believe it. There was a sense of hopelessness,of despair and skepticism in his question.
Thought 1 So many voices in the world promise the path to life and fulfilment and joy and satisfaction.
However their claims are soon discovered to be false,and they still leave the human heart empty and wondering.
Job 101My soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.Psalm 31:10:10For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed.
Jeremiah 2:25: 25Withhold thy foot from being unshod, and thy throat from thirst: but thou saidst, There is no hope: no; for I have loved strangers, and after them will I go.
1 Thessalonians 4:13:13But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
Ephesians 2:12:12That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
2) The prejudice of Nathanael is seen in his slur against Jesus because Jesus was from Nazareth. Nathanael was apparently a crowd-follower.He had allowed himself to be influenced by the world's foolish prejudices.Prejudice is a great failing;it disregards the wrong within oneself and with one's own place.It overlooks personal wrongs, shortcomings,weaknesses, and error.
c) Nathanael was still invited to follow Jesus.His sin, despair,and prejudice did not discourage or keep Phillip from inviting his friend and neighbor to "come and see" Jesus.Note also, Phillip did not argue with Nathanael.He simply confronted him with Jesus.
Thought 2. Note three trhings.1) No matter what the sin is, we must still go and invite men to "come and see" Jesus. Because phillip went to his dear friend,Nathanael did come to Jesus,despite his despair and prejudice.
2)Think what Nathanael would have missed if he would had let his prejudices keep him from Jesus, or allowed his wallowing in despair keep him from coming to Jesus.
3)The way to lead a man to Christ is not by argument,but by confronting him with Christ.
Acts 4:20:20For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
Titus 2:15:15These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
Psalm 66:16:16Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.
[2] (1:47-48) Guilelessness-Jesus Christ,Knowledge-Sin, Exposed: Nathanael's confrontation. Two very significant things happened in Nathanael's confrontation with Jesus.
a) Jesus knew Nathanael,his beliefs and character.
1) Jesus knew his beliefs. This is seen in Jesus calling Nathanael an "Israelite indeed."He believed the promises of God.He tried to live up to the covenant name, the standard God had set for Israel,and he was looking for that blessed hope and glorious appearing of the Messiah.
Christ knows the beliefs of all men,that upon which the man has set his heart.He knows both the good and bad beliefs,both the godly and the evil thoughts of the human heart.John 2:25:25And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.
1 John 3:20:20For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
Jeremiah 17:10:10I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
Jeremiah 17:10:10I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
2) Jesus knew Nathanael's Character.He was a man without guile.This means he did not deceive, bait, or mislead people.He did not hide what he thought; he said what he thought and acted what he felt. He was straight forward,open and honest, not deceptive or hypocritical.This trait was shown to Phillip as he did not hide his true thoughts.
Many people deceive,bait and mislead others.Few are straight forward, open and honest,free of deception and hypocrisy.
b) Jesus knew Nathanael's innermost being,all things about him.Jesus knows everything about every man.Nothing escapes His watchful eye,not even a single thought.This offers great hope to all who will cast themselves upon Christ.Christ can help them by meeting their needs and giving them purpose and direction.This is also a great warning to those who goes merrily on their way,thinking his sins is hid and he will not be judged.
(Luke 12:2:)2For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.(Jeremiah 2:22:)22For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord GOD.(Hosea 7:2:)2And they consider not in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness: now their own doings have beset them about; they are before my face.
[3] (1:49) Confession-Decision:Nathanael's conviction,He confessed that Jesus was the Rabbi(Prophet), the son of God, the King of Israel. Note two thingsa) How readily Nathanael confessed Jesus as his Lord.
b) How clearly Nathanael grasped who Jesus was.
*********** Don't let the actions of a non-believer keep you from sharing the good news of salvation with him..................................
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