All of this will be our focus in guiding your youth group through Episode . So Jesus finds Philip and calls him to follow. Wheres that? From Philips point of view this was the end of his search. He didn't know what to do. Can anything good come from there? Nathaniel asked. 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. Ive already said that Phillip was a student of the Old Testament. Youll remember that John the Baptist pointed Jesus out to Peter, Andrew and John and then and they approached Jesus. In fact, Nathanaels local knowledge and civic pride would come to light when called upon to follow Jesus. We create research-based articles and handy infographics to help people understand the Bible. He'd rather have a yes or no answer. In John 6, we read the story and of the feeding of the 5000. No hope to sustain you. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. As common tradesmen (possibly fishermen), their study of the Old Testament would have been something they had undertaken as both a hobby and a passion, not a profession. Phillip, on the other hand still hadn't gotten at two years later. I dont believe in organized religion. See, these are the modern version of Can anything good come out of Nazareth? Can anything good come out of St. Matthew Lutheran Church? People will raise objections, and quite often its because they want to keep Gods word at arms length. Nathanael, also referred to as Bartholomew in the gospels, was one of Jesus original twelve disciples. Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael. Phillip had to get beyond human limitation. Think about it, If minimum wage is $5.50/hr x 40 hours x 33 weeks = $7260. Those are the great things that Nathanael will see in Jesus ministry. Jesus was the son of a carpenter, unknown name, from a town that didn't have any connection to prophecy. Nathanael is convinced by Jesus' knowledge of things He couldn't possibly know by any other means than they were revealed to Him by God. Philip and Nathanael, on the other hand, are listed jointly in John's tale. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. He should have said, "Lord, if you want to feed them, feed them." 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. But the Gospel of John and the early church fill in some blanks and help us understand a little more about who he was. "Come and see," said Philip. We need to take a little rabbit trail here in so that you can get the scope of his prejudice. Come and see is subjective. In Church History Eusebius quotes Papias of Hierapolisa contemporary of the apostlesas saying that Philip was living in Hierapolis with his daughters. When hes not writing stories and defending biblical truth, Joel is committed to helping young men find purpose in Christ and become fearless disciples and bold leaders in their homes, in the church, and in the world. We put God in a box and when he doesn't respond the way we want him to, we demand miracles and signs that suit our image of what God should be and do. (1) St John, who twice mentions the name of Nathanael, never mentions that of Bartholomew; (2) the three Synoptists mention Bartholomew but not Nathanael. It's no doubt that this is where Nathaniel went to study the scriptures and pray. Jesus brings Philip to Himself personally and then Philip witnesses to Nathaniel and brings him to the Lord. We know this because after the resurrection these apostles returned to Galilee with Peter and resumed their fishing trade (John 21 ). Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com. Nathaniel who came from an even lowlier village was simply echoing the sentiments of the Jewish establishment when he expressed his contempt for Nazareth. Imagine that, this is the first time Nathaniel meets Jesus and Jesus calls him a true Israelite without deceit. [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]. Do not let your hearts be troubled. And he introduced the Jews to Jesus. Phillip doesn't like maybes. Why do you think the Greeks would seek out Phillip? Here we receive a foretaste of the feast to come. . I suppose we would be equally surprised if Jesus said, I know what a faithful servant you are because I know that you get up every morning at 6:30 and go into the family room to pray. Your changed life, your verbal witness, your faith evident in your lifethis becomes a witness to others. -- His response to Jesus to follow him was without hesitation. Phillip had the heart of an evangelist. How can you say, Show us the Father? Though Cana itself was not a particularly remarkable village, Nathanaels disdain for Nazareth indicates a certain civic pride and pretension on the part of the Nathanael. How he really died, we dont know. Phillip was already in the presence of the living and eternal God. 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). 48 How do you know me? Nathaniel asked. For less than $5/mo. Frequently, the disciples have no idea what Jesus is talking about, and someone has to stick their neck out and ask a clarifying question (or often in Peters case, make a foolish statement). How do you know me? Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you. This manifestation of divine knowledge sparks something in Nathanael. Remember how the people of his hometown felt about him? The trees grow about the height of about 15 feet they have short, gnarled trunks. Despite his flaws, if there was one thing Nathanael wasnt, it was a hypocrite. The Philip we call the Evangelist or the Deacon is first mentioned in Acts 6 when the church selects seven people to distribute food. The first thing he does is to find Nathanael and tell him what happened. Can anything good come from there?" Nathanael asked. Nathanael is described as initially being skeptical about whether the Messiah could come from Nazareth, saying: "Can anything good come out of Nazareth? Like many in Israel, this was something (or someone) they were eagerly waiting and even searching for. Can anything good come from there?(I) Nathanael asked. Now Phillip had seen Jesus created wine out of water in Cana. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. His first response after meeting Jesus was to find his friend Nathaniel and tell him about a messiah. (This is one of the main arguments for assuming that all New Testament references to Mark are talking about John Mark, the traditional author of the Gospel of Mark. We find their names together side-by-side as companions. I want you to notice the expression Phillip used when he told Nathaniel about Jesus. In fact, the only time Nathanael is featured is in John 1 when he is first called to follow Jesus, and John 21:2, where he is mentioned along with those who returned to Galilee to go fishing with Peter after the resurrection. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Nathaniel was able to overcome his prejudice. Most of the earliest traditions seem to point to him being martyred in Hierapolis. we first meet Phillip the day after Jesus called Andrew, John, and Peter. In the Gospel of John, Nathanael is introduced as a friend of Philip, from Bethsaida (1:43-44). Philip said to him, "Come and see." John 21:1-6. Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! 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. He was also present at the Day of Pentecost, where he and the apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4). He also was among those surrounding John the Baptist when the . Moses: The Old Testaments Greatest Prophet, Two of Johns disciples followed Jesus (John 1:3537), The Bible only tells us that one was Andrew (John 1:40), The encounters seem to happen in the same location, Jesus may have been actively looking for Philip. Jesus knew Nathanaels heart. How can we get there., The disciples think theyre going to the Fathers house soon, and Jesus responds, If you really know me, you will know my Father as well., Philips basically trying to demonstrate his faith by saying, I dont even care about the details. Cana wasn't a prestigious town. Jesus calls us, even as he called Philip. What you saw was what you got. Jesus responds (seemingly harshly), Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God (Luke 9:60). This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. We know that Judas was in charge of the money, so it made sense that someone else would be in charge of coordination and distribution of meals and supplies. They were fisherman and worked alongside James and John. These men were called the 12 Disciples. 7 If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. . He didn't need to see any further proof. One of the best trees to plant near your house is a fig tree. However, from the beginning to the very end, Nathanael proved to be a faithful servant of Jesus Christ, a keen student of Scripture, and a bold witness to the power of Gods grace and forgiveness. Try Bible Gateway Plus free today! So if you wanted to escape the noise and the stifling atmosphere the house, you could go outside and rest under the fig tree. 10 Dont you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? That's why they responded so quickly to Jesus. 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). According to John, Nathaniel came from the small town of Cana in Galilee, the place where Jesus did his first miracle. Apparently Philip was also in the wilderness with John the Baptist. Its possible that they knew him personally, or perhaps he spoke Greek better than the other disciples (he did have a Greek name after all). Nathanael is the Hebrew of the Greek word Theodorus, God's gift. Okayalthough you can reclaim at least some of that joy. Jesus immediately characterizes him as "an Israelite in whom is no deceit". These cookies do not store any personal information. The disciple named Philip was, along with Peter and Andrew, from Bethsaida in Galilee ( John 1:44; 12:21 ). He belonged to the town to which Jesus was going (Cana of, Galilee, John 21:2 ). We anticipate our whole lives standing before the judgment seat of God and long to hear those words well done thy good and faithful servant. 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. It is interesting to note how Andrew and John came to Christ through the faithful preaching of John the Baptist. Same thing today. Either that or because he was the administrator of the group. 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. Start for FREE. January 14, 2018, Philip and Nathanael: A Story of Witnessing (John 1:43-51). Jesus went to find tentative Philip and Nathanael needed a little miracle to convince him that at least one good thing could come out of Nazareth. He is here to open heaven for us. (3) Philip is closely connected with Nathanael and also with Bartholomew. Not linked to together using the conjunction and like we see what the brothers Peter and Andrew or James and John. Was it the right thing to do? He was a man who worshipped God in spirit and in truth without deceit or hypocrisy. Nathanael (Bartholomew) was called after Philip told him about the Lord. Yes, Jesus is here, present in our midst. We dont know. Maybe he didnt think very highly of that town, we dont know. This suggests that both Phillip and Nathaniel knew the Old Testament prophecy. Heaven and earth meet here in Gods house, because Christ is present here. Phillip should have known better he had lived with Jesus day in and day out, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for over 18 months. Never heard of it. Or Luthern? Nathanael - The True Israelite Believed to Be the Apostle Bartholomew. The most remarkable thing about his calling was that he had simply said yes. Nathanael: It is believed that Bartholomew had ministered in Armenia and was flayed to death with knives in . The Synoptic Gospels list Philip as one of the apostles. Philip replied that it would take two hundred denari to buy bread enough to feed them (John 6:7). [2] He wanted to go by the book all the time. Go and tell. Phillip, like the other apostles was a man of weak faith and imperfect understanding. Invite the folks you knowyour friends and neighbors and your family membersinvite them to come and see. Prior to this eventful day, however, none of the Twelve had been ordained or set apart to their sacred office. Thats how it went with Philip and Nathanael. Joel Ryanis an author, writing professor, and contributing writer for Salem Web Network and Lifeway. Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. In most instances, Nathanael is listed among the twelve disciples as Bartholomew (Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:14; Acts 1:13). Heaven and earth meet in him. Though flawed, Nathanael was as honest and sincere as they come, and for his eagerness and willingness to embrace Jesus as his lord and king, Christ performed a mighty work in his life, taking an ordinary man and turning him into an outspoken leader and pillar of His church. Thats why we invite people. As a result, the church has doubted Eusebius account of Philip for nearly a millennia. They didn't believe that messiah could come out of Nazareth. Let's see, one denari can buy 12 wheat biscuits. He went and found someone he could share his joy with. But it does seem clear that the mention of Nazareth was an initial obstacle in Nathanaels mind. Its hard to say how Philip died, especially since he was confused with Philip the Evangelist early on, and there are conflicting accounts. Cana is very close to Jesus hometown of Nazareth. 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. Rather, Nathanael had developed a regional prejudice and bias against those from a nearby town, perhaps in the same way crosstown rivals might deride each other, or residents of Los Angeles and San Francisco might disparage each other. Nathaniel was prejudice. And when they come, what they will find here is Jesus giving out his gifts. In fact, Jesus was saying I know where your heart is, because I saw you under the fig tree. What we know about Bartholomew/Nathanael comes primarily from the account of . Following Philips breaking news, however, a second insight into Nathanaels character is revealed. Furthermore, both Philip and Nathanael had studied the Word of God on their own. The good. I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see!. No doubt Phillip had already begun counting heads. Next group comes James, Lebbaeus or Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot. Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. Well, Nathanaels initial objection is overcome by Philips pleasant persistence and his clear invitation. Phillip is the administrator -- the bean counter. Many believers came to Christ under his preaching. You have a sure hope to carry you through all the trials and afflictions of this life. That's all we know about Nathaniel. Jesus has found you and called you to follow him. Saw Nathanael Jesus certainly did. Once again, through their example we can see that we too can use our gifts to become all that Jesus wants us to become. His answer shows us the contempt Nathaniel felt for the people of Nazareth. They even tried to take them to a cliff and throw him off. And regardless of the fact that Jesus came from Nazareth, he was omniscient. Were about to discover that Phillip is not usually a very decisive person. Now that doesn't say they Jesus didn't seek out the others and invite them to be part of the group, because they had been directed by John. He was a founding Father of the early church and among the first to be martyred. 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. The Bible doesn't say Nathanael and Bartholomew are the same person. Jesus proved that in His interactions with these men. 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. Like Andrew, Philips first reaction after meeting Jesus was to go tell someone about him. James and John were brothers. It should be noted that James and John had the same father, Zebedee (Matthew 10:2) and Peter and Andrew were brothers (Matthew 10:2). We already looked at the passage were Philips says show us the father. Nazareth is the same way. Matthew, Mark, and Luke give us no details about Nathaniel's background, character, or personality. He might have been the same person as Nathanael. When you know the Lord, it affects the way you speak and act and live. 45 Philip found Nathaniel 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.. He said, 45 Philip found Nathaniel 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.. If anything will put some excitement and joy into your life, this will. 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. Nathaniel was a genuine spiritual child of the Abraham. Nathanael was willing to leave both job and long-held religious beliefs and follow Jesus. Proud member After Nathanaels initial hesitancy and question, and Jesus statement that He had seen Nathanael under the fig tree caused him to take notice of this Rabbi. He found us and brought his gospel to us and placed his call on our lives. Despite Nathanaels initial prejudice, Jesus saw through the sinful, the imperfect, and the ordinary to the eager heart of one who was willing to leave everything behind to follow Him. By his death on the cross, Jesus bridges the gap between us and God. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. And by his resurrection from the dead and ascension into heaven, he guarantees our own resurrection and eternal life in heaven. The fact that people will meet Jesus here at St. Matthew Lutheran Churchthat is what this church is all about. Indeed, in the Sacrament of the Altar, heaven and earth come together. But we can assume that their commitment to Jesus was complete and that their lives counted in the spread of the gospel and the establishment of the church.Prayer. After Philip finds Nathanael and tells him they have found the Messiah, the One who was promised in the Law of Moses and the Prophets, Nathanael makes his way to see this Jesus. And they both probably had an earnest desire to see the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. However, this tradition largely originates with Acts of Philip, a dubious fourth-century text which intermingled true accounts with legends, including a narrative involving a dragon. He who has seen Me has seen the Father.. And so Jesus not only is the King of Israel, he is the king who ushers in the everlasting kingdom of heaven in our midst. He had the ability to read Nathaniel's heart. He is called Nathanael in John 1. He found Nathanael, presumably someone he knew or had some kind of relationship with. If you remember back to our study of Peter, Jesus didn't actually say follow me to Peter until the end of his earthly ministry (John 21:19) after his failure on the night of Jesus the trail. Hi, What proof do you have that Philip and Nathanael were brothers? Follow me, he says to each one of us. 6 Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life. John writes, "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" ( John 1:45 ). By and large he didn't see the whole picture, or the end of the road. Geneva Study Bible Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES) Meyer's NT Commentary Luke 6:14-16. The Apostles Philip and Nathanael. Polycrates seems to have clearly blurred the two Philips, and Eusebius never caught the mistake. get to know the Bible better! He who has seen Me has seen the Father. (John 14:8-9).Philip and Nathanael were ordinary men with an extraordinary calling. They are apparently close friends. But the important fact is that Philip followed Jesus and he went immediately to invite his brother Nathanael to follow Him. Jesus is telling them in this clearest possible language that he is God and to know him is to know the father. Unlike the Pharisees and religious scholars of their day, these men were not academic elites. Phillips closest companion is Nathaniel. 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. He was not a hypocrite. As Jesus predicted in John 1:51, they were present at the ascension of Jesus and saw heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man. They were able to observe first-hand that Jesus is the bridge between earth and heaven. For one thing, its evident that both men had been students of the Old Testament prior to meeting Jesus. 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. In Nathanael, Christ had found a genuine and authentic believer. He reappears (as "Nathanael of Cana") at the end of John's Gospel, as one of the disciples to whom Jesus appeared at the Sea of Galilee after the Resurrection. But theres good reason to believe there are probably two different people named Philip. Our Lord uses us as his instruments to invite others, so that they can hear Christs call to faith and discipleship. It was inconceivable to Nathaniel that the messiah would come from a tacky place like Nazareth. Luke writes: So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 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. Imagine the amazement of the disciples as they participated in this miracle and saw the crowd fed, with a dozen baskets left over from the overflow.Philip was good about bringing people to Jesus. Nathaniel lived in a society that was prejudice by temperament. Another tradition says that he was crucified. Bartholomew is a Hebrew surname meaning "son of Tolmai.". The formal training of the 12 was over and yet their faith was still weak. . Cana itself is located only a few miles north of Jesus hometown in Nazareth and just a few miles west of Bethsaida, where Nathanaels good friend Philip was from (John 1:44). Likewise, Philip, when Jesus called him, went to his brother Nathanael and said, We have found Him (meaning the Messiah foretold by Moses and the prophets). The Messiah has come! There he is called, "Nathanael of Cana in Galilee.". You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. You would have no meaning, no purpose in life. By the grace of God, Nathanael was chosen to follow Christ. Or stoned to death. Nathanael (Hebrew , Greek: , "God has given"), also known as Nathaniel[1] of Cana was a disciple of Jesus, mentioned only in chapters 1 and 21 of the Gospel of John. 43The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Joshua in the Old Testament, which means Yahweh is salvation, or as Matthew 1:21 records for he will save his people from their sins. Thats how it was for Philip. John relates the first, introductory meeting of Jesus with Andrew, John, Peter, Philip, and Nathanael. Come and see, said Philip. John 1:4346. While there are some variations in the order the apostles appear and even the names they went by, Philip is listed in all of them. He was familiar with what the prophets had said. Apostles Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, and Matthew . 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? And so Nathan-el, Nathanael is a gift of God. No one comes to the Father except through me. This time were going to look through Phillip's eyes. Instead he told Jesus that I couldn't be done. Again let me say that it is probable that they were all friends or co-workers. In fact it isnt today either. [2][7] This is not supported by any early, reliable Christian tradition. Nathanaels name is never directly mentioned again in the New Testament. Jesus died on the cross as our substitute, taking our sin and death on himself, thus opening heaven and eternal life to us. 43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. Like Andrew, Philip was ready in his heart to receive Jesus as his Master.