FY 4
February 4
John 1:43 to 51. Philip leads Nathanael to Christ.
It is very interesting to know how holy men were brought to the knowledge of Christ. In this passage we have an account of the means by which Philip and Nathanael were first led to their Savior. Jesus himself found Philip, and said, "Follow me." Have we heard the voice of Jesus thus speaking to our hearts? He does thus call to us from heaven. May we have grace to reply, "Lord, I will follow you." When David heard the Lord say, "Seek my face," he replied, "Your face, Lord, will I seek." (Ps. 27.)
Philip acted as Andrew had done before; he endeavored to persuade his friend to come to Jesus. He behaved openly and frankly to Nathanael; he did not conceal from him that the Lord he had found was called Jesus of Nazareth. Nathanael was prejudiced against Nazareth because of the bad character of its inhabitants, and naturally exclaimed, "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" Philip did not stop to argue with him, but said, "Come and see." He was full of hope that the same word which had such power with him would convince Nathanael also. Philip sets us an example how to behave to our relations and friends. It is better to say, "Come and see," than to argue much with them. Let us try and persuade them to read the Bible which has taught us to pray to that God who has had mercy on us. If we can only induce them "to come and see," to apply to the Lord themselves, we may feel sure that they will be brought to the knowledge of the true Savior.
With what great kindness did the Lord treat Nathanael! He knew that he had doubts, and he removed them. He did this in a very remarkable way. When he saw him coming he described his character. "Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit." By saying this, he showed Nathanael he was acquainted with his secret thoughts. He declared that Nathanael was a sincere man—this was great praise. Jesus had seen many hypocrites, but he had seen few sincere people.
It is very uncommon to be sincere. Most people think they are sincere. They will say, "Though I do not pretend to be religious, yet I am not a hypocrite—I am sincere." But these people deceive themselves. Let us consider what it is to be sincere. It is to be really anxious to find out our sins, and to forsake them. The sincere man says, with David, "Search me, O God, and know my heart—try me, and know my thoughts, and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Ps. 139:23, 24. The sincere man desires that every evil thought may be taken away; he longs to have his heart cleansed; therefore he is often in prayer to God, confessing his sins. As soon as he suspects that any of his practices are wrong, he inquires whether they really are sinful; and if he finds they are contrary to God's word, he forsakes them, however much he may lose by giving them up. Is this a common character? Is this our character? Do we thus walk with God? Does Jesus say of you or me, "Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit?"
Nathanael was surprised to find that Jesus knew him, but he was more astonished still when he discovered that he had seen him under the fig-tree. No doubt he had been confessing his sins beneath the shade of a thick fig-tree, where no human eye could see him. God had answered his prayers, by leading him to the Savior. Nathanael could no longer doubt; he acknowledged Jesus to be the Son of God, the King of Israel.
Then Jesus promised that the day would come when he would see angels ascending and descending upon the Son of man. To what day did he refer? Was it not to the day when he will come again in the glory of his Father with all his holy angels? Both his enemies and his friends will then perceive that he is the Son of God. Every eye shall see Him, (Rev. 1.) Some shall wail when they see Him whom they despised and neglected, sitting on the throne of judgment; but some will rejoice when they behold Him to whom they often prayed under fig-trees or in closets, sitting on his throne of glory amid ten thousand times ten thousand angels. Are there any here who often pray to Christ in secret? Is it not a comfort to you to think that he sees you, and that he will acknowledge you as his children at the great day?