THE GRACE OF GOD IN CALLING PEOPLE TO HIMSELF

Come, Follow Me  •  Sermon  •  Submitted
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JOHN 1:43-51

THE GRACE OF GOD IN CALLING PEOPLE TO HIMSELF

Charles Spurgeon, the prince of preacher once said,
“Every Christian is either a missionary or an imposter.” - Charles Spurgeon
If we examine ourselves today, which one are you???
When you hear the word missionary, you would think of someone who goes to far away places to share the gospel…It correct, but incomplete definition. But you know what, A missionary is simply a person who has a mission – and that mission is to share the good news of Jesus Christ to the lost, and the mission starts at the home…It’s not about the place – it’s about the mission!
Jesus came into the World with a Mission! In fact, a RESCUE MISSION.
The whole of Scripture points to God seeking out lost human beings and finding them.
Remember the parable of the lost sheep, the lost coins or of the Prodigal son in Luke 15:3–7; Luke 15:8-10)
Luke 15:3–7 NASB95
3 So He told them this parable, saying, 4 “What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? 5 “When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 “And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ 7 “I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
The “Come, Follow Me” series is for us to be reminded that as followers of Jesus, God wants us to be the instruments that God will use to bridge others to know Jesus and to follow Jesus! You and I are to be the witnesses for Jesus wherever God placed you and wherever you go!
Here in our passage, we find Jesus calling his first disciples in the beginning of His earthly ministry….
The Call of Philip and Nathanael
I. God Initiates the Calling
A. Jesus found Philip and called him to Follow Jesus (vv.43-44)
John 1:43–44 NASB95
43 The next day He purposed to go into Galilee, and He found Philip. And Jesus said to him, “Follow Me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter.
a. Jesus commanded Philip to Follow him!
Jesus initiates the calling.
God is constantly looking for those who belong to Him.
Jesus already knew who are those belonging to Him
Eph. 1:3-6
Ephesians 1:3–6 NASB95
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
The calling of Philip to become a believer and disciple of Christ was not an accident.
II. The Calling is not based on human factors (environment / education / family / status)
a. Philip’s place of origin (Bethsaida) is mentioned (v.44)
John 1:44 NASB95
44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter.
· Bethsaida was a wicked place (Mt. 11:21), yet even there was a remnant, according to the election of grace.
c. Who is Philip???
the name: Philʹip [a lover of a horse]
Notable Traits of Philip:
Brings Nathanael to Jesus (John 1:45–50)
Assists in caring for the multitude whom Jesus miraculously feeds (John 6:5–7)
Brings certain Greeks to Jesus who desire to see him (John 12:20–22)
Asks Jesus to show the Father (John 14:8–13)
III. Nathanael was invited to Christ by Philip. (v.45)
John 1:45 NASB95
45 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.”
a. Philip brought a joyful news to Nathanael
- Philip, probably because of the joy he experienced upon seeing Jesus and talking to Jesus, he immediately shared the good news to Nathanael!
- Who doesn’t like to share a good news???
- He said, “we have found” - Philip did not knew at that time that it was Jesus who found him!
- Philip is familiar with the OT Scriptures and is expectant of the coming Messiah!
- The witnessing usually starts from your close family and friends…
Testimony of Jesus’ first disciples.
John’s testimony to Jesus’ messiahship, 35–37
- Resulted in Andrew’s conversion, (vv.38–40)
- Andrew’s testimony in turn won Simon (v42)
- Philip was called, v43. He was of Bethsaida, on the Sea of Galilee near Capernaum (v.44)
- He testified of the Messiah and won Nathanael (v.45)
IV. Nathanael’s Objection (v.46)
John 1:46 NASB95
46 Nathanael said to him, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”
a. Nathanael is a cautious man – and it is commendable! He want’s to examine first before he will believe…
But Nathanael’s objection is based on ignorance of the truth of Jesus’s real Birthplace – Bethlehem.
b. Nathanael’s prejudice / bias against the people living in Nazareth– Praise God that God is not bias towards us.
Prejudice – preconceived judgment / opinion whether positive (favouritism) or negative (discrimination)
Example: The Pharisees’ prejudice against Jesus. They have seen the miracles and yet they did not believe…
Who is Nathanael?
"Nathanael" (meaning "God has given" or "given of God," modern Theodore)
John 1:46 NASB95
46 Nathanael said to him, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”
c. Philip’s reply “Come and See” – Philip has not yet fully understand/grasp who Jesus is and so he cannot give a satisfactory answer to Nathanael.
"The words contain the essence of the true solution of religious doubts”
- Come and See, not “Go and See”. He said “come” – I will go with you!
- When bringing people to Christ, go with that person, guide that person until He meet Christ.
- Do not just introduce Christ from afar! But bring that person to Christ! Come and SEE!
Observation:
a. Many people shy away from Christ because of people claiming to be Christians but are ignorant of God’s Truth, secondly because of blatant disobedience to God’s commands.
Example:
a. Dili ko mag apil-apil anang Born-again kay wala man sila kahibalo sa ilang gitoohan, wala man pud nay hanaw. Ug pangutan-on unsa diay nang Born-again, mag ambot lang raman….
b. Dili ko mag apil-apil anang Born-again kay pareha rana sa Katoliko, mao raman gihapon ang kinabuhi, walay kausaban. Libakera, palahubog, palaaway ra gihapon…
V. Nathanael Came and Saw (vv. 47-50)
John 1:47–50 NASB95
47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” 48 Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” 49 Nathanael answered Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel.” 50 Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these.”
a. Jesus commended Nathanael for his integrity.
- “A true Israelite, in whom nothing is false” –Israelite is used positively for true followers of God.
- Jesus sees what is in the heart of Nathanael.
- And much to his surprise, Jesus refers to seeing Nathanael “under a fig tree” at an earlier time. - Jesus has a capacity for knowing that is more than human; Jesus knows Nathanael before Nathanael knows him.
- Nathanael has witnessed a miracle. And from it, he decides to make a remarkable step of faith.[1]
VI. Nathanael’s Confession of Belief to Jesus (v.49)
John 1:49 NASB95
49 Nathanael answered Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel.”
a. - Nathanael has witnessed a miracle. And from it, he decides to make a remarkable step of faith.
His declaration: You are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel
b. A personal encounter with Jesus will ultimately change one’s life and belief.
Illustration:
Over the years, millions of lives have been changed because of the preaching of the gospel, including me!
When I was not yet a follower of Jesus, I saw Jesus as a SAVIOR but not as LORD or MASTER that I must follow. I was religious… but faithless. I have knowledge about Jesus…but I have no LOVE for Jesus…but by God’s sovereignty and wisdom, It all changed when God sent someone to share the Gospel to me….I heard and came to understand the Gospel. I encountered in the Gospel the message of God’s LOVE for me…and I came to follow Jesus… Now, 14 years later, by God’s grace, still joyfully SERVING Jesus, the Son of God – The King of the Universe…
VII. Jesus, The Son of Man represents Jacob’s Ladder. (v51)
John 1:51 NASB95
51 And He said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
- Angel of God ascending and descending…
- Jesus used the imagery of Jacob's dream at Bethel (Gen. 28:10-22), to describe the greater revelation that Nathanael and his fellow disciples— the "you" in the Greek text is plural—would receive. The "opening of the heavens" pictures the insight that people on earth receive into what God is doing in heaven.
- Jesus was promising Nathanael that He would prove to be the key to access to God and communication with God (cf. John 14:6 )
John 14:6 NASB95
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
- Jesus is the only way – we cannot create a ladder to heaven.
Reflection (Look)
- Reflection 1: You may think that it was you who looked for Jesus and found Jesus. No, it was Jesus who found you! WE are the ones that were lost, not Jesus!
- It was Jesus who choose you before the foundation of the world to know his great Love. To experience the fullness of his joy! To be holy and blameless in his sight.
- Reflection 2: You are still alive and breathing…why? What could be God’s reason for keeping you alive?
God could have taken your life last year or last week or yesterday, or an hour ago…and there would be no problem with that…the earth will continue to revolve…nothing much will change…but God did not…. He gave you another day….He gave breath to your nostrils…He gave you wisdom to know HIM! WHY???? God has given you a mission! (Matthew 28:18-20)
Matthew 28:18–20 NASB95
18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Application / Proper Response:
- Proper Response 1: Praise God for choosing you!
praise God for the people who shared the Gospel to you...
send them a text, give them a call, just let them know that you are thankful!
- Proper Response 2: Like Philip and Nathanael, wholeheartedly believe in Jesus. Be fully convinced daily!
- Proper Response 3: Lead others to follow Jesus! As you have experienced the joy in the Lord, make it your highest goal and priority for other people to know Jesus!
You don’t need to know everything to be able to lead other people to Jesus. Philip did not…You understand the gospel, you live by the gospel – share that!
You don’t need to be perfect to be able to lead other people to Jesus. The disciples were not…Be like the beggar who tells other beggar where the source of food is. Your family needs Jesus…Your workmates needs Jesus…lead them to the source of life! Tell them…Come and See---I will go with you to discover the truth!
CLOSING ILLUSTRATION
Stan Telchin, a successful Jewish businessman, felt betrayed when his daughter, Judy, twenty-one, called home from college to say, “I believe Jesus is the Messiah.”
To prove his daughter wrong, Telchin began an energetic quest for truth. So did Stan’s wife, Ethel, and their other daughter, Ann. When the search created friction between Stan and Ethel, they agreed to pursue their studies independently.
Months later, Stan accepted an invitation to attend a National Convocation of Messianic Jews. He planned to “work the convention” just like any other business, meeting with anyone he thought could help him.
After a series of meetings, Stan lay awake in his dorm room, realizing he had arrived at a point of crisis. If the Bible was true—and he had concluded it was—then he really did believe in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He also admitted that he believed in the Bible as God’s inspired Word. But he couldn’t quite say, “Jesus is the Messiah.”
He asked his roommate to pray for him. Art obliged, praying simply, “God, give Stan your peace, and resolve his inner conflict.”
The next morning at breakfast, a man at Stan’s table asked him to pray before the meal. Startled by the request, Stan bowed his head and said: “Praised be Thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe. I thank you for the fellowship and the friendship at this table. I thank you for what we have learned at this meeting. I ask you now to bless this food, and I do so … in the name of Jesus, the Messiah.”
For a moment, he sat there, amazed at what he had just prayed. The faces of others at the table were suddenly jubilant. “Stan,” said one of them, “you’re a believer!” One by one they got up from their seats and hugged Stan. Several cried with joy.
Stan began to weep too. He wasn’t sure how his wife would take the news, but he called her, blurting out, “Ethel, honey, it’s me. It’s over. I’ve made my decision. Jesus is the Messiah!”
There was a pause on the other line as Stan held his breath. Then his wife said softly, “Thank God! That makes it unanimous. We’ve all been waiting for you.”
Stan’s entire family—his wife and both daughters—had decided to trust Christ as the Messiah. Each had been praying and waiting patiently for the Holy Spirit of Christ to draw Stan into a relationship with himself.
—Story told in Stan Telchin, Betrayed (Chosen, 1981)[1]
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