John 1:45-51 - Homiletics

The calling of Nathanael.

After Jesus finds Philip, Philip finds Nathanael. "One lighted torch serves to light another, and thus faith is propagated."

I. THE CHARACTER OF NATHANAEL , OR BARTHOLOMEW . He was a devout Jew, a student of Scripture, of a thoughtful temper, and of prayerful habits. He was above all a guileless Israelite: "An Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile."

II. THE DIFFICULTIES OF NATHANAEL . "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?"

1 . A guileless man may have prejudices as well as difficulties ; but in this case the difficulties were of more account than the prejudices, because they may have been grounded upon the fact that there was no prediction of a Messiah issuing from Nazareth.

2 . It is not inconsistent with his guileless character that he should refuse to be satisfied without sufficient reason. Nathanael was not a simpleton, to be carried about by every wind of doctrine or by every false Christ.

3 . It is a proof of a genuinely sincere and straightforward nature that sufficient evidence brings full persuasion to his mind. It is not enough that Jesus unveils his character; he must also give him evidence of a power to know all that Nathanael did as well as thought. "Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee."

III. CONSIDER HOW CHRIST DEALS WITH A GUILELESS MAN . Our Lord uses many tests according to the different characters of men.

1 . There is no test like that of personal experience. "Come and see," said Philip. It is impossible to conceive of wiser counsel. Few doubters are influenced by reasoning and argument. Philip says to Nathanael, "I have found a Saviour: come and see him for yourself."

2 . Christ welcomes the guileless inquirer. This is evident from the encouraging insight expressed, in the words, "Behold an Israelite indeed!"

3 . Christ satisfies him, for he wins his fairly. Nathanael utters the emphatic testimony: "Thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel"—a testimony at once to Christ's Divinity and his Messiahship.

4 . Christ promises a still fuller satisfaction to the intellect and heart of all disciples. "From henceforth ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man."

5 . Christ reveals himself to the whole race of man as the Son of man. This chapter is singularly rich in the names that are ascribed to Christ. It contains no less than twenty-one names or titles of him. But the most precious to the believer's heart, in the longing for sympathy, is that which Christ only applies to himself, "the Son of man."