Let me briefly outline five reasons we should invite our non-Christian family and friends to our Guest Service this Sunday.
43The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." 44Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45Philip 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." 46Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." 47Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!" 48Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." 49Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" --John 1:43-49
First, God saved Philip so he could tell others about Jesus.
In verse 43 we see Jesus calling Philip to follow him. Philip followed and believed and testified to Nathaniel in verse 45 that "We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." Philip’s salvation was not an end in itself. Jesus saved Philip so that Philip would tell others about Jesus.
Second, Philip invited Nathaniel to “Come and see” Jesus.
What is important about Philip’s invitation is that he invites Nathaniel after hearing his skepticism about Jesus, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” If I was Philip, I doubt I would have continued that conversation much longer, let alone invite Nathaniel to “Come and see” Jesus. But Philip, fully convinced that Jesus is the Messiah, boldly invites Nathaniel to “Come and see.”
Third, Nathaniel, though a skeptic, accepted the invitation.
This is even more amazing, Nathaniel comes. Maybe it was because he wanted to see this man from Nazareth that impressed his friend Philip so much. Obviously God was drawing Nathaniel to Jesus, but God used Philip’s relationship with Nathaniel to get his attention. Nathaniel must have thought highly of Philip for Philip’s testimony to have such an influential impact on Nathaniel. Our relationships and witness to non-Christians are significant in their lives.
Fourth, Jesus had extraordinary foreknowledge of Nathaniel.
There were greater forces at work here than just the force of Philip’s invitation; Jesus was drawing Nathaniel to himself. We see this foreknowledge when Jesus responds to Nathaniel in verse 48 "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." Yes, Jesus saw Nathaniel, but it was obviously more than sight. Nathaniel’s question was “How do you know me?” Jesus knew Nathaniel from eternity past. Jesus’ knowledge of Nathaniel obviously impressed him.
Fifth, Nathaniel, despite his skepticism, when confronted with Jesus believed.
Nathaniel’s response in verse 49 is incredible, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" Nathaniel didn’t just confirm Philip’s finding or just affirm that Jesus was the Messiah, he said, “You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" This Jesus from Nazareth, from where nothing good can come, is the Son of God, the King of Israel, the Messiah, the Savior of the world.
Do you need any more reason to extend invitations to our Guest Service this Sunday? Do you know any skeptics? Jesus wants to meet them this Sunday.
