John 1:43-51; 2 Corinthians 4:7-10; Proverbs 3:1-8
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Andrew went and told Simon. Philip went and told Nathanael. Telling the Good News about Jesus was the original “friends and family” plan! Isn’t it the case that, when you find something new and good, you want to tell others about it? “You’ve got to try this new restaurant!” “We found the greatest little winery.” “Oh, this little bakery, simply amazing!” “Have you read so-and-so’s new book? It’s sooooo good!” “Oh, man, that was the best movie!” News that is that good, we simply can’t keep it to ourselves. We don’t want to! We’re champing at the bit to tell someone! Which begs the question, why is it often so difficult to tell the Good News about Jesus? Why is it so difficult to invite someone to come to church with you?
Philip didn’t have any difficulty telling Nathanael. Philip was overflowing with joy so that he, literally, couldn’t contain himself. In fact, even when Nathanael didn’t respond with equal enthusiasm, Philip didn’t argue or give up, but he simply invited Nathanael to come and see for himself. Philip was convinced of who Jesus was. “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote.” That is to say, the Holy Spirit, working through God’s word, the Holy Scriptures, created faith in Philip and convicted him in the truth that Jesus was the promised Messiah who had come in fulfillment of the Scriptures. So, a great measure of Philip’s confidence and boldness came from the Holy Spirit who had been working and sustaining Philip’s faith for some time. Clearly Philip was a hearer and a student of God’s word. He knew the messianic prophecies and he was watching and waiting for the signs of their fulfillment. And, because he knew God’s word Philip also could see for himself that Jesus was fulfilling everything that was written about Him.
One thing is certain: You must receive and experience a good thing yourself before you can tell others about it and invite them to come and see for themselves. It’s unlikely that you would tell others to visit a restaurant that you haven’t dined at. How would you know if the food, the service, the décor, were any good? Similarly, you wouldn’t recommend a plumber you hadn’t used. So it is that you share with others what you have first received yourself. And, if a restaurant is good, you aren’t likely to stop dining there simply because someone you told about it wouldn’t go. Are you going to give up on a good, dependable, and honest plumber just because someone you recommended him to didn’t take your advice? No, of course not. Philip wasn’t discouraged by Nathanael’s cynical reply, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” but he simply smiled at him and said, “Come and see.”
What should you say? Just tell them why you believe, why you have hope, why you come to church, why it matters. What if they don’t reply in the affirmative? So what? Invite them to come and see for themselves. It’s impossible to know what you’re missing if you don’t give it a try.
And, what about Nathanael’s reply anyway? “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Surely, you’ve met with cynicism like this before; likely you’ve even uttered it yourself. Let’s be honest, it’s hard not to be cynical today. The problems and failings of our culture and society are multitude and self-evident and seemingly everywhere. Nazareth was a backwater village in southwest Galilee. It likely had a population of five hundred or so and wasn’t adjacent to a large city. Locally, it might have been like Bremer. If anything of interest was going to happen, it was unlikely to happen in Nazareth. However, what was true about Nazareth was also true about Jesus Himself. There was nothing showy about Jesus’ appearance, He wasn’t wealthy, and, though His parents were descendants of David, they did not have power or authority, but Jesus was the son of a carpenter, and as Isaiah had prophesied, “he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.” Now, when met with such cynicism you might be tempted to argue and defend your position. That is unlikely to help, and that is not what Philip did. Just keep smiling, stay positive, don’t let your joy be quelled, and say, “Well, why don’t you come and see?”
You see, there’s more going on in your interactions with other people. The Holy Spirit is at work. You don’t change people’s hearts, but the Spirit does, when and where it pleases Him. It’s like a farmer sowing seeds: All you can do is share the Good News and the hope that is in you. The Holy Spirit will water, fertilize, and cause those seeds to grow and mature where and when it pleases Him. Philip simply said to Nathanael, “Come and see.” When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, he said, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” Before Philip had called him, Jesus had already seen Nathanael sitting under a fig tree. Jesus already knew Nathanael, and Philip was the means through which He called him. Some have speculated that Nathanael had been studying the Scriptures under the fig tree, particularly those prophecies concerning the coming Messiah. Thus, when Nathanael finally saw Jesus, he could see for himself that Jesus was indeed “The Son of God” and “The King of Israel.” Your concern is not who responds in the right way, but only that you share with others the hope, joy, confidence, contentment, and peace you have received and invite them to come and see for themselves. But know that the Holy Spirit is calling, gathering, and enlightening where and when it pleases Him to do so, and that He will do it through you as well.
It’s a hard thing in today’s world to invite others to come and see Jesus. It may be off-putting, and it may put relationships at risk. It may earn you the painful reward of having all sorts of things spoken against you on behalf of Jesus (Jesus says in such a case you are blessed). It can create fear to think about the uncertainty of people’s response to your invitation. They may accept the invite. They may utterly despise it and lash out at you. More than likely, they will deflect it and cling to other distractions from what is spiritually healthy for them. The LORD gives you this promise in Psalm 121: “I will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.” As a child of God, redeemed by Jesus Christ you possess an eternal life that this world just cannot lay a finger upon. Even the dangers against you are used to be a blessing for you. That’s how the LORD keeps you day to day. The same Lord who redeemed you has ascended into heaven and rules and reigns over all things. do you think that there is any area of your life where Jesus does not have authority? Of course not.
Our inviting others to come and see is merely what we do as fellow beneficiaries of Christ’s gifts. There’s more than enough to go around, as our Lord is generous toward all. And what of rejection? It cannot harm us with Christ our Lord daily keeping us in our goings out and our comings in.
Lord Jesus Christ, You have so blessed us with salvation. Help us to cast off all fears and invite others to church while trusting in Your keeping of us each day.
In the + Name of Jesus. Amen.
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