GOOD NEWS FROM ST. JOHN
Meditations in the Gospel of St. John
St. John 1:43-51
=====

THERE are a number interesting and important thoughts which are to be found in these few verses. We need to pray, as we notice them, that the Holy Spirit may apply them to our lives for our spiritual understanding and growth.

The first thing we can learn is the sovereign call of Philip by Jesus in verse 43. Jesus finds Philip and says ‘Follow me’, and what is implied by the narrative is that Philip immediately obeyed and followed Jesus - that is became a firm disciple of Jesus. It is apparent from the next verse that Philip gained a true and deep appreciation as to who Jesus was. Philip followed Jesus and believed on him as the promised Messiah and Saviour.

Every conversion is a similar sovereign call. The bible tells us that we are naturally spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1-3). There is no way we would believe in Jesus and follow him, unless we are called with a sovereign call; nor would there be deep faith which we see in Philip. Philip had a lot still to learn just as every believer has also. What is true is that we are believers not by our choice, but by the choice of God to show us mercy and favour, and because of this choice we are called by God to faith by this sovereign call which creates faith in us in Jesus as God and Saviour.

Next let us notice the enthusiasm and faith of Philip. He followed Jesus because he was taught by the Holy Spirit that Jesus was the Christ, the one appointed by God to save and to bless. Here is the essence of true conversion. We come to an understanding concerning Jesus as our God and Saviour, and we are brought to place our lives in his hands and under his control. When true conversion happens in this way, there is an enthusiasm for Jesus which we can’t deny.

This enthusiasm will be seen in devotion to Jesus, and also in a desire to share our joy and faith with others. Philip was thrilled with his new found faith. Jesus was precious to him and he immediately shared it with Nathanael. But it is good to notice how he did this sharing. He did it with enthusiasm so that Nathanael was left in no doubt that Philip had found someone very precious to him. Then when Nathanael showed some scepticism, he did not argue or press, but simply said, ‘Come and see’ (v.46). There is a very important lesson here. When we witness it must be done in such a way that it is plain how wonderful Jesus is, otherwise we will simply proclaim something negative, uninteresting, and something that is what we ought to do rather than what is joyous to do. Also successful witness is never done by argument and pressure, but rather by invitation to come and prove that Jesus is wonderful, and is truly God and Saviour. We need to work at both these points, so that we may become more able to witness in this way.

It is plain that Jesus was a man, and truly human. His divinity and Godhead was veiled, but there is no doubt that Jesus was God, from the many evidences of his divine power which the Gospels reveal. There is one such revelation here. We see the omniscience of Jesus. Jesus knew what only God could know. Jesus told Nathanael that he had seen him under the fig-tree. When Nathanael was nowhere in the vicinity of Jesus, and completely out of his sight, Jesus saw him and knew him. Not only this, but we see from the narrative that Jesus had knowledge into the character of Nathanael even though he had never met him in the flesh before this time. Jesus said of him, as he approached, that he was someone who was true through and through - nothing false in him. Here is divine omniscience. Jesus knew all about Nathanael. The Godhead of Jesus shines through in an unmistakable way.

Lastly, we have some tremendous words of revelation from Jesus. He speaks first to Nathanael saying, ‘you will see greater things than this’. Then Jesus speaks to them all, ‘I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of God’. I don’t think it is possible to say exactly what Jesus is referring too when he mentions angels ascending and descending on him, but there is glorious truth here which we can glean from these words.

Jesus tells Nathanael that he will see much, much greater things than Jesus simply knowing all about him. I believe there is no doubt that the greater things Jesus is referring to is his tremendous and complete victory over Satan, sin, death and hell on the cross, and the wonderful proof of this victory in Christ’s resurrection from the dead. I believe that Jesus amplifies this revelation in the last verse (v.51) to all the disciples present, and what he is saying is that He would open heaven, and open access to heaven, and that the ascending and descending on him means that this is through Jesus and his victory that access to heaven is found and achieved.

All through his earthly ministry Jesus continually was making revelations concerning the great salvation that he had come to work out, and making this revelation in clearer and clearer terms. Here is one of the first times he reveals this great event and truth, and so we must not be surprised that it may be a little obscure. Whatever the whole meaning of verse 51 it certainly tells us this glorious news that heaven is opened to all believers through Jesus our Saviour.