John 1:45

John 1:45

Philip’s first concern after finding the Messiah was to seek after his friend Nathanael and share the good news with him. As followers of the Christ, we are still obligated to share the goods news of His saving grace to all we know and do not know. This must yet remain our passion and our mission. With missionary joy and excitement Philip endeavors to share his new found faith and discovery. He enthusiastically bears witness to what He has so far seen, heard and experienced. He simply discloses with unshakable assurance “. . . We have found him . . .” (45).

Today we have made it so complex and complicated. Isn’t that still the whole crux of the matter just to simply share with others what we have found in Him and what we have experienced? Just tell them about this Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph of whom Moses and the prophets wrote – the Messiah! With missionary zeal we declare Him!

Even before receiving intense instructions or attending a new – converts class these early disciples felt the need to spontaneously share their newfound faith with their close friends and family. They could not be stopped or silenced. They immediately, impulsively felt the need to share, to proclaim, to evangelize. It really was like a burning fire shut up within their bones (Jeremiah 20:9). They just couldn’t contain it. It explosively came out of their mouths with intense passion. They exuberantly shared and excitedly talked about Jesus. As Philip spoke to Nathanael about this Jesus the reader could still actually feel the passion, the intensity, the joy. I pray that this same excitement envelops the church of 2024 again. Talk about Jesus!

When Jesus found Philip in verse 43 of John 1, He simply challenged him to be like Him. “Follow Me” Jesus said. “Become like Me, be like Me, follow me closely” and that’s exactly what Philip did. As Jesus went after Philip; Philip went after Nathanael. He went out and did exactly what Jesus had done to him. Jesus had deliberately sought after Philip and found him (v43). Now following the example of His Lord, he intentionally went out and found his friend Nathanael to share the good news of encountering Jesus with him.

Today, may the Savior help us not to be fake disciples. We do everything else but evangelize and bring souls to Jesus. So many times, we come to church just to have a good time and to be entertained. We sometimes fight among ourselves, grumble, complain, criticize, murmur and condemn. We are so busy rejoicing in ourselves, congratulating ourselves and pampering ourselves that very little effort is put into soul-winning and evangelizing. If we were real disciples, we would have very little time to fight among ourselves, fighting for position or finding fault with each other. We would be so much about the Master’s business that they would have to come back and get us like Mary and Joseph had to do with Jesus, even at the age of 12 in the temple (Luke 2:49).

Jesus said “Follow Me.” We are followers of the Christ. A Christian, put plainly and simply is a “follower of Christ.” Our task is not that hard! He is the pattern. We came here, we’re put here only to follow Him. Wasting no time let us evangelistically declare again to all our friends, loved ones and associates “We have found him.” They are waiting on us! It’s not that hard!