Lesson 13 – Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael
Jesus called Philip and Nathanael to believe in Him. In Jesus, access to heaven is given to all who believe.
Opening
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
The Sunday School lessons have covered events in Jesus' life, prophecies about the Messiah, and how Jesus fulfilled them. And so each of us must answer the most important question in life: Who is Jesus?
Watch the video,"TrueU #3: Who ls Jesus?".
Prayer: Dear Jesus, You made eternal life with You real for us. Even though You did this for us, we sometimes question and doubt. Help us to know You as our Savior, recognize Your work in our lives, trust Your Word, and increase our desire to do Your will. In Your name we pray. Amen.
God Speaks
What qualities would you look for in a new friend? Answers might include truthfulness, faithfulness, kindness, and similar interests.
Read and follow the directions on the Student Page at the end of the lesson.
Read John 1:43-46
What did Jesus say to Philip? What does this mean? Jesus said, "Follow Me”. This was an invitation to become Jesus' student or disciple.
What did Philip have in common with Peter and Andrew? All came from Bethsaida, a village on the shore of the Sea of Galilee.
What did Philip tell Nathanael about Jesus? Philip said they found the One of whom Moses and the prophets wrote, Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth.
How did Nathanael respond? Did he believe or not? Nathanael asked, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" He did not believe.
What did Philip say to convince Nathanael to go with him? "Come and see.”
Read John 1:7-49
What is deceit? Deceit is an action or practice of deceiving someone by concealing or misrepresenting the truth. It's dishonest behavior meant to trick someone or distort the truth.
How did Jesus' greeting pique Nathanael's interest? Jesus said, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!" Translation: Here is a man who speaks the truth and does not lie, or who speaks his mind. Nathanael must have agreed because he did not dispute Jesus' words. Perhaps he wondered how Jesus knew him.
What else did Jesus tell Nathanael? How could Jesus know this? Jesus said He saw Nathanael under a fig tree before Philip found Him. Jesus knew this because, as God, He knows all things. This let Nathanael know Jesus' identity.
How did Nathanael respond? Did he believe or not? Nathanael said Jesus is the Son of God, the King of Israel. Yes, Nathanael believed in Jesus.
Read John 1:50-51
What else did Jesus tell Nathanael he would see? Did this come true? Jesus said Nathanael would see greater things than this. Yes, as one of the twelve disciples, Nathanael saw Jesus do many amazing things: feed thousands of people with a little bit of food, walk on water, calm a storm, and heal many.
What Old Testament event had ascending and descending angels? Genesis 28:10-19. Why did Jesus mention it? Jesus referred to Jacob's dream of angels ascending and descending a ladder to heaven. Jacob named the place of the dream Bethel, which means "house of God." Jesus told the men they'd see heaven open and angels ascending and descending on the Son of Man. God sent Jesus from heaven to earth to open heaven, the house of God.
Jesus used the phrase "Son of Man" to speak about Himself. Any faithful Jewish person would understand this as messianic language. What did Jesus do in this account that shows He is God and not an ordinary person? When Jesus told Nathanael where he was before Philip spoke to him; and He told them He is the Messiah when He referenced fulfillment of Jacob's dream.
Through meeting God's Word (Jesus) and hearing the Scriptures, the men believed Jesus is the Christ. How do we receive the gift of faith? Read Romans 10:17; Ephesians 2:8; and 1 Peter 3:21 (on Student Page). Faith, a gift, comes from hearing God's Word, which is also delivered through His Sacraments (Baptism and Holy Communion). We are saved by grace through faith, which is a gift from God through the sinless life, death, and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ.
Faith does not depend on our changing feelings or opinions. How do the people in today's Scripture show this is true? Philip excitedly told his friend about Jesus. Nathanael's opinion about Jesus changed when he met Him.
These men lived through many changes, including the sad days of Jesus' death and the joyful days after His resurrection. By faith, they persevered and confessed Christ in Jerusalem after Jesus' ascension. They died because of their faith in Christ, faithful to the end of their earthly lives
Philip ran to tell his friend Nathanael about Jesus, who later chose them both as part of the Twelve. Jesus changed their lives forever.
We Live
Continue with the section under Recognizing Christ on the Student Page.
How do we recognize Jesus as the Christ? As baptized children of God, the Holy Spirit gives us faith to recognize Jesus as the Christ.
Where do we find Jesus' saving presence? We find God's saving presence in worship, in His Word and Sacraments.
Can those without faith in the true God recognize Him? Those without faith might believe that a higher power exists, but they do not recognize who God is, how He works, or where He is present.
How did Philip recognize Jesus? He knew the prophecies concerning the Christ from the Old Testament Scriptures.
Why is it important to study God's Word and share His Word with others, as Philip did? Studying God's Word is of utmost importance. During trials, God's Word is the sword we use to battle Satan. We share God's Word with those we love because through it we find eternal life.
Whom did the Holy Spirit use to bring you to Christ? When did it happen? Most likely you were brought to faith as young children through Baptism. Parents or another close relative may have made this a priority. However, this may not be the case for everyone.
What do the witnesses of Christ we met throughout this course and fulfilled Old Testament prophecies tell you? They show that Jesus uniquely fulfilled these prophecies and is the only person who has. He is the Promised One, the Messiah, God's Son, our Savior.
Peter W. Stoner, a science professor and author of Science Speaks, calculated the probability of one man fulfilling eight prophecies as one in a hundred million billion, or one with seventeen zeroes behind it.
Closing
Christ opened the door of heaven for us and hears our prayers. He knows our needs. Remain in the Word to recognize and seek Him always.
Prayer: God to keep us close to You through Your Word and Sacraments. May we always trust Your promises and His Promised One, Jesus Christ. Amen.
