Come and See

Rev. Stephen Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Vinton, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 1:43-51.

Jesus continues to call disciples to Himself in Galilee; He takes the initiative. He speaks His authoritative word to Philip: “Follow Me!” The Word calls Philip to faith, and Philip goes to tell Nathanael that Jesus of Nazareth is the One promised by the Law and the Prophets. Nathanael is unimpressed by Jesus’ hometown, yet Philip is unfazed; he invites Nathanael to come and see Jesus. Jesus actually sees Nathanael first. He speaks things of Nathanael that He could not have known apart from divine knowledge, bringing Nathanael to make a fantastic confession that Jesus is the Son of God and King of Israel. Yet Jesus promises even greater things to come; in Him, heaven is opened to all who believe.

“The Word Made Flesh” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Gospel according to St. John. The disciple whom Jesus loved wrote his Gospel account as an eyewitness to Jesus’ life and ministry. As we read the Word of God recorded by St. John, the Holy Spirit works in us so that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and so have life by faith in His name.