How Nathanael and Philip became Jesus' first disciples
(From the Gospel of John, chapter 1, verses 43-51)
After Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan River, he began his work. He traveled from town to town, teaching people about God and showing them how God wanted them to be with each other.
One of Jesus' trips took him to a region north of Jerusalem called Galilee. There, he met a man named Philip. Philip was a friend of Andrew and Peter, Jesus' first two disciples.
There was something about Philip that Jesus really liked. "Come with me, Philip," he told him. "Follow me."
Philip went to find his friend Nathanael. He told Nathanael, "I believe we have found the Messiah, the One whom Moses talked about, the One whom the prophets told about."
"Really?" asked Nathanael. "Who is it?"
"Jesus, the carpenter from Nazareth. Joseph's oldest son." Philip told him.
Nathanael laughed. "Are you serious?" he asked his friend. "Nazareth is a nothing kind of a place. Can anything good come out of it?"
Philip said to him, "Come and see for yourself."
So Nathanael went with Philip to meet Jesus.
There was something about Jesus that Nathanael really liked. The more they talked, the more he liked Jesus. The way Jesus treated him, the way Jesus talked about God – Nathanael just wanted to be with him!
"Rabbi," Nathanael told Jesus, "I am beginning to believe that what Philip told me is true: you are from God."
Jesus said, "Come with me. I promise you: you will see heaven open. You will see God's angels moving between the Son of Man and heaven."
And that's how Philip and Nathanael became Jesus' disciples.
Questions to think and pray about:
What do you think it was about Jesus that drew Nathanael to him?
Like Philip, do you have a friend who should know about Jesus?
What would you tell that friend about Jesus?