• We don’t really know who this Nathanael

is. • There are several scholars who equate him

with Matthew, and others equate him with

Bartholomew.

• However, only John mentions Nathanael, and

it’s possible, therefore, that he was a disciple,

but not an apostle. • Jesus had many disciples who were not apostles.

• “When it was day, He called His disciples to Himself;

and from them He chose twelve whom He also

named apostles” (Lk 6:13).

• “After these things the Lord appointed seventy

others also, and sent them two by two before His

face into every city and place where He Himself was

about to go” (Lk 10:1).

• But, Nathanael teaches us much.

NATHANAEL WAS

BROUGHT TO JESUS BY A

FRIEND vv 43-45

• Jesus found Philip and said to him,

“Follow Me.”

• Philip found Nathaniel and told him, “We

have found Him of whom Moses in the

law, and also the prophets, wrote--Jesus

of Nazareth, the son of Joseph,” v 45.

• Church Growth Center in Monrovia, CA on

why people attend church. • 48.2% attend through the influence of a

friend.

• 14.8 attend through the influence of a

relative.

• 6.5% attend through the influence of the

preacher.

NATHANAEL WAS

PREJUDICED v 46

• We need to be careful that we are not

prejudiced.

• Prejudice is a sin. • “I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus

Christ and the elect angels that you observe

these things without prejudice, doing nothing

with partiality” (1 Tim 5:21).

• “If you really fulfill the royal law according to

the Scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbor as

yourself,’ you do well; but if you show

partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted

by the law as transgressors” (Js 2:8-9).

NATHANAEL WAS

WITHOUT GUILE v 47

• The mention of a true Israelite in whom

there is no deceit is certainly a wordplay

on Israel. • “Your brother came with deceit and has taken

away your blessing” (Gen 27:35).

• “What have you done, that you have tricked

me and driven away my daughters like

captives of the sword?” (Gen 31:26, ESV).

• Scripture exhorts us to be without guile. • “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found

in His mouth” (1 Pet 2:22).

• “In their mouth was found no deceit, for they

are without fault before the throne of God”

(Rev 14:5).

NATHANAEL CONFESSED

JESUS vv 48-49

• Confession is necessary for salvation. • “Whoever confesses Me before men, him I

will also confess before My Father who is in

heaven. But whoever denies Me before men,

him I will also deny before My Father who is

in heaven” (Matt 10:32-33).

• “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on

eternal life, to which you were also called and

have confessed the good confession in the

presence of many witnesses” (1 Tim 6:12).

• Jesus promised Nathanael would see

great things: (v 51). • “Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in

the fourth month, on the fifth day of the

month, as I was among the captives by the

River Chebar, that the heavens were opened

and I saw visions of God” (Ezek 1:1).

• “He dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set

up on the earth, and its top reached to

heaven; and there the angels of God were

ascending and descending on it” (Gen 28:12).

• Thus, Jesus becomes the true Israelite

who reveals the will of God to nation of

Israel.

WE KNOW VERY LITTLE

ABOUT NATHANAEL. But, he was a disciple of Jesus!

THE WORLD KNOWS

LITTLE OF YOU. Will you be a disciple of Jesus?