Bible Study – Come and See
Share: Your highs (something that made you happy) and lows (something that made you sad) this week with others around you or write them down.
Epiphany means several things: a gift is received; the gift must be shared. Jesus appears to be suggesting a rhythm, a balance to our lives. We go inward to be with God, to receive; we go out in the world to share what we have been given – still with God. We are called to balance the pouring out of our love with the resting in God. We are called to heal by just showing up, by laying on hands, by sharing what we have. This good news that was for the few people who heard it up close and personal is ours because they reached out and shared it. It will belong to those who have not yet heard, if we accept our call to share the story by how we live out our lives and as St. Francis said, “with words, if necessary.”
Jesus has begun to put together his team. In this passage, Philip hears Jesus say, "Come with me." And he does. As it is dawning on Philip who this Jesus really is, he goes and finds his slightly skeptical friend, Nathanael, to tell him that they have found the one they had heard about. Nathanael remains dubious—how could anything good come out of Nazareth? Philip, confident that Nathanael will see what he has seen, insists, "Come with me." Jesus sees Nathanael as he really is and calls him forth. Nathanael knows, now, that Jesus is the "Son of God."
Opening Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for inviting us to work along with you. Amen.
Please open your Bibles to John 1:43-51 and read or read the scriptures below.
John 1:43-51
Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael
43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”
44 Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. 45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
46 “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked.
“Come and see,” said Philip.
47 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”
48 “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”
49 Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.”
50 Jesus said, “You believe[a] because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.” 51 He then added, “Very truly I tell you,[b] you[c] will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’[d] the Son of Man.”
Questions:
- Why do they think Jesus is gathering these people?
- Why do you think Philip was so eager to join?
- Why do you think Nathanael was not so sure?
- What might have been Nathanael's decision if Philip had not been there to encourage him?
- Notice that in the story, when Jesus calls someone, that person goes and tells someone else.
- Who told you about Jesus? See how the story is told to someone who tells it to someone else, and so on through the years until it comes to us, right here?
- What might happen to this story if you don't tell others about it?
Click here for the young learner’s lesson – Sorry, Not Available At This Time
Videos (Click on url)
John 1:43-51 – Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlr05RdQgQQ
Gospel of John Summary – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-2e9mMf7E8
Song: Jesus Loves the Little Children - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrKpyYuSAow
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUg-UvjEmSY
Activities:
Invitation: What ways can you invite others to hear the story of Jesus. How do we tell people about Jesus in words? How do we tell people about Jesus in our actions? Create an invitation cards what you know about Jesus so you can better tell others.
Share a story about Jesus: Take one moment and think about why you are happy to know Jesus. Share it with the person on your mind. Prepare by writing a story of a time when you told someone about Jesus.
Name Acrostic: Take a piece of paper and some colorful markers. Write the letters of your name down the left side of the paper using a different colored marker or crayon for each letter.
Then write one word on each letter of your name which describes yourself. Ideas could be for the color of your eyes, hair, clothes, the way you feel or what things you like to do. You are unique but God knows your name. Also write “Jesus knows my name and He thinks I am special.”
Tell Your Friends About Jesus - Crossword: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/tell-your-friends-about-jesus-1
Tell Your Friends About Jesus - Word Search: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/tell-your-friends-about-jesus-2
Tell Your Friends About Jesus - Decoder: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/tell-your-friends-about-jesus
Prayer: Thank you, God, for all the people who have kept your story in people's hearts. Thank you that we, too, got to hear the story. Help us to share the story with others. Amen.
