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.

This lesson will use the Bible, the Bible Discovery Guide  and the Lesson 14 Leaflet from the Student Pack. The front cover shows how the artist sees Jesus talking with Nathanael. Also paper and pencil or crayons will be needed.

Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, You sent us Moses and the prophets to tell us of the One who was to come to save Your people from their sin. You also sent Your only Son, Jesus Christ, as our Savior. We thank and praise You for Your great mercy on us, Your baptized children. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

God Speaks

Jesus called His disciples early in His public ministry.  Locate Jesus' hometown of Nazareth, Philip's hometown of Bethsaida (beth SAY ih duh), and Galilee on the map on pages 8-9 in the Bible Discovery Guide.

Follow the directions and answer the questions on page 2 of the leaflet.

Read John 1:43-51

• On His way to Galilee, Jesus found me and said, "Follow Me" Who am I? Philip, verse 43
• I, along with the prophets, wrote about the Son of God. Who am I? Moses, verse 45
• I am an unlikely place to be the home of anything good, much less the Son of God. What am I? Nazareth, verse 46
• l am an Israelite in whom Jesus said there is no deceit. Who am I? Nathanael, verse 47
• I found my friend under a fig tree and told him about Jesus. Who am I? Philip, verse 48
• I was sitting under a fig tree when my friend Philip said he’d found the Savior. Who am I? Nathanael (nuh THAN ih el), verse 48
• l am the Son of God, the King of Israel. Who am I? Jesus, verse 49
• l ascend and descend from heaven on the Son of Man. Who am I? An angel of God, verse 51

Answer the Think it Through question on the bottom of page 2 of the leaflet.

Consider Nathanael's comment in verse 46, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" What did Nathanael mean? He was surprised that someone or something as important as the Savior of human- kind would come from a town as humble as Nazareth.

Nathanael is called "Bartholomew" in the other Gospels. Jesus said he was one "in whom there is no deceit" (verse 47). What did Jesus mean? Nathanael was a true believer. He had faith and confessed Jesus to be the Savior.

Jesus recognized Nathanael as one who would tell the truth. Nathanael's statement that Jesus was the Son of God, the King of Israel, was true.

Jesus said to Nathanael in verse 50,"Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe?" What did Jesus mean? (People, including us, trust in what we see and hear and in our own human reason. Sometimes this can cause us to believe in false gods. God gives us the faith we need to believe in Jesus as our Savior.

Read John 1:51 and Genesis 28:10-1 2. What is similar about these two passages? “Angels of God ascending and descending" (John 1:51) refers to Jacob's dream (Genesis 28:12). Jacob's dream indicated that all humankind would be reconciled with God. That means "to repair a broken relationship and bring peace by forgiveness." That reconciliation came through Jesus. Jesus is the access to God. Moses wrote the Book of Genesis; this also connects the Genesis passage to Philip's comment in verse 45, "Him of whom Moses...and also the prophets wrote". Jesus, the only true  God and our Savior, is the true Jacob's ladder upon whom the angels will come down and escort us to our heavenly home. Only in Jesus do we have access to heaven.

We Live

Which of the Faith Words on page 4 of the leaflet is a name that the disciples called Jesus? Rabbi, in verse 49.

Why did Nathanael call Jesus "Rabbi"? Jesus was their teacher. It was a title of respect.

Which of the Faith Words is a name Jesus called Himself? Son of Man; this term is used more than eight times in the Book of John and more than fifty-five times throughout the four Gospels.

Why is it significant that Jesus be called the Son of Man? He was born of a human mother, humbling Himself to become flesh to live among us sinners so that He could lead a perfect life and fulfill the Law. Though human, He was without sin, because He is also the Son of God.

Consider Philip's words to Nathanael in verse 45, then Nathanael's words to Jesus in verse 49.

Read Nathanael's confession, the Bible Words on page 4 of the leaflet.

What Faith Word names what we call these kinds of statements by Philip and Nathanael? Creed; they are confessions, or statements, of belief.

Philip and Nathanael confessed Jesus as the Savior. We also confess Jesus as our Savior. When do we do that? When we say the Apostle’s Creed.

How is Nathanael's confession similar to the Second Article of the Apostle’s Creed (at the end of this lesson)?  It identifies Jesus as God's Son and the King of Israel, meaning the Promised One.

Through Jesus, all who believe have access to heaven. Nathanael's words can also be your confession of faith in Jesus.

Complete the Where Am I? activity on page 3 in the leaflet by answering the questions on the right side of the page.

Answers for Where Am I? are:

• At a Baptism
• Confession
• Absolution
• After Scripture readings
• Lord's Supper.

Solve the What Makes Me God's Child? puzzle.

The mathematical equations, solved correctly, will help connect the dots to reveal something that makes you a child of God. Connect the dots in numerical order.

The correct order of equations for the puzzle completes the drawing of a baptismal font.

They are as follows:

• 46 minus 45
• 7 minus 5
• 3 times 1
• 21 minus 17
• 3 plus 2
• 2 times 3
• 13 minus 6
• 16 divided by 2
• 27 divided by 3
• 6 plus 4
• 20 minus 9
• 6 times 2
• 20 minus 7
• 2 times 7
• 17 minus 2
• 4 times 4
• 9 plus 8
• 6 times 3
• 25 minus 6
• 10 times 2.

Closing

Prayer:  Dear Jesus, You know all things: who we are, what we do, and that we are sinners. In spite of this, Lord Jesus, You love us. Thank You for forgiving our sins and making us Your own by grace and through faith so that we may have eternal life with You in heaven. In Your name we pray. Amen.