Беседа 20

John 1:43–44. The next day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and he found Philip and said to him: follow me. Philip was from Bethsaida, from the same city as Andrew and Peter. 1. Philip's calling. “Jesus Christ draws him along with him with one word.” – Philip, for his part, leads Nathanael to Christ. – 2. Nathanael’s character, his wisdom. - How he was brought to Vera. – 3. The faithful are obliged to do everything that Jesus Christ desires and requires of them. – We must obey Christ in everything, feed Him when He is hungry, give Him water when He is thirsty. “He will not reject our gifts, whatever they may be.” – A friend gladly accepts everything his friend gives him. – Love is revealed not in words, but in deeds. 1. “From all labor there is profit” (Proverbs 14:23) - says the book of Proverbs. But Christ inspires us with something even more when he says: “he who seeks finds” (Matthew 7:8). Therefore, it seems surprising to me how Philip followed Christ. Andrew followed, having heard about Christ from John, Peter - from Andrew; and Philip did not know anything about Him from anyone, but as soon as Christ said to him: “Follow Me,” Philip immediately obeyed Him, and not only did not leave Him, but also became a preacher about Him to others. Hastening to Nathanael, Philip tells him: “We have found Him about whom Moses in the law and the prophets wrote” (John 1:45). Do you see what a troubled soul he had, how often he thought about what Moses wrote, and how he looked forward to the coming of Christ? The word: “found” shows people who are constantly searching. “The next day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee.” He does not call anyone to Himself before someone joins Him. And he does this not simply, but according to His characteristic wisdom and intelligence. If no one came to Him voluntarily, but He Himself attracted everyone to Himself, then perhaps they would have left Him later. But once they themselves decided to do this, they remained firm in their intention. But He calls Philip as a man more known to Him than others. Born and raised in Galilee, Philip, of course, knew Christ more than others. So, having acquired some disciples, Christ goes to catch others and attracts Philip and Nathanael to himself. The conversion of Nathanael to Christ is not so surprising, because the rumor about Jesus spread throughout Syria, just as the conversion of Peter, James and Philip is surprising, not only because they believed before they saw the miracles of Jesus Christ, but also because they were from Galilee, from where not a single prophet came and nothing good could happen (John 1:46), since the Galileans were an uneducated, wild and rude people. Meanwhile, Christ demonstrated His power here too, choosing from a land that did not bear any fruit the most worthy disciples. So, probably, Philip followed Christ after seeing Peter’s companions and hearing (about Christ) from John. Probably also the voice of Christ had its effect in him. Christ knew who would be useful to Him. But the evangelist omits all this. Philip knew that Christ was coming; but that Christ is Jesus, he did not know this; I think that he heard this either from Peter or from John. The Evangelist also names the village of Philip to show how “God has chosen the weak things of the world” (1 Cor. 1:27). “Philip finds Nathanael and says to him: We have found the one about whom Moses in the law and the prophets wrote, Jesus the son of Joseph from Nazareth” (John 1:45). He says this in order to impart credibility to his sermon, referring to Moses and the prophets, and thereby encourage the listener to pay attention. Nathanael was an accurate man and found out the truth in everything, as Christ testified and the deed itself showed. Therefore, Philip did well to send him to Moses and the prophets, in order to thus dispose Nathanael to accept the One about whom he preached to him. If Philip calls Christ the son of Joseph, then do not be embarrassed. At that time, He was still considered the son of Joseph. But how can it be seen, Philip, that He is the same one about whom Moses and the prophets wrote? What proof will you give us? Verbal testimony alone is not enough. What sign did you see? What miracle? After all, in such matters it is not safe to believe simply without evidence? What proof do you have? Philip answers us the same as Andrey. Just as Andrew, not having the strength to depict the wealth that he found, without finding words to describe this treasure, leads his brother to the One whom he found, so Philip: without telling Nathanael why Jesus is the Christ and how the prophets foretold about Him; but draws him to Jesus, knowing that he will not depart from Jesus as soon as he tastes His words and His teachings. “Nathanael said to him: Can anything good come from Nazareth? Philip says to him: come and see. Jesus, seeing Nathanael coming to Him, said of him: Behold, truly an Israelite, in whom there is no guile” (John 1:46–47). Christ praises and exalts Nathanael for saying: “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Shouldn't he have been convicted for this? No, these were not the words of an unbeliever, and did not deserve accusations, but praise. How and why? Because he was more knowledgeable than Philip in prophecies. He knew from the Scriptures that Christ must come from Bethlehem and from the village in which David was. This opinion prevailed among the Jews, and the prophet foretold it long ago, saying: “And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are in no way less than the provinces of Judah, for out of you will come a Leader who will shepherd My people Israel” (Mic. 5:2, Matt. 2:6, John 7:42). Therefore, Nathanael, when he heard that (Christ appeared) from Nazareth, he was confused and perplexed, finding Philip’s message to be inconsistent with the prophetic prediction. 2. But look how Nathanael, even in his bewilderment, is prudent and moderate. He did not immediately say: you are deceiving me, Philip, and lying. I don’t believe it, I won’t go; I know from prophecies that Christ must come from Bethlehem. And you say - from Nazareth. This is not Christ. No, Nathanael didn’t say anything like that. So what? And he goes to Christ and, on the one hand, not agreeing that Christ came from Nazareth, thus shows a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures and prudence in actions, on the other hand, he does not completely reject Philip’s message and thereby reveals his strong desire for the coming of Christ. He only thought that Philip had mistakenly indicated the place of the coming. Pay attention to the caution with which he expresses his doubt - in the form of a question. He does not say: Galilee does not produce anything good, but how? “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” But Philip was also very prudent. Having met an objection, he is not annoyed, not offended, but only stands his ground, wanting to lead this person to Christ himself and from the very beginning showing in himself the firmness of spirit characteristic of an apostle. That is why Christ said: “Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is no guile.” Of course, an Israeli can also be deceitful. But this one is not like that, he says: his court is impartial; he expresses neither like nor dislike in his words. True, the Jews, when asked: “Where should Christ be born,” answered: “in Bethlehem,” also brought evidence: “And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are no less than the provinces of Judah”; but they testified to this even before they saw Christ; and when they saw it, out of envy they hid this testimony and said: “We know Him, where He comes from; But when Christ comes, no one will know where He comes from” (John 7:27). But Nathanael did not do that, but whatever opinion he had about Christ at first, he remained, namely, that He was not from Nazareth. Why do the prophets call him a Nazarite? Because there was the place of His upbringing and residence. But Christ does not want to say to Nathanael: I am not from Nazareth, as Philip told you, but from Bethlehem, so as not to cast doubt on His words from the very beginning. Moreover, if he had convinced Nathanael of this, this would not have been sufficient proof that He was the Christ. Why couldn’t He, even without being Christ, come from Bethlehem, like other people born there? So, Christ leaves this, and does what could most attract Nathanael to Him, namely: He shows that He was present during Nathanael’s conversation with Philip. When Nathanael asked Him, “Why do You know me?” He says: “Before Philip called you, while you were under the fig tree, I saw you” (John 1:48). Here is a firm and constant man! When Christ said: “Here is a true Israelite,” he was not puffed up by these praises, he was not carried away by the approval; but he stands his ground, seeking and testing the truth with even greater diligence in order to find out something true. So, he still experiences as a man, but Jesus responds as God. “Before,” he says, “I saw you.” He knew Nathanael’s good behavior before, not as a person who watched over him, but as God. And now “I saw you ... under the fig tree,” when there was no one there, but only Philip and Nathanael, and they were talking about it among themselves. That is why it is said: “When he saw Nathanael coming to Him, he said of him: Behold, truly an Israelite,” and this is said in order to show that Christ expressed these words even before Philip approached, so that such testimony would be undoubted. For this purpose, He named the time, the place, and the tree itself. If He had only said: before Philip came to you, I saw you, then He might have been suspected of sending Philip Himself, and thus nothing important would have been found in His words. But when He indicated the place where Nathanael was when Philip invited him, and the name of the tree itself, and the time of the conversation, He showed undoubted insight in Himself. But Christ not only revealed His perspicacity, but also enlightened Nathanael in a different way, namely, he brought to his mind the words he had spoken then: “can anything good come from Nazareth,” and all the more favored him towards Himself, as well as by the fact that for such words he not only did not condemn him, but also praised and exalted him. Therefore, Nathanael understood from here that it was truly Christ, that is, both from His insight and from the fact that Christ knew his opinion exactly, and thereby showed that He knew the secrets of his soul - moreover, he not only did not condemn him for his expressed opinion, but also praised him. That Nathanael was invited by Philip, Christ said; and what he said to Philip and Philip to him, he kept silent about, leaving it to his conscience and not wanting to expose him any more. 3. What then? Did Christ really see Nathanael only before Philip invited him, and until that time did not see him with his vigilant eye? I saw it, and no one will contradict this. But at that time it was necessary to say only what was necessary. What about Nathanael? Having received undoubted proof of the foreknowledge of Christ, he confessed Him, and as before in his slowness he showed prudence, so now in his compliance he showed prudence. He answered Christ like this: “Rabbi! You are the Son of God, You are the King of Israel” (John 1:49). Do you see a soul suddenly enraptured and embracing Jesus with its words? You, he says, are desired, expected. Do you see how he is amazed, amazed, jumping and jumping for joy? This is how we, who have been privileged to know the Son of God, should rejoice—not only rejoice in our souls, but also express joy in our very deeds. And what is characteristic of those who rejoice? Believe in Him whom we have known; and for believers to do what pleases Him. If we do something that angers Him, how will it be clear that we are rejoicing? Don’t you see in houses, when someone receives a welcome guest, with what joy he does everything, runs everywhere, spares nothing, even though he had to spend everything he has just to please the guest? And if someone, having invited a guest to his place, did not please him, did not try to calm him down, then, even if he said a thousand times that he was happy about his visit, the guest would never believe him - and rightly so, since joy must be shown in action. So, when Christ came to us, let us show that we rejoice in Him, and we will not do anything that could offend Him. Let us decorate the house into which He came: this is characteristic of those who rejoice. Let us offer him the meal that He himself wants: this is characteristic of those who are having fun. What kind of meal is this? He himself says: “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me” (John 4:34). Let us feed the hungry and give drink to the thirsty. Give Him just a cup of cold water, He will accept that too, because He loves you; the offerings of loved ones, no matter how small, seem great to the lover. Just don't show negligence. Cast two mites before Him, He will not reject them, but will accept them as great wealth. He lacks nothing and does not accept it out of any need; therefore, he rightly measures everything not by the measure of what is given, but by the disposition of the giver. Just show that you love this Guest, that you are trying to do everything for Him, that you are happy about His visit. Look at the love He has for you. He came for you, laid down his life for you, and after all these good deeds he does not refuse to beg you. “We ask in the name of Christ,” says the apostle, “to be reconciled to God” (2 Cor. 5:20). But who, you say, is so crazy as not to love his Lord? This is what I say and I know that none of us will renounce this in words or thoughts. But the one who is loved wants love for him to be revealed not only in words, but also in deeds. He says that we love, but does not do what is characteristic of those who love - this is ridiculous not only in relation to God, but also in relation to people. So, if to confess only in words, and in deeds to show the opposite - is not only useless, but also harmful for us, then I beg - let us express our confession in deeds, that we may be worthy of confession from the Lord himself, on the day when He confesses those worthy before His Father - I beg in Christ Jesus our Lord, through whom and with whom be glory to the Father with the Holy Spirit now and forever and ever. Amen. The paragraphs in the text were arranged by us – Editorial staff of “ABC of Faith” You might be interested in: