v 46. “Come and see for yourself,” Philip replied.
The third scene-setting part of the story introduces the notion that Jesus is going to involve others in this work. It is not that anyone can add to what Jesus would do, but that messengers were needed to announce the news to the world at large. Today we encounter Andrew, the first Evangelist to work for Jesus. It is he who introduces Simon Peter to Jesus, ‘Then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus. ‘ (v 42) Next, we have Philip introducing Nathanael to Jesus (v 46), and the band of Jesus-followers keeps growing. This is another strand in the story John tells; it is of Jesus’ training mission to prepare a band of people who will go into all the world and announce the Good News that sin has been dealt with.
We find these same followers with Jesus after His resurrection at the end of the story in chapter 21, ‘Later, Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee. This is how it happened. Several of the disciples were there—Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee (James and John), and two other disciples. ‘
We shall encounter others who join the Jesus Team in the course of reflecting on the story. Then, as John writes in 1 John 3, it is love that binds the team together. ‘ And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us. ‘
Even belief, or faith, cannot be separated from love, the two go hand in hand. This story of Jesus is a love story from beginning to end!
—