John 1:43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
Jesus found Philip. Would this indicate that Jesus was looking for him, or that Jesus came upon him, or that Jesus tracked him down? This is Jesus the Son of God and I am sure He knew exactly where Philip was. Philip, like Andrew, followed and told someone else. Philip tells Nathanael “we have found Him” and then tells him who they have found, “Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph”. The one who Moses in the Law and the prophets wrote. It would appear that Nathanael is a bit of a cynic. “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Note that Philip did not argue with Nathanael, he just said come and see. A good point for us to remember is that it is Jesus who will soften the heart and open the eyes not us. We share but at no time is a person coming to Christ a result of us, it is all of God and His calling. The fact that we shared is actually the direct result of the Holy Spirit of God working through us. Never us, never about us, and never to be claimed by us.
Somewhere in this calling, softening, and eye-opening a person either responds to the Gospel or rejects it. I can tell you this is a mystery to me. I had heard the gospel for over a year but never had an understanding in my heart or have my eyes opened. Then, one special day a neighbor across the street who we hardly knew invited us (my wife and I) to hear an evangelist speak. It was a Thursday night 22 March 1979. On that day my heart understood the need for forgiveness, redemption, and salvation. My eyes were wide open and when the offer to come to meet Jesus at the altar was given. I could not say no. There was no way to say no. No, was not even a thought. It was as if I had no choice. I did not even have to think about it. It was more like having a severe cut to your jugular vein and a doctor being present and asking if you want to be saved. You don’t give any thought to saying no. The urgency in responding yes to be saved left no room for that thought at all.
I am sure there are those who Jesus has softened their heart to understand and has opened their eyes but they do choose to not believe the urgency of their impending eternal death and separation from God. This is a big mystery to me. I could not have said no and yet there are others who easily say it. I am not sure how many times a person will be allowed to reject the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Could it be once or 1,000 times? Some hearts are softened and other hardened – this I do not understand. I am sure the more times the offer of salvation is rejected the easier it is to reject the offer the next time. I guess this is why Jesus said narrow is the path the eternal life and broad is the highway to hell.
It is up to us to share the Gospel. It is up to us to speak of Jesus Christ, forgiveness, redemption, salvation, and repentance. It is up to us to live and speak in such a way that people see Jesus. It is up to us to honor, glorify, worship, follow, trust, and obey Jesus. Be a willing servant to be used and led by Jesus and allow Him to do the work of softening or hardening. Our task is to say “Come see Jesus”