There is a lovely, unshackled simplicity and naturalness in the way of the Spirit in John's Gospel. The divine life is seen acting in the most marked independence of everything like human rules and regulations; and yet all is in the most striking and beautiful moral order. 'What, for instance, can be more simple or natural than the expression, "Philip findeth Nathanael"? (John 1:4545Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. (John 1:45)). There is nothing official, nothing mechanical, nothing of routine work here. But yet there is beauteous moral order. It is the energy of the implanted divine life manifesting itself in its own genuine simplicity and native force. It is the living power of grace in the heart, expressing itself after its own peculiar fashion.
"Philip findeth Nathanael." But we must bear in mind that ere Philip found Nathanael, he had found Christ. He was able to say in all assurance and confidence, "We have found Him." He does not say, "We are seeking Him and hope to find Him; come and help us in the good work of searching." This may be all well enough. It is surely well for those who want to find, to go and seek. But Philip was beyond this. His earnest searching had issued in a joyous finding, as is always the case; and having found Christ, he goes and finds Nathanael. Philip, having found Christ for himself, goes in search of a fellow sinner to bring him into the enjoyment of the same blessedness.
Now it is well to see that there is nothing official in this. No doubt, office has its own place and its own value. But there is nothing of office in Philip finding Nathanael. It is the power of life and not the function of office. It is the outflow of the stream of grace from an overflowing heart made happy by a newly discovered object. And why insist on this? Simply to answer the pleading of an indolent heart which would take refuge behind the claims of official authority, while failing to manifest the energy of divine life. A man may say, "I have no gift, no call, no office." Yes, but have you no life? You may not be called to stand before assembled thousands—often a very slippery place—but can you not find a Nathanael? Is there no one into whose ear you can drop those thrilling words, "We have found Him"? Is there no friend, neighbor, or relative to whom you can say, "Come"? You do not need to possess the gifts of a Paul, a Luther, a Whitfield, or a Chalmers, in order to say, "Come." What you really need is a heart filled to overflowing with the joy of a newly found treasure. This is what we all need.
If everyone would just do as Philip did, how blessedly would the work of evangelization go on! This is the way it should be; and this is the way it would be if persons were able to say with unclouded confidence, "We have found Him." It is the hesitancy as to this-it is the lack of holy confidence in the record of God-the absence of settled assurance as to the fullness and efficacy of the atonement, and its personal application-that produces such unwillingness and incapacity to testify of Christ to others. In a word, before ever Philip can find Nathanael, he must find Christ. The two findings go together. I must find my own way to the feet of the Savior before I can conduct my fellow sinner thither. It is one thing to talk about religion, and another thing to be able to say, "I have found Christ." This latter is the secret of all successful evangelization. For a man to set about preaching Christ to others, ere he has found Him for himself, is a most frightful delusion-yea, it is positive folly and wickedness. There is no one in such an awfully dangerous position as a Christless preacher.