Prior to each Billy Graham crusade, the organization implemented a simple but effective outreach program. For decades, Operation Andrew has been training church congregants to write down the names of friends they want to bring to the crusade. They pray for them, invite them, and give them a ride on the day of the event.
The idea comes from John 1. After John the Baptist pointed to Jesus as the Messiah, his disciples began to bring their friends and relatives to see Jesus (see vv. 40-42). Andrew brought his brother Simon, and Philip brought Nathanael (see vv. 43-46).
Philip said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wroteโJesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph” (v. 45). And Nathanael responded, “‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?'” (v. 46).
Nazareth was an out-of-the-way village. In Jerusalem, Galileans were considered unsophisticated hicks, country bumpkins. But of all the Galilean cities, Nazareth was seen as the lowest. Nathanael, who came from nearby Cana (John 21:2), knew that.
“Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, ‘Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!'” (John 1:47). Now, Nathanael sounds like a wiseacre, a wise guy. He wore his heart on his sleeve. He was honest, and Jesus knew that about him.
Nathanael asked Jesus how He knew him. Jesus answered, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you” (v. 48). Evidently, Nathanael had a special hideaway where he went to pray and hang out. He didn’t think anyone knew about it. “Nathaniel answered and said to Him, ‘Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!'” (v. 49). That was all it took. Jesus showed him that He knew even the secret parts of his life.
“Jesus answered and said to 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, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man'” (vv. 50-51).
That’s a reference to Genesis 28, when Jacob saw a vision of angels descending on a ladder from heaven. And I believe Jesus was telling him, “You are going to see that I am the ladder between heaven and earth, the bridge that connects them.”
Earlier in John 1 we read, “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name” (vv. 11-12).
Here’s what I want you to see. There are two responses: the majority response (most didn’t receive Him) and the minority response (a few did receive Him).
The majority was wrong. The minority was right. Don’t let what everyone else thinks dictate your spirituality. If you decide who Jesus is based upon what your friends or coworkers think of Him, you’ll be wrong.
The minority report is the accurate report, and that’s the one Nathanael went with. Jesus is the Son of God, the Savior of the world, the Lamb of God.
You can’t control which report your friend or family member believes. But share Christ with them. Or bring them to that concert, church service, or crusade. Let them hear the Word.
Be Andrew. Be Philip.
