Nazareth did not have a good reputation.  Many Gentiles who passed through on the nearby trade roads, bringing their own pagan values, and the Roman army, had brutalised its religious culture.  Trading and money spoke loudly in Nazareth, which had no reputation for holiness.  So, when Philip found his friend Nathanael, and told him about Jesus of Nazareth, Nathanael was not impressed.  He came from Cana (John 21:2), about 10 miles from Nazareth.  He knew its reputation.  How could God’s Messiah possibly be the son of a carpenter from Nazareth?

Philip’s response was simple and wise.  He did not try to defeat his friend’s prejudice and ignorance with argument but  simply invited him to ‘come and see’.  Truth is the only antidote to false belief; and Philip knew that an encounter with Jesus would demonstrate all Nathanael needed to know.  Philip was already proving to be a disciple of Jesus.  Not only did he seek out his friend and recommend Jesus to him, but Philip used the same words Jesus spoke to Andrew the previous day – ‘Come and see’ (John 1:39).

Whatever prejudice people may have about Jesus, they need the truth.  For many, this starts by seeing the positive confidence about Jesus in a friend or colleague.  Then, those who seek the truth will welcome an invitation to explore who Jesus is.  Often, people are astonished that God should be found in ordinary places, or even the morally polluted parts of our cities.  Jesus Himself was accused of being the friend of immoral people (Matthew 11:19) because He spent time with them.

Religions have often taught that God is ‘locked up’ in holy places.  So, people are surprised to find that Jesus can be encountered anywhere: in the factory or fields, in prisons or palaces, in universities and among the world’s under-classes.  In each of these places, Jesus is represented by His people and He goes with them to suburbs or slums, cities and communes; to meet the lost and lonely and welcome them to come and see who He is.