Excerpt from The Life of Jesus Christ for the Young, Vol. 3

Philip had a friend named Nathanael. The next time he met him, he said, we have found him of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. But Nazareth was a despised place, and had a bad reputation. Nathanael had a very poor Opinion of the place, and he asked Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him Come and see.

And this is what we should say to persons when we wish them to become Christians. There is so much that is lovely and excellent in Jesus, that if people will only come and see if they will only prove for themselves what a glorious Saviour he is, they will find it impossible to help loving and serving him. Nathanael came to Jesus And when he heard the wonderful words that Jesus spoke to him he was converted at once, and expressed his wonder by saying Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. We can read all about this in John i: 43 - 51. Nathanael became a disciple of Jesus, and one of the twelve apostles, and is supposed to be the same one who bears the name of Bartholomew, in the different lists of the apostles.

After this we read of Jesus calling Matthew the publican, who was a tax-gatherer. This is what is meant by his sitting at the receipt of custom. Follow me were the words spoken to him. He obeyed at once; left all and followed Jesus. St. Luke and St. Mark mention this same call, but they give the name of Levi, to the person thus called. This is not strange, for it was common among the Jews for persons to have two names. Sometimes they were called by one 'of these names, and sometimes by the other.

Here we have the account of six persons, who became disciples of Jesus; and of the different ways in which they were led to follow him. No doubt many others were led to become his disciples from simply hear ing him preach; and from listening to the gracious words that he spoke.

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