John 1:43-49

Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." (John 1:46)

You’ve got to wonder what kind of reputation Nazareth had! When Philip mentioned that he thinks that the carpenter’s son from Nazareth just might be the long-awaited Messiah, Nathanael brushed him off. "Everyone knows what people from Nazareth are like! Can anything good come out of that place?"

Philip doesn’t argue with him or try to convince him that his personal prejudices might be wrong. He simply invites him to ‘Come and see.” He invites him to actually meet the guy, get to know him, and perhaps see that his pre-conceived notions are not only wrong, but are blinding him to an encounter with God’s grace and mercy!

 John 1:43-49 NRSV

 43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow me."
 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.
 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth."
 46 Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see."
 47 When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, "Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!"
 48 Nathanael asked him, "Where did you get to know me?" Jesus answered, "I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you."
 49 Nathanael replied, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!"