“Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip.
We don’t know that Nazareth had a bad reputation. Nathanael was from Cana, which was only about 3 or 4 miles from Nazareth, so he would know of Jesus’ home town. He was probably expressing skepticism at the possibility of the Messiah coming from such an insignificant town. It would be like someone telling us that the person around whom all of history was going to revolve was born in some tiny little town near where we live. In addition, it was believed at that time that the Messiah would not come from Galilee.
Nobody had ever heard of this Jesus, who was the son of an insignificant carpenter from an insignificant backwater village called Nazareth, and Nathanael was skeptical because Jesus didn’t fit his ideas of how and from where the Messiah would come. We may also have preconceived ideas and prejudices that keep us from growing in our relationship with God because we don’t think that He will speak to us in that way, or through that person, or say that thing.
“Come and see.” = the perfect answer to the skeptic. Observe that Philip did not try to present arguments to convert Nathanael; instead he just invited him to meet Jesus. The best way for someone to be convinced of who Jesus is would be for them to find out for themselves (John 12:32). It is important to note that before we can introduce anyone to Jesus, we must know Him first.
Joh 12:32 But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.”