I have recently been studying the calling of the disciples. While preaching through Mark, I focused on his descriptions of the callings. This morning in John, I am reminded of a couple more. Notice they have a unique touch to them. Read it first:
John 1.43-51 - 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 of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” 48 Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” 49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” 50 Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you,[k] you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” (www.lifejournal.cc)
What I notice about Philip is how fast he figured out who Jesus was. Apparently, as soon as he met the Lord, he knew that Christ fulfilled all the prophecy. He told Nathanael so. What does that tell us about the stark reality that each of us will face, when we see the Lord face to face when we leave this world? Immediately, a lot of light will be shed on our life, our opportunities, and our investments in those opportunities. Philip knew immediately that Christ was all anyone could hope for and all past hopes had looked to.
Now notice Nathanael. First he spits out some outrageous, cultural bias against Nazareth. (v.46) However, when he saw Jesus and Jesus spoke to him in a flattering, welcoming, and insightful way, Nathanael's attitude changed immediately. It did not take him long to catch on. When Jesus said He knew where He was at an apparently important time in Nate's life, he gives Christ the proper praise.
When Nate is blown away by this, Christ lets him know that a lot of much bigger things are coming.
The question of the day is how do you respond when God speaks to you. Do you recognize Him for who He is (no matter what He is telling you), give Him praise, and have no doubts?
Or are you like Nate? Do you scoff at who He says He is, only to watch Him prove it?
You can respond either way, but I would highly recommend that you do in a way that acknowledges Him for who is, gives Him praise along the way, and refuses to doubt the love, power, and salvation of the Lord.
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