The Word Divides

The Word Divides

XI

John 1:43-51

The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”
Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip. When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is nothing false.” “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.” Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.”
Jesus said, “You believe, because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.” 51 He then added, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on ‘the Son of Man.”

“The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee.”

Jesus is moving north. It seems strange that Jesus starts his public ministry outside of Israel’s most Holy site, the temple in Jerusalem.

John has already recorded for us Israel’s religious leader’s inquiry of John the Baptist, wanting to know by what authority he baptized people. (John 1:19, 24) The religious leaders in Israel did not give John the Baptist permission nor did John the Baptist ask their permission. Likewise, Jesus does not seek the approval of the religious leaders nor anyone else. So is Jesus just an arrogant rebellious sojourner attempting to make a name for himself? At this point in the Gospel of John, we know that John the Baptist, John the Apostle, Peter and Andrew believe, that Jesus is “the Messiah.”

Jesus and the new group of followers make their way to the Galilee area. Andrew and Peter were both from the Bethsaida area but now reside in Capernaum. Philip is apparently part of the group of followers. Maybe Phillip had been in Bethany to hear John the Baptist and like Andrew encountered Jesus. It is not clear, however we do know what Philip thought of Jesus, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” (John 1:45) Philip made sure that he told his brother Nathaniel, “We have found the one.” (John 1:45) Nathaniel’s answer, “Can anything good come from there (Nazareth).” (John 1:46) I am sure that was not what Philip expected. However, Philip does not give up on his brother, “Come and see, said Philip.” (John 1:46) This is a reminder to us all, not to be so quick to give up on people. Nathaniel did as Philip asked and went to meet Jesus. Salvation was never the work of man but of God. Philip could not save himself nor his brother Nathaniel. However, what Philip can do he did and that was to tell what he had seen and heard. Philip simply told Nathaniel “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” (John 1:46). In our modern era in an attempt to spur people to tell others about Jesus a number of methods have been put in book form like Evangelism Explosion and many, many others. However, Andrew and Philip just states “We have found” (John 1:41, 45) and “come and see.” (John 1:42, 46)

An act of faith is always greeted with open arms from Jesus. Nathaniel response is a direct reponse to the movement of God. “The Word was with God and the Word was God and the Word became flesh and dwelled among us.” How amazing God came for Nathaniel, before Nathaniel ever knew about Jesus. The same can be said about anyone who responds in faith to Jesus. God initiated and effects salvation. If Salvation rest on anyone other than God, it would surely be meaningless. How beautiful for all of us who have trusted in Jesus. Jesus came for us; we are not an accident but children sought out by God. We are the prodigal son who has returned to his father. (Luke 15:11-32)

Nathaniel acts on what he knows and his response is greated with more light. The light is Jesus (John 8:12) revealing more and more of his identity to Nathaniel. Jesus says to Nathaniel, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.” (John 1:48) Jesus gives Nathaniel evidence into his identity through His omniscience (Knowledge of past, present, and future including possibilities/actuality whether physical or immaterial objects etc.) (Igou Hodges, Reformed Theology Chapter 11 The Essence of God page 15). Nathaniel responds again to the light of this revelation, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.” (John 1:49) Wow!! Nathaniel makes a profound declaration. What about you? Is Jesus your Rabbi, the Son of God and your King or is he your good luck charm, or Santa Clause? Nathaniel is being called to abandon everything and rethink his thinking about life and living. Nathaniel is talking with “the light of the world.” (John 8:12) Jesus is the perfect human being. Jesus will latter tell the crowds “my food is to do the will of Him who sent me” (John 4:34). Our society as all others in history is consumed with “My will be done” not “Thy will be done” (Matthew 6). Jesus models the creative design of humankind and that is to know God and live for God. The designer and architect of humanity comes not only to redeem but manifest the reality that God desires to commune, fellowship and welcome in his creation in a filial way, “adopted sons” (Ephesians 1:5) and model what it means to live as “children of the light” (John 12:36).

The pattern continues, as Nathaniel responds to the revelation given, Jesus says, “’You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that. He then added, ‘I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.’” (John 1:50, 51) The greater things, is not silver or gold or any material thing. Jesus is not bound by time, natural laws, space for He is over all things and spoke all things into existence (Hebrews 11:3). Jesus will reveals what is unseen, God and the Kingdom of God, everything else will eventually perish. The miracles Jesus will perform are a sign not an end that reveal God. The unseen world will be made visible, “angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man” revealing that Jesus is greater than the “angels” are and dispatched according to His will. The transfiguration (Matthew 17) will be a near fulfillment of Jesus prophetic statement. This will climax at Jesus resurrection and ascension (John 20:11-18; Acts 1) but the ultimate fulfillment will occur when time as we know it is no more and Jesus welcomes us into Heaven and we receive our glorified bodies in the triune God’s presence forever. (1 Corinthians 15; Revelation 21; 22)

Do you want to know Jesus? Act on what you know and you shall find Him. If you are “in Christ” and you depart from “walking in the light” and find yourself thirsty, then repent and begin to change direction moving toward Jesus walking in “his footsteps” (1 Peter 2:21). Believers who refuse to obey God will find themselves stuck in the mud and no new revelation of Jesus will come to them until they repent. Simple principle: when you refuse to act on the light you have no new light is given.

Nathaniel has made a powerful declaration of Jesus but it will be another year of sitting under the teaching of Jesus before Nathaniel is commissioned as an Apostle. If you have come to Christ, you need to feed on the Master’s word and act on what you know and Jesus will direct your every step.

Simple principle: when you refuse to act on the light you have no new light is given.