Today from the Gospel according to John (1:43-51) we read:
The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 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.” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” When Jesus saw Nathanael coming towards him, he said of him, “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!” Nathanael asked him, “Where did you come to know me?” Jesus answered, “I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.” Nathanael replied, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” Jesus answered, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.” And he said to him, “Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”
Yes, good does come from Nazareth, and yes, the disciples would experience far greater things as they journeyed with Jesus.
Imagine, Phillip's very first impression of Jesus was that he was the Messiah, the one the Prophets wrote about. Jesus’ presence as he walked the roads of Israel some two thousand years ago must have been so overwhelmingly divine that God’s very presence was palpable.
Nathaniel was impressed by a small thing, the fact that Jesus saw him under the fig tree. He did not know what was in store not only for him and his friends, but for the world, the Resurrection of Jesus.
How do we manifest the presence of the Risen Christ in the world? Are we kind to those whom we meet? Do we provide for those who have less than we do? Do we offer a drink to cold water to someone who thirsty? Do we share with others our joy in Jesus’ redemption of the world?
The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 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.” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” When Jesus saw Nathanael coming towards him, he said of him, “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!” Nathanael asked him, “Where did you come to know me?” Jesus answered, “I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.” Nathanael replied, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” Jesus answered, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.” And he said to him, “Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”
Yes, good does come from Nazareth, and yes, the disciples would experience far greater things as they journeyed with Jesus.
Imagine, Phillip's very first impression of Jesus was that he was the Messiah, the one the Prophets wrote about. Jesus’ presence as he walked the roads of Israel some two thousand years ago must have been so overwhelmingly divine that God’s very presence was palpable.
Nathaniel was impressed by a small thing, the fact that Jesus saw him under the fig tree. He did not know what was in store not only for him and his friends, but for the world, the Resurrection of Jesus.
How do we manifest the presence of the Risen Christ in the world? Are we kind to those whom we meet? Do we provide for those who have less than we do? Do we offer a drink to cold water to someone who thirsty? Do we share with others our joy in Jesus’ redemption of the world?
Can anything good come from Houston? Yes, living disciples of Jesus of Nazareth who spread the Good News of Salvation to all they meet when they treat all whom they meet as being loved by God as His sons and daughters, and redeemed by the blood of Jesus of Nazareth.
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