February 7th
PEOPLE JESUS MET
Profile: It is fairly certain that Nathanael (John's gospel) and Bartholomew (in Matthew, Mark and Luke) are the same person, which would make Nathanael one of the twelve. Nathanael was a devout Israelite, a resident of Cana about 4 miles from insignificant despised Nazareth. On invitation from Phillip to see the Messiah, Nathanael overcame his prejudice against “anything good coming from Nazareth” to investigate further. Jesus first words about Nathanael were "an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit" - a man like Jacob but without Jacob's faults. He had been sitting privately under a fig tree presumably in devotional meditation. Jesus tells Nathanael that he saw him. This supernatural knowledge is enough to convince Nathanael that Jesus is the Son of God, the King of Israel! Jesus referred to Jacob’s dream recorded in Genesis 28:12. Whereas Jacob saw the angels ascending and descending on a stairway, Jesus reveals he is the stairway, the way, the connection between heaven and earth. As Jacob slept, his resting place became a temple, a “house of God” (Bethel). In reality, Christ is the end-time sanctuary in which God communes with His people (John 1:14; 2:19–22).
PEOPLE JESUS MET
NATHANAEL – Without Deceit
NATHANAEL – Without Deceit
He continued, “I tell all of you the solemn truth – you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
John 1:51, The NET Bible
John 1:51, The NET Bible
Profile: It is fairly certain that Nathanael (John's gospel) and Bartholomew (in Matthew, Mark and Luke) are the same person, which would make Nathanael one of the twelve. Nathanael was a devout Israelite, a resident of Cana about 4 miles from insignificant despised Nazareth. On invitation from Phillip to see the Messiah, Nathanael overcame his prejudice against “anything good coming from Nazareth” to investigate further. Jesus first words about Nathanael were "an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit" - a man like Jacob but without Jacob's faults. He had been sitting privately under a fig tree presumably in devotional meditation. Jesus tells Nathanael that he saw him. This supernatural knowledge is enough to convince Nathanael that Jesus is the Son of God, the King of Israel! Jesus referred to Jacob’s dream recorded in Genesis 28:12. Whereas Jacob saw the angels ascending and descending on a stairway, Jesus reveals he is the stairway, the way, the connection between heaven and earth. As Jacob slept, his resting place became a temple, a “house of God” (Bethel). In reality, Christ is the end-time sanctuary in which God communes with His people (John 1:14; 2:19–22).
Lessons:
- Do not let any blind prejudice stand as a barrier to open investigation in your search for Christ.
- Even the most devout religious person needs Jesus. He is our only mediator; the Son of God (vs 34,49) and Son of Man (vs 51).
- He who said nothing good can come from Nazareth, now realises nothing really good has come from anywhere except Nazareth!
______________________________
Hold on to Jesus the stairway.
Hold on to Jesus the stairway.