John 1:43-51 (NRSV)
Read John 1:43-51 on biblegateway.com
Verse 43The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." Verse 44Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Verse 45Philip 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." Verse 46Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." Verse 47When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, "Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!" Verse 48Nathanael asked him, "Where did you get to know me?" Jesus answered, "I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you." Verse 49Nathanael replied, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" Verse 50Jesus answered, "Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these." Verse 51And 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."
Devotion
Good things from strange places.
Today we meet “Doubting Nathaniel.” And we, like him, may wonder if any good can come from unexpected places or people. Consider what we have learned this week.
Hannah could not get pregnant and she gives birth to Samuel.
David goes to the court of inquiry against him and comes away with a clean slate.
Paul uses his body to attack believers but Jesus forgives him and his body is now used for the glory to God.
Jesus comes from Nazareth, from which no good usually comes. And his outcome hardly looked good. But we know the good God did with his ending.
You and I are with all the saints in this history of faith. God takes all our losses and debts and makes good on them. So what good can come of you or me? Wait and see! God has not brought us this far to drop us now.
Prayer
Thank you, Jesus, for you are working all things for your good to those who love you and are called according to your purpose. Amen.