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
One who pushes people from behind with threats and a fear-based mindset cannot logically be a leader. If you are to follow, you must have some advance knowledge as to what the person who is to lead you is all about. If you chose to follow someone who is not genuine in nature, the road ahead will be very rough indeed.
Philip knew about Jesus before he met him. What a great surprise it must have been for him to hear Jesus say, "Follow me." Philip knew who was calling him and went to his friend Nathanael who couldn't quite believe what Philip was saying. "Come and see," says Philip. When he went to see Jesus he was received with friendly foreknowledge: "...an Israelite in whom there is no deceit."
"I saw you under the fig tree" can probably be described as a euphemism for someone who often sits contemplating wisdom and knowledge. Yup. Jesus can use someone like that too. In an age when some Christians have disdain for the intellectual pursuit of biblical truth, we should encourage all questions as if they were entwined with the breath of God's Holy Spirit.
Prayer
Remind us, O Lord, that when you call us you also grant us strength to perform the tasks we encounter. Thus your will is done and we grow in faith observing your power at work. Amen.