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
John's gospel has Jesus appear to be a mind reader in the first chapter as he sees Nathanael approaching for the very first time, "Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!" However, it's not only or primarily Jesus seeming telepathic power or charisma that John wants us to bring to our attention. Rather, these events are all signs pointing us to the possibility of something even more remarkable. Eugene Peterson's translation here has Jesus saying, "You haven't seen anything yet!" (The Message).
Jesus now has our ears and our attention as he looks to the God's future among us: "You will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man." The fulfillment of God's promises for all of heaven and earth will be through Jesus himself. To see God identifying with those experiencing poverty in Palestine of Jesus' day is to believe and receive hope for living even yet today.
Prayer
God of Hope, in Jesus Christ, you invited the first followers to follow. May we follow and take your lead into the possibilities of changed lives for your glory. Amen.