Read John 1:43-51. Circle the words that stand out to you. What is the Lord saying to you?
43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”
44 Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. 45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
46 “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked.
“Come and see,” said Philip.
47 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”
48 “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.
Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”
49 Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.”
50 Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.” 51 He then added, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man.”
Digging Deeper
My office is generally neat and clean except when it comes to for medical expenses. I just stuff the receipts into an envelope. Sometimes, I get a bill from a medical office that I haven’t paid but paid the deductible. Trying to find that one receipt drives me crazy. It’s like trying to find a needle in a haystack.
Don’t you find it amazing that Jesus found Philip and then Philip finds Nathaniel. Philip and Nathaniel both encountered Jesus. What did Philip and Nathaniel find out about Jesus? Both of them came to belief that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament Scriptures. Encountering Jesus as life changing.
Nathaniel had a hard time believing Philip. Nathaniel was a skeptic. Perhaps he heard about John the Baptist and his messages from his friends, but he wasn’t convinced. He needed proof. Jesus reveals his character and his contemplation. Nathaniel reasoned that no one can know his heart and his actions except someone who is God. Jesus’ words to Nathaniel removed any doubt in his mind, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Philip wasn’t lying to him and now he encountered Jesus Himself.
If you think that you are lost or that God doesn’t know you or your circumstances, you are mistaken. Jesus knows what was going to happen to you before it even happened! What is more astonishing is that in your circumstances, you will discover even more of who Jesus is. It’s more than discovering the historical Jesus in the Bible, but discovering the living Jesus in your circumstances.
You and I are not “lost” in God’s eyes. He sees you and will come to meet you where we are at in life. Have you had your first encounter with Jesus as your Savior? Have your eyes been opened to “see” Jesus as the Resurrected Lord? Philip’s and Nathaniel’s encounter with Jesus changed their lives forever. You can have that encounter and transformation too, when you come to trust in Jesus as your personal Savior. If you take the first step, you will find Him. Will you take that step today?
Kingston Tong