John 1:43-51.                     Come and see !!                                                                               18/1/15

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.”

 Here in this reading again we have revealed to us some more pretty amazing things about this Jesus. We here are challenged to come and see this Jesus for who he really and then to follow him. When we know who he is and how important he is then we surely cannot help but follow him: Unless of course we want to be selfish and arrogant, and then to take our chances in facing Judgement Day and hell.

 This is again then is an important issue for us to think about here at this time. I think we all struggle with our following of Jesus Christ and in being a Christian; as well as in our being witnesses for our Lord. The problem often is though, that we fail to see him as he really is and so then struggle to live and witness as is appropriate for one who is so great.

 We have swallowed the lie of our present day society in thinking that life is all about me. Self is the centre of our world. Thereby everything, including our faith and Christian life, is all about me. God and Jesus are only worthy of a part in our life in so far as what they can do for me. All we look for is an easy, healthy, wealthy and happy life-style.

Along with that we have this view of ourselves that we are basically good people. Our selfish pride does not want acknowledge or even hear from God or his preachers that we are sinners at the very core of our lives. We don’t want to hear what God says we must and must not do. In fact we don’t want anyone telling us how we should live and act, or that we don’t come up to scratch..

 So as a result of this, Jesus and what he came to do, is relegated to secondary importance. Sure, we know we have to say that Jesus is all important and that he is where it really is at, but in reality we put ourselves and our thoughts and worldly activities first. I want to be comfortable in our own and our world’s eyes, more than taking Jesus Christ and what he says as of greatest importance.

 This is what Jesus is saying here with regard to Nathanael, that he is not. Jesus said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” He comes to Jesus for who he is said to be. He believes that his help and hope is Jesus despite what his and the world’s inclination are. He is not two-faced in his coming to Jesus. Interestingly Jesus can see that in him: Which is a reminder to us that he sees us also and knows where we are at in relation to him. We can’t fool him. 

 But the implication is that if we are not prepared to take Jesus Christ seriously, then we are going to struggle in our following of him. The danger is that we will become pharisaical in our thinking and actions and we will be wanting to take the easy and popular line in life.

 However we know from the Scriptures that following Jesus is not an easy road. It means standing by that which is not popular in the world’s eyes. Jesus told his disciple that they would not have an easy time of life. Just as his life was centred and led to his death on the cross, so also our following of him will result in rejection and even persecution. It also means that our message of Jesus death on the cross for the forgiveness of sins will in many cases be a stumbling block in our witness to others.

 However this is the heart of who Jesus is and what our following of him is all about. Here in this reading Philip tells Nathanael  that we have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote. Just prior to this John the Baptist was pointing to Jesus and telling Andrew and Peter that here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

Here is the Messiah – the one who was prophesied throughout the Old Testament would come and save the people from their sin and be their King. Here was the one specially sent from God to be the one who would reconnect people with who they were meant to be.

  So here In Jesus Christ is the One who is all important for life. Here was that which is above and beyond anyone or anything else – even ourselves. Here is the only real hope for humanity. Here is God himself come to do what had to be done so that we can be saved from our stupidity.

 All he calls for is for us to come and see: to repent and believe the Good News that he has come to pay the price for us to be forgiven for our sinfulness. Jesus message was Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near.  In his coming and dying on the cross he makes it possible for us to be in heaven, so turn to him and believe this Good News.

 This is the heart of who Jesus is and what he is about and what he is calling for in our following of him. Everything points to Jesus death on the cross so that we can have eternal life in heaven with The Lord God Almighty himself.

 But here though the question is all too often: can anything good come of it. Can anything good come from Jesus and our connection with him? Again we are simply looking for what’s in it for me, we will not see much in it. For many all they are interested in is for him to let us into heaven at the end.

 But for Nathanael, even though he couldn’t see how it could be possible, he knew and looked for this one who was prophecies to come and save his people from their sin, and so he willingly comes to Jesus to see if it is truly so.

 It was then that Jesus tells him some home truths about him which proved that Jesus knew more about him than was humanly possible.  He says: “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” And “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.” This is impossible for anyone other than God himself to see and know.

 Here let us remember that in the book of Ephesians we are told that God saw and knew us since before the creation of the world. God knows all about us – what we would, be like – what we are thinking – what we would do – every detail - and more – even before he created the world.

 This surely is absolutely remarkable. This surely indicates to us that he is where life is at and what is all important. He and what he thinks, does and calls for from us is far more important than we ourselves. On top of that to then come and be the sacrifice which away the sin of the world, this is absolutely amazing.

 So surely now we want to follow him. Surely now we will go where he wants us to go and do what he wants to do. Surely now we will not be able help ourselves in telling others how important and great this Jesus is and what he has done for us. It will simply be one poor beggar telling another were to find our help and hope.

 Then in the last two verses Jesus says: “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.”

 Here Jesus makes a final very important statement to help his disciples, and that includes us, to be able to know the Jesus is for real and so go forward with confidence. God will reveal Jesus to as being from God. He will reveal to us through angels and his Spirit that Jesus is who he says he is.

 So we have God’s messengers helping us to see, through Jesus miracles; through His death and resurrection; through his Word and Sacraments that this Jesus Christ is him who is all important for our salvation, life and eternal hope.

 So we can look to, follow, and be witnesses to Jesus Christ with certainty and confidence. Here we have God almighty himself come into our world for the express purpose of dying on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins and so enable us to once again be his children and have the sure hope of eternal life in heaven with our God for all eternity.

 So we don’t have to be in two minds. We can get on with life looking to and follow this one who see us, knows us and calls us to follow him. To him then be all glory and honour, now and always. Amen.

 Pastor Roger Atze

Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish