I love the Bread of Life…even when it’s hard to swallow.
Pastor Gary took us to some hard Scriptures today…verses that forced us to look long and hard in the mirror of truth.
What does Jesus see in us?
Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).
The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”
Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. 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.”
“Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked.
“Come and see,” said Philip.
When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”
“How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.
Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”
Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.”
Jesus said, “You believebecause I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.” He then added, “Very truly I tell you, youwill see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man.” (John 1:42-51 NIV)
In previous sermons, Gary described how Jesus knew Simon would transform from a swaying reed to a solid rock. (v. 42)
Soon after calling Simon Peter as a disciple, he called Philip. As soon Philip “found” the Messiah, he couldn’t help but share the news with Nathanael.
Nathanael was a scholar, fully educated in the Scriptures. He was also a straight shooter. He found it hard to fathom that anything of Biblical proportions would come from a po-dunk town like Nazareth.
Philip knew there was no point in arguing with Nathanael. He just said, “Come and see.”
We could learn a lot from Philip. I’ve never heard of anyone coming to Jesus through an argument. We don’t have to prove the truth of the Gospel to anyone. Just let them see it for themselves. Come and see. Show ‘em Jesus!
When Jesus laid eyes on Nathanael, He essentially said, “This one is the real deal.”
Naturally, Nathanael was a little confused. He knew he’d never met Jesus, never spent any time with Him, never had any theological conversations with Him. “How do you know me?” he asked.
Jesus knew Nathanael through and through.
He knows us all. Our deepest, unspoken thoughts. Our motives, good and bad. Our dreams and fears. He knows where we’ve been, where we are, and where we’re going. Jesus knows.
Nathanael believed, and Jesus declared, “You haven’t seen anything yet.”
Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, many people saw the signs he was performing and believed in his name. But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people. He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person. (John 2:22-24 NIV)
Throughout Christ’s earthly ministry, many people believed after seeing His miracles, but the Scripture says that Jesus didn’t entrust Himself to all of them. Just like with Simon Peter and Nathanael, Jesus looked into each heart and knew who truly believed.
Some were focused on the spectacle, not the Savior.
Some were enamored by the miracles, not the Miracle Maker.
Some were impressed by the power, not the Person of Jesus Christ.
To whom does Jesus entrust Himself?
You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. (John 15:14-15 NIV)
Jesus entrusts Himself to those who entrust themselves to Him through obedience. When we commit our lives to Him, Jesus calls us friends and shares with us everything he learned from the Father.
What does Christ expect from us?
To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32 NIV)
Jesus expects us to hold to His teaching…to continue in the Word through:
- Listening to the whole counsel of the word.
- Constantly learning and growing in the faith.
- Making Christ our top priority and ultimate authority.
- Being a doer of the word, always.
Lord, examine our hearts, and show us what You see. Flood us with truth, so any falsehood is flushed out. Empower us to continue in the Word, holding fast to Your teaching so we can truly be Your friends. Faithful friends. In the name of Jesus, who knows us best, AMEN
