John 1:43-51

43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. He found Philip and told him, “Follow me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the hometown of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the law (and so did the prophets): Jesus the son of Joseph, from Nazareth.” 46 “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Nathanael asked him. “Come and see,” Philip answered. 47 Then Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said about him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” 48 “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you,” Jesus answered. 49 “Rabbi,” Nathanael replied, “You are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel!” 50 Jesus responded to him, “Do you believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” 51 Then he said, “Truly I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

For the Adults:

When Christ calls us to salvation, He also calls us to follow Him as Lord wherever He chooses to lead us.

Dr. Bill Wallace was an American missionary to China. He was arrested in China on false charges based on planted evidence. He was beaten with bamboo sticks by prison guards. He was brutally interrogated, he was despondent to the point of insanity in his final days, according to witnesses who were jailed with him. He would later die from these wounds. Few believed the official story that the 43 year old doctor had committed suicide after he was found hanging from a beam in his cell the morning of February 10, 1951. A close friend and colleague was allowed to view his body and saw little evidence of a hanging, but plenty of marks of physical abuse.

While the Lord doesn’t call us all to that kind of life, He does call us all to follow Him wherever and however He commands. He is the Lord and we’re His children. While He always has our ultimate good in mind, the path sometimes is pretty rough. The call to be a Christian is the call to follow Jesus wherever He commands.

We looked at Jesus’ encounter with Nathanael last week. Jesus let Nathanael know that He knew him inside and out. Nathanael is the first man in John’s gospel who is said to believe in Jesus and he is the first to receive a promise from Christ. His testimony teaches us that there are degrees of growth in coming to know Christ. Nathanael was already a student of the Scriptures, searching them to know who the Messiah would be. But he needed to meet Jesus in person. That meeting brought him to believe in Jesus as the Son of God. But Jesus would reveal still more to Nathanael about the future.

In modern day lingo, Jesus' response, verses 50 - 51, is really, "You ain't seen nothing yet!" The gospel of John covers seven of Jesus' miracles, and he refers to them as "signs." The purpose of a true miracle, or sign, is always bringing a message to people about, or from God. In the gospel of John, these seven miracles are recorded specifically so that people will realize that Jesus is God. Knowing where Nathanael was, and what he was doing, is impressive. But these future signs will be even more proof that Christ was who He claimed to be. Jesus has already gently corrected Nathanael for using stereotypes. Now, He gives an early reminder that those who believe only when they have a miracle are not seeking honestly.

Jesus is telling us today, "You ain't seen nothing yet!” But whatever the next few months bring we are called to do our part as witnesses to what God is doing through us for those most effected by the virus. In order to participate in what God is doing in the world today, the Church needs to provide a consistent, organic witness over the long haul. To do so is to recognize God is at work during this pandemic.

For the children:

When was the last time you checked in on your grandparents?

Who have you heard through your contacts/connections is not doing well?

Can you reach out to them and see how you can help?

Read and meditate:

John 1:43-51

Pray:

Lord I know that this pandemic has been hard on so many people, and I ask that you show me how I can love my brothers and sisters like Jesus does. Help me to be obedient to your Holy Spirit and do something that can help them out during these difficult times.

I pray these things in the name of Jesus Christ my Savior

Amen.

About the author:

Jose Aguilar Jr. is an Associate Pastor at FBC Weslaco and has served in this capacity for the last 12 years. He and his wife Blanca have served faithfully at FBC Weslaco since 2001. They are the proud grandparents of Lilyana Faythe and Trinidad Esperanza Aguilar.