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
Jesus says: Nathanael, it is no big deal that I saw you and knew you sitting under the fig tree. The big deal is that you recognize I am the Son of God—and that the angelic messengers make known to you that I am the Son of Man. The big deal is that Nathanael hears and follows.
Remember the old camp song you and I may have sung with gusto: We are climbing Jacob’s Ladder. We are climbing higher, higher! Fun song. Bad in light of John’s story, a bit of poor theology! We do not climb. The messengers of God bring God’s voice down to us through the Son of Man who is God’s presence and voice among us. God’s messengers remind us as in the familiar words of that Christmas hymn: From heaven above to earth I come to bear Good News of Jesus God’s Messiah to everyone.
Prayer
Kind and loving God grant us your grace to hear and discern your Word made flesh come to dwell among us. Bless those messengers among us who continue to speak your Word, grant us grace to follow. In the strong name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.