Nathanael
Nathanael
Greeting to you this week in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ. This is a month of great change. Kids are getting used to hurrying off to school. Graduation is just around the corner. VBS will soon be upon us! Vacation season will soon begin. All of this signals that Summer is almost here. Summer is a season of change. The season of growth is drawing quickly to a close and soon the blistering heat of hot days will be upon us. As we continue our time of sojourning in this changing world, it is comforting for us to know that our God does not change. He is still the same today as He was yesterday and He will be the same tomorrow. In the same way God does not change, so also the way He deals with His people does not change either. The way in which God touches our lives and blesses us is the same way He touched the lives of those who have gone before us, even the Apostles of our Lord.
The Apostles were common everyday people just like us. They lived and worked to get by. They had families and the same concerns faced them as face us today. It was, however, their privilege to know Jesus as He lived upon this earth. When Jesus came into the world it was not to great fanfare, as you know. In an obscure village in southern Judea, with the exception of the shepherds and the wise men, few concerned themselves with the birth of the Son of God. After the flight into Egypt and the death of King Herod, Joseph took his family and moved to the region of Galilee, to the town Nazareth. This was to fulfill the prophecy that God’s Deliverer would be called a Nazarene. Years passed and John the Baptiszer appeared on the seen preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Following Jesus’ baptism by John and the temptation of Jesus by Satan in the wilderness, Jesus began to call men to follow Him. Of these who were called, twelve would soon be chosen to be apostles. Jesus called Peter, Andrew, James and John in one day. The following day Jesus saw Philip and said to him, “follow Me.” Philip immediately found his friend Nathanael and shared the exciting news, “we have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote - Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
Philip knew where to find his friend Nathanael who is also called Bartholomew - (Bar-Talami or son of Talami). He was sitting under a fig tree. This is not a point to be overlooked. For the Jew the fig tree was a sign of blessing, a sign of being the chosen people of God. It was also common for a person to sit in the shade of a fig tree to meditate on Scripture or to pray. Nathanael was a devout man who like the elderly man Simeon, waited for the consolation of Israel. We know Nathanael was a devout man because Jesus speaks concerning him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!”
When Nathanael heard Philip his immediate response was one of disbelief. Who among us has not hoped and prayed for something to happen only to say when it does, “I can’t believe it!” Nathanael’s first response was to say, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip did not seek to argue or convince his friend. His simple request was “Come and see.” Philip knew the character of his friend. He knew if Nathanael could but met Jesus, he too would know He was the Promised One.
As Jesus approached with the first disciples following Him, He saw in Nathanael something special. Something which was extremely rare in Israel. Something which is still rare today. “Behold an Israelite in whom there is no guile.” Jesus could look into the very heart of Nathanael and know all there was to know about him. Sincerity of faith in God. A man who sought to serve God out of love for Him, not for self-seeking reasons. Nathanael prayed under a fig tree, while the Pharisees stood on street corners to be seen by men.
Nathanael’s response to Jesus’ statement was, “How do you know me?” How is it that Jesus would know of his heart and character? Jesus responds to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Jesus was revealing to Nathanael that as he sat and prayed and meditated on what it meant to be God’s servant, Jesus was aware of all. Nathanael needed no more convincing. There was no need for Jesus to say or do anything else. Nathanael knew only God could know the secret thoughts of his heart. If this One who stood before him could know so much about him, then He must be God. “Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” A true confession of Jesus the Christ. Immediate acceptance of Jesus as Savior that began with the simple words, “Come and see.” Upon his confession of Jesus, Nathanael is given a promise from Jesus, “Because I said to you, I saw you under a fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these. Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”
Jesus’ promise was true. Nathanael did see many more wonders of Jesus. Miraculous events and healings. Casting out of demons and the raising of the dead. And Nathanael saw the cross and the price which was paid for his sin and the love of God, as the very Son of God died for all people. Nathanael was there when Jesus ascended to the Father’s right hand, and he went as he was sent. From Jerusalem to Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth. Tradition says that Nathanael Bartholomew was martyred in A.D. 44 in Armenia. It is said that idolaters beat him severely and then crucified him because of his testimony of the Gospel.
If we today are to learn anything of this great servant of Christ then it must be this – A pure heart is clearly seen by God! Jesus as the omniscient God knows the thoughts and desires of each of us. We cannot hide our sin, just as we cannot but reveal our fears and needs. He is God and He knows all and will help those who trust in Him. The example of Nathanael’s life should be for each of us a goal. He was a man who had sincere faith in God. He was not “religious” for the praise he could receive from men. He was a devoutly religious man because he loved God. He knew the Word of God and when he came face to face with Jesus, he knew He was the One! May each of us seek to be pure of heart and mind and serve God in sincerity and truth as did Nathanael. May Jesus look upon us by grace and say of us, “There is a true Christian, one in whom there is no hypocrisy.”
In Christ,
Pastor Russ
Greeting to you this week in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ. This is a month of great change. Kids are getting used to hurrying off to school. Graduation is just around the corner. VBS will soon be upon us! Vacation season will soon begin. All of this signals that Summer is almost here. Summer is a season of change. The season of growth is drawing quickly to a close and soon the blistering heat of hot days will be upon us. As we continue our time of sojourning in this changing world, it is comforting for us to know that our God does not change. He is still the same today as He was yesterday and He will be the same tomorrow. In the same way God does not change, so also the way He deals with His people does not change either. The way in which God touches our lives and blesses us is the same way He touched the lives of those who have gone before us, even the Apostles of our Lord.
The Apostles were common everyday people just like us. They lived and worked to get by. They had families and the same concerns faced them as face us today. It was, however, their privilege to know Jesus as He lived upon this earth. When Jesus came into the world it was not to great fanfare, as you know. In an obscure village in southern Judea, with the exception of the shepherds and the wise men, few concerned themselves with the birth of the Son of God. After the flight into Egypt and the death of King Herod, Joseph took his family and moved to the region of Galilee, to the town Nazareth. This was to fulfill the prophecy that God’s Deliverer would be called a Nazarene. Years passed and John the Baptiszer appeared on the seen preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Following Jesus’ baptism by John and the temptation of Jesus by Satan in the wilderness, Jesus began to call men to follow Him. Of these who were called, twelve would soon be chosen to be apostles. Jesus called Peter, Andrew, James and John in one day. The following day Jesus saw Philip and said to him, “follow Me.” Philip immediately found his friend Nathanael and shared the exciting news, “we have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote - Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
Philip knew where to find his friend Nathanael who is also called Bartholomew - (Bar-Talami or son of Talami). He was sitting under a fig tree. This is not a point to be overlooked. For the Jew the fig tree was a sign of blessing, a sign of being the chosen people of God. It was also common for a person to sit in the shade of a fig tree to meditate on Scripture or to pray. Nathanael was a devout man who like the elderly man Simeon, waited for the consolation of Israel. We know Nathanael was a devout man because Jesus speaks concerning him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!”
When Nathanael heard Philip his immediate response was one of disbelief. Who among us has not hoped and prayed for something to happen only to say when it does, “I can’t believe it!” Nathanael’s first response was to say, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip did not seek to argue or convince his friend. His simple request was “Come and see.” Philip knew the character of his friend. He knew if Nathanael could but met Jesus, he too would know He was the Promised One.
As Jesus approached with the first disciples following Him, He saw in Nathanael something special. Something which was extremely rare in Israel. Something which is still rare today. “Behold an Israelite in whom there is no guile.” Jesus could look into the very heart of Nathanael and know all there was to know about him. Sincerity of faith in God. A man who sought to serve God out of love for Him, not for self-seeking reasons. Nathanael prayed under a fig tree, while the Pharisees stood on street corners to be seen by men.
Nathanael’s response to Jesus’ statement was, “How do you know me?” How is it that Jesus would know of his heart and character? Jesus responds to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Jesus was revealing to Nathanael that as he sat and prayed and meditated on what it meant to be God’s servant, Jesus was aware of all. Nathanael needed no more convincing. There was no need for Jesus to say or do anything else. Nathanael knew only God could know the secret thoughts of his heart. If this One who stood before him could know so much about him, then He must be God. “Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” A true confession of Jesus the Christ. Immediate acceptance of Jesus as Savior that began with the simple words, “Come and see.” Upon his confession of Jesus, Nathanael is given a promise from Jesus, “Because I said to you, I saw you under a fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these. Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”
Jesus’ promise was true. Nathanael did see many more wonders of Jesus. Miraculous events and healings. Casting out of demons and the raising of the dead. And Nathanael saw the cross and the price which was paid for his sin and the love of God, as the very Son of God died for all people. Nathanael was there when Jesus ascended to the Father’s right hand, and he went as he was sent. From Jerusalem to Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth. Tradition says that Nathanael Bartholomew was martyred in A.D. 44 in Armenia. It is said that idolaters beat him severely and then crucified him because of his testimony of the Gospel.
If we today are to learn anything of this great servant of Christ then it must be this – A pure heart is clearly seen by God! Jesus as the omniscient God knows the thoughts and desires of each of us. We cannot hide our sin, just as we cannot but reveal our fears and needs. He is God and He knows all and will help those who trust in Him. The example of Nathanael’s life should be for each of us a goal. He was a man who had sincere faith in God. He was not “religious” for the praise he could receive from men. He was a devoutly religious man because he loved God. He knew the Word of God and when he came face to face with Jesus, he knew He was the One! May each of us seek to be pure of heart and mind and serve God in sincerity and truth as did Nathanael. May Jesus look upon us by grace and say of us, “There is a true Christian, one in whom there is no hypocrisy.”
In Christ,
Pastor Russ
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