John 1:43-51 God is intimate with those who are pure at heart
John 1:43-51 God is intimate with those who are pure at heart
The next day He purposed to go into Galilee, and He found Philip. And Jesus said to him, “Follow Me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote —Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”
47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” 48 Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” 49 Nathanael answered Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel.” 50 Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And He said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
Background
Jesus starts his ministry by calling disciples in different cities. One particular disciple whom Jesus is particularly drawn to is Nathanael, a man without deceit. Jesus confides with Nathanael by revealing His identity, an exceptional move only because Nathanael is pure at heart. Today’s passage shows us that God desires to be near those who are without deceit. A refreshing intimacy with God, an indescribable joy of fellowship are reserved for us, if we will purify our hearts today.
Observation
And Jesus said to him, “Follow Me.”
Jesus begins the process of recruiting His disciples calling them to follow Him. Note that only Jesus reserves the right to say, “Follow me” as He is the Son of God, the standard of righteousness whom all humanity are called to emulate. Jesus’s call is not just an invitation but a command to follow after His ways and manner of living.
Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?
After Philip responds to Jesus’s call for discipleship, he wastes no time in letting Nathanael in about his great discovery of the Saviour of Israel, One of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote. However, Nathanael is cautious: Can any good thing come out of Nazareth? Nathanael is not particularly prejudiced against the city of Nazareth for there are no prior evidences of Nazareth being regarded as inferior. Nathanael is probably surprised as he is unaware of any person of great repute residing in this city.
Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!
Nevertheless, Nathanael follows Philip to meet Jesus. Jesus, upon seeing Nathanael says, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” For Jesus has earlier taken special notice of Nathanael sitting under the fig tree as is his custom. What attracts Jesus’s attention is Nathanael’s heart of purity. Nathanael at the words of Jesus responds instinctively, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel.” Nathanael through the Spirit’s enlightenment recognises Jesus as Son of God, the King of Israel.
You will see greater things than these.
Jesus responds to Nathanael’s enlightened words by quoting the episode where Jacob has a dream while running from his brother Esau: you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man. What is the significance of this dream? Genesis 28:12 details the significance of Jacob’s dream as God spoke to him from above the ladder,
He (Jacob) had a dream, and behold, a ladder was set on the earth with its top reaching to heaven; and behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. And behold, the Lord stood above it and said, “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring. Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.” Genesis 28:12-14.
The Lord’s proclamation from above the ladder provides the interpretation of the dream. God is pointing to the establishing of His kingdom on earth through Jacob’s offspring: in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed. As Jacob is chosen to bear the offspring, Christ is that offspring that will establish the promise of Abraham where his offspring is as numerous as stars of the heavens and sands of the seashore. Here, Jesus is calling Nathanael to enter into his calling as a disciple and obtain Abraham’s promise.
Truth
The command “Follow me” involves shedding off all things that hinder the way of the call.
It is not possible to follow Christ without shedding off fleshly desires or releasing our idolised possessions. “Follow me” involves emulating Christ’s lifestyle by reading His word and obeying His instructions daily. Many people try to follow Christ but they continue to idolise their family, career, and material possessions. They suppose by committing to their fair share of service attendance and offerings will make them full fledge children of God. Following Christ is a matter of the heart and is more than just fulfilling the obligations of church membership. Jesus teaches His disciples the requisite to deny one’s rights and desires in order to follow Him.
“If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” Matthew 16:24-26
Jesus’s teachings on discipleship runs counter to the trend of churches that emphasises the acquisition of blessing as the goal of the Christian life. Though such churches have the usual doctrines, but their spirit runs counter to the Spirit of Christ. Those who remain in such churches will find themselves losing the instinct of holiness and sacrificial living. The things they used to find abhorring have increasingly become familiar and comfortable.
God is intimate to those who are pure at heart
God takes notice of those who are pure at heart and will show His favour towards them. God becomes intimate and communes with those who are without deceit. To be pure and without deceit translates into:
- being willing to confront one’s weaknesses without camouflaging,
- repentance from one’s wicked ways to do what is right, and
- having a desire to know God and love Him.
Earlier in the day, when Nathanael is sitting under the fig tree, Jesus is drawn to him, being captured by his simplicity and purity. Jesus confides in him and discloses that He is the Son of God and King of Israel. Something one do not do so early in the ministry because of the Jews. For the Jews, to say one is the Son of God is tantamount to blaspheme. And to the Romans, to say one is King of Israel is treason. Most churchgoers who profess that they cannot hear God’s voice often attribute their impediment to the lack of quality time with God. In fact, the real problem is not about time but the lack of purity of the heart. Their reluctance to confront their sins and to repent repulses God. The psalmist wrote, “If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.” Psalm 66:18. To one who is pure, God speaks His mind unreservedly: His concerns for the nation, His sorrow for the lost, and His salvation plans. A refreshing intimacy with God, and an indescribable joy is reserved for us, if we will purify our hearts today.
God rewards those who are pure at heart
The world rewards those who are shrewd and savvy. But those who are just and pure are often marginalised. Purity is often considered a liability to the course of making money. Righteousness and honesty are noble virtues but viewed as unrealistic and untenable in the real world. However, Jesus said, “Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:5). And what is gained by unrighteous means will eventually be lost. The psalmist wrote,
Yet a little while and the wicked man will be no more; and you will look carefully for his place and he will not be there. But the humble will inherit the land and will delight themselves in abundant prosperity. Psalm 37:10-11
By quoting Jacob’s dream, Jesus is in fact saying that Nathanael will obtain the promise of inheritance as Jacob did if he will enter into the call of being Christ’s disciple.
Application
Are you holding onto God with one hand while holding onto the world with the other? Do you plan your life without consulting God assuming He will bless all your endeavours? True discipleship involves following God wholeheartedly while trusting God to lead. Live one day at a time by reading the Word daily and obeying His instructions. Approach your pastor and enroll yourself in the church’s discipleship program. Hold yourself accountable to a group of mature Christians who is able to help you grow.
Are you tempted to take matters into your own hands because of injustice? Do not fall into the devil’s trap in taking revenge. In staying pure and blameless, you allow the justice of God to take its course. God will in his time vindicate and reward you for your faith and purity.
Dear Lord, I desire to know you and live like you. Fill me with your Spirit and cause me to grow in your wisdom, faith and power. Create in me a pure heart so that I may commune with you and know your deepest thoughts and passions. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.