John 1:43-51

content/bible_journal/john/1:43-51.md

@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
++++
+title = "John 1:43–51"
+date = "2025-12-26"
++++
+
+### [Read the passage.](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/John1.43-51)
+
+While it is certainly true that the Lord was sovereign over the way the disciples were called, the way it was portrayed to us feels rather haphazard to me.
+Maybe I just want more details, but it seems like Jesus's thought process was something like,
+"OK, time to Galilee, but first, where's Phillip?
+Ah there he is, and he'll get Nathaniel to come too."
+I just find it strange that we know so little about the apostles, particularly before Jesus called them.
+Maybe once we get to talk to them in heaven we'll find out what these days were like.
+
+Phillip goes to get Nathaniel because he is convinced that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah.
+I suspect it's because he had been talking with Andrew, who was from the same town so they probably knew each other.
+Nathaniel is skeptical at first because he doesn't expect the Messiah to be from Nazareth.
+Nazareth was a back-water town that is never connected to the Messiah (or even mentioned at all) in the Old Testament.
+Nevertheless, Nathaniel goes to see who this Jesus person is.
+
+As Nathaniel approaches, Jesus makes a mysterious proclamation.
+The reason for it appears to contrast Nathaniel with the original Israel, i.e. Jacob, because both of them have seen angels ascending and descending. (_v. 51_)
+Jacob was known as a conniver and deceiver, though God used him to found the nation named after him, and he was shown the dream of angels going up and down from heaven at Bethel.
+Jesus declares that there is no deceit in Nathaniel, though Nathaniel's reaction is kind of odd.
+"How do you know I'm not deceitful?" is a weird sentiment.
+Or maybe it's really just that Nathaniel really does have a reputation for always telling the truth, but he wonders how Jesus knows.
+Jesus's answer is that he saw Nathaniel sitting under a fig tree before Phillip brought him over.
+Clearly this was the case, but it's also a weird thing to give as proof.
+Fig trees were common in the area, and I don't expect it to be that unusual for someone to sit under one.
+Remember, though, that Nathaniel wasn't trying to be skeptical.
+He already had Phillip's testimony that Jesus was the Messiah, and he wanted to believe this too.
+This validation was the tiny nudge needed to convince him.
+It's also funny to me that Jesus points out to him how little convincing he needed. (_v. 50_)
+In my opinion, this is further evidence that Jesus was truly God, applying just the right amount of "pressure" needed to set people on their proper course.
+
+* * *
+
+Help us to listen carefully to Your voice and pay attention to gentle guidance, so that You do not have to catch our attention more forcefully.