This post is the fourth of four posts about Jesus calling six disciples
After the story of Jesus meeting two potential disciples and spending the day with them...
John 1:43-51 43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip 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." 46 Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." 47 When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, "Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!" 48 Nathanael asked him, "Where did you get to know me?" Jesus answered, "I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you." 49 Nathanael replied, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" 50 Jesus answered, "Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these." 51 And 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."
John 1:43-51 43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip 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." 46 Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." 47 When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, "Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!" 48 Nathanael asked him, "Where did you get to know me?" Jesus answered, "I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you." 49 Nathanael replied, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" 50 Jesus answered, "Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these." 51 And 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."
The last four days of this blog, we have been watching Jesus call the first six disciples. Imagine what it must have been like for these men to realize that not only is Jesus the Messiah, but he knows who they are. And they have an invitation to follow him.
Just for a moment... think about what that must have felt like. To find the Messiah - whom you have never met, but who knows all there is to know about you. AND he wants YOU to follow him.
This scenario is as true for us today as it was for the disciples then. Jesus knows who we are! Intimately. And we (despite all our warts) have an invitation to follow him.
And there are perks if we say yes: "You will see greater things!"
The promise Jesus makes to Nathaniel, "You will see greater things than these" is extended to all followers later in the gospels: "Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father" (John 14:12).
Followers of Jesus will see and do greater works than Jesus? This is possible because the followers of Jesus are filled with the Holy Spirit. This Spirit is the power of God - the very power of the resurrection. And it indwells Jesus' followers.
We see Jesus' words come true immediately after the Holy Spirit is sent at Pentecost when Peter's first sermon prompts more people to follow Jesus than are recorded for Jesus during his entire ministry. And the church immediately expands throughout the Roman world, whereas Jesus' had limited his ministry to Palestine. God does powerful things in the early church - people experience supernatural healing and protection. Lives are transformed from eternal darkness to eternal purpose. Things happen.
This same Spirit lives within followers of Jesus today. What greater works than the ones that Jesus did have you seen and witnessed? Follow Jesus closely... no telling what you will see (and do)!
Just for a moment... think about what that must have felt like. To find the Messiah - whom you have never met, but who knows all there is to know about you. AND he wants YOU to follow him.
This scenario is as true for us today as it was for the disciples then. Jesus knows who we are! Intimately. And we (despite all our warts) have an invitation to follow him.
And there are perks if we say yes: "You will see greater things!"
The promise Jesus makes to Nathaniel, "You will see greater things than these" is extended to all followers later in the gospels: "Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father" (John 14:12).
Followers of Jesus will see and do greater works than Jesus? This is possible because the followers of Jesus are filled with the Holy Spirit. This Spirit is the power of God - the very power of the resurrection. And it indwells Jesus' followers.
We see Jesus' words come true immediately after the Holy Spirit is sent at Pentecost when Peter's first sermon prompts more people to follow Jesus than are recorded for Jesus during his entire ministry. And the church immediately expands throughout the Roman world, whereas Jesus' had limited his ministry to Palestine. God does powerful things in the early church - people experience supernatural healing and protection. Lives are transformed from eternal darkness to eternal purpose. Things happen.
This same Spirit lives within followers of Jesus today. What greater works than the ones that Jesus did have you seen and witnessed? Follow Jesus closely... no telling what you will see (and do)!
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