Mar 2ndDevotion John 1:43-51 Follow and Know Part 3

John 1:43-51 – The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. 45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip. 47 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” 48 “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.” 49 Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.” 50 Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.” 51 He then added, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man.”

““Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip.”  Nathaniel’s response to Philip about the Messiah was “What? Really?  Can anything good come from there?  Perhaps Nathaniel was thinking about Micah 5:2 in which was prophesied that the Messiah would come out of Bethlehem?  At that point Nathaniel probably could not fully understand what God had revealed about the Messiah that He would be born in Bethlehem, that He would be called out of Egypt (Hosea 11:1).  Now Matthew 2:23 states “and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.”  This is mentioned after Matthew records that Joseph was warned in a dream to move to Galilee. (V22)  Matthew writes that Jesus being called a Nazarene is something that was a fulfillment of prophecy from the prophets.  But where in the Old Testament is that recorded?  The answer is, there is no such prophecy directly saying these words.  Yet, Matthew says that there is. How do we resolve that?  It is possible that Matthew is quoting something that is not found in the Old Testament but another source.  All prophesies need not be universally known since some are met more for only a person (though may later become more widespread as God determine what is best). An example may be Zechariah being told that his son will be named John (Who became John the Baptist. (Luke 1:5-25, 57-66)

Either way the Lord may speak to a person, or groups as He wills.  After all we know that not everything Jesus said and did was recorded in the scriptures.  (John 21:25)  So there is nothing in scripture that contradicts Matthew 2:23.  Silence does not prove that something did not occur or was not said (Barring contradiction with existing scripture), it only means that something was not included in what was written down in scripture.  It is unlikely to the point of being unbelievable that we know every prophecy that every prophet of God ever gave. So it is possible that a prophecy from God was known by people of a time or location that was not recorded in the Old Testament.  What we do know is that there existed a prophecy (prophecies) that said Jesus would be called a Nazarene because that is recorded by Matthew.  If we insist that there was no such prophecy put forth about Jesus, then we contradict is recorded in the Gospel of Matthew.  Just because we don’t know Matthew’s source, does not mean it was not so.  To believe otherwise is to tread on the Word of God and that is unacceptable.

Philip simply told Nathaniel to “come and see” as Jesus had simply told Philip “follow me.”  I smile as I remember how my baby granddaughter, when she wants to play with me, beckons me with her hand and says “Come on.” She knows I love her.  She knows I will follow her and play with her however she wants to play because of that love.  If I will follow her and do as she says, how much more so should I come and obey as the Lord beckons.  Shouldn’t He be able to expect complete loyalty to Him since His love for me is greater than any other love for me?  And another thing, at a party, if she calls, I leave the company of others to go with her.  Because my little beloved calls, I leave others to be with her.  How much more so would I forsake all for my dear Jesus?

So much more so, I wait with bated breath for Jesus to send me forth to do His will.  I want to do His will. Doing that is simple, not always easy, but simple.  Like our walk with Jesus our Lord is simple, not always easy, but simple. Let’s all of us hear and follow as He speaks to us every day.  Let us hear and obey in all ways, big and small, when He says to us “Come and see.”  What a blessing to “come and see!”  Let’s not miss that blessing! Praise God!

John 1:5 “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.  Praise the Lord!

Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will Hear me.

Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, Oh man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

Numbers 6:24-26 The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.