Thursday, September 3, 2015
John 1:47-51 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, "Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false." "How do you know me?" Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, "I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you." Then Nathanael declared, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel." Jesus said, "You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that. He then added, "I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."
THE STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN -- JESUS HIMSELF
Through the His living and dying and rising again Jesus has opened the way to God for us sinners.
+ In his body, Jesus lived a truly loving and righteous life in our place.
+ As the apostle Peter writes, Jesus "Himself bore our sins in his body on the tree" (1 Peter 2:24).
+ Jesus showed that same body to His disciples after He returned from death and the grave.
It is no exaggeration to say that Jesus in His body is Himself the stairway between us and God. The fact is, Jesus himself said that very thing when he called Nathaniel to be one of his first disciples. Nathaniel was overwhelmed that Jesus -- before He even met him, knew him -- who he was and what he was doing.
In response to his amazement Jesus said to Nathaniel, "You believed because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that. I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."
It would have been hard for Jesus to put it more plainly: "I am the stairway to heaven -- the one Jacob saw in his dream. That's what you’ll see, Nathaniel, if you stick with me."
The Christ who completed his work for our salvation by offering his body for us on the cross -- He Himself is the Stairway to Heaven through whom we have access to God.
Lord Jesus, help me ever rest my heart's confidence on You -- on what You did to bring me into the presence of my heavenly Father as His child now and His heir forever. Amen.
