Monday, February 2, 2009
John 1:45-46 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." "Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" Nathanael asked. "Come and see," said Philip.
JESUS REVEALED IN THE WORD OF GOD
Was Jesus the Messiah? Was He the One sent from heaven for whom Israel had been waiting for so many years? Philip knew He was, and he told his friend Nathanael about it. When he told him, he pointed Nathanael to the Scriptures. "Look at the prophets and see," was Philip's cry. He urged Nathanael to compare what the Bible said about the Christ to the Man who now stood before them.
But Nathanael did not look to the Scriptures. He simply responded, "Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?"
It is an all too familiar response. So many stand back thinking, "Can anything good come out of Bethlehem? From that 'story' about the angels and the shepherds? Can anything come from a carpenter's son?" Even though the word of God is right in front of them, they fail to look at Christ in its light.
Sometimes we too have doubts like Nathanael did at first. "Can this really be my Savior?" And surely the Scripture answers -- Yes, this is the One about whom the Law and the prophets speak.
It is good that Jesus is identified in the Scriptures as the Holy One of God. For then we can be sure of Him. We need not ever wonder if this is the "right" Savior. There is no doubt about it!
