St. John 1:43-51
Scriptural truths are deeper than what we see on the surface. Sure, the gospel is clear: Christ came to save sinners. If we are named through the gospel and hear of God’s favor toward us, it is in the details that we learn about our new state in Christ. Nathanael is no different. He sits under the fig tree and we are led to think about fig leaves in the Old Testament. Adam and Eve used fig leaves to cover their shame after their fall into sin, yet God called for them. Nathanael sits under a fig tree and while he did not detect God, it was Jesus who said “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” God sees sinners and comes to them. The Old Testament helps us to understand the gospel. We think of Jacob who wrestled in the womb with Esau. Jacob grabs on to the heel of Esau and marks out the fate of the brothers: Jacob would steal Esau’s birthright and live up to his name Jacob, “supplanter.” It was Jacob’s way to wrestle and struggle and we find in Genesis that Jacob wrestles with God and seems to be winning in the wrestling match and asks God His name. Instead, God gives Jacob a new name, Israel: “to persevere with God.” Jacob’s life and the events in his life give great meaning to the account between Jesus and Nathanael. Nathanael detected God through Christ’s preaching. Jacob detected God through prophecy. God found them, blessed them, and gave meaning to their lives. Nathanael was commended for his faith and Jacob was commended for his faith. But does the Lord commend you for the life that you live? The life lived in Christ is so often missed by we Lutherans. We talk about doctrine, we talk about justification, we talk about sin and grace, but we don’t love each other. We do not understand mercy and compassion. The reason is pride, a great vice. You don’t know how to love because you are more concerned about your own reputation--you are more concerned about people respecting you and thinking you are something special. As a result, selfless compassion is missing. Instead of mercy winning the day amongst us, judgment, anger, and discord prevail. Instead of giving, it is taking that rules. Instead of love, there is hate and disdain. What is the root? Pride and dishonesty--an unwillingness to admit that we are not all that great. We are not as important as we would like to think we are. What is needed in order to be a Christian? Honesty; faith; humility. You must face yourself and come to the realization that you are not the person you portray yourself to be. Behind pride lies fear: fear of losing, fear of being found out. We should strive to be more like Nathanael whose concern was the holy scriptures. But left to ourselves, we are to be pitied for our sins and failures. It is comforting to see with Jacob and Nathanael that it is God who sees sinners. Jacob goes to the place that would later be called Bethel, “house of God,” and he takes some stones and makes a place to lie down. As he sleeps, Jacob has a dream of angels ascending and descending from heaven to earth and back to heaven. God speaks to Jacob and promises the land and promises that He will remain with Jacob. Jacob wakes up and says, “Surely the Lord is in this place; and I did not know it”(Genesis 28:16). Jacob even remarked with fear, “How dreadful is this place! This is none other than the house of God and this is the gate of heaven”(Genesis 28:17). But do we listen to God when He tells us where we are to find him? For we have clear teachings from Christ Himself to gather in the Divine Service and listen to the pastor’s preaching and teaching as from God Himself. When the pastor preaches and teaches, this is not just one man’s opinion but the very proclamation of God. And do we recognize that Christ comes to us in the Divine Service in the sacrament of Christ’s body and blood? Our Lord desires that we would listen to His word, be honest about who we are and how much we need Jesus and in simplicity of mind and heart look at the gifts God has given us with fear, awe, and faith--that our lives may be enveloped with God’s divine love. God sees you and calls you because He loves you. God desires that you would not just receive His love but live in it. Let it wrap your entire life and your whole being, that you may find His goodness for you in this life. Lutheranism isn’t just about waving the flag of Lutheran doctrine and then moving forward to live lives of selfish pride and ambition. It is about seeing God and having His truth revealed to you in your lives, giving your life true meaning and definition: Lutheranism is about seeing the scriptures fulfilled in our midst. Nathanael understood. Nathanael was puzzled by Philip’s statement that the Messiah was Jesus of *Nazareth.* Nathanael knew the Old Testament. He knew what Micah said, ie. that the Messiah would come out of Bethlehem. So we hear the gospel in the exchange between the man under the fig tree and Jesus. Jesus describes Nathanael and says “Behold an Israelite in whom is no deceit.” Nathanael is honest--honest about himself and scripture and the ways of finding God. Because of this honesty that bears itself out in his confession and life, Nathanael is called an Israelite--just as Jacob was renamed Israel, so too, Nathanael is described as an Israelite, “one who perseveres with God,” for Nathanael persevered with God by clinging to the Holy Scriptures. It is Nathanael’s striking confession “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel” that comes as a result of Christ’s sight on His children even when He is undetected. Then we hear it: Jesus exclaims that Nathanael, as with Jacob, will see angels ascending and descending not upon the land of Bethel but upon the Son of Man. It is this sort of thing that will bring out of God’s people Jacob’s words, “Surely the Lord is in this place.” Jesus is the Lord--God in the flesh. God saw you just as He saw Nathanael. On His cross, Jesus saw you. On His cross, Jesus died for you. Christ saw you in giving the church the word and sacraments, too. It is here that we see God coming down from heaven to come to us under the bread and wine, that He may forgive us and love us. Thereby He shows us what love is and how fruitful it is to be honest about ourselves rather than deceitful. It is here in this Divine Service as we prepare to receive the blessed sacrament for our salvation that we say in accordance with the prophets, “Surely the Lord is in this place.” Amen. -- Rev. Chad Kendall Trinity Lutheran Church Lowell, Indiana www.trinitylowell.org
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