John 1:35-51 | Jeremiah 1:4-10
The thing we learn about God when looking at Jesus is that he is invitational.
Invitational.
Not coercive, forceful, or demanding.
Not swindling, tricky, or slick.
Not manipulative, controlling, or egotistical.
Not conniving or deceiving.
God in Christ is forthright, truthful, and invitational.
“Come and see.”
For sure, life in Christ is distinct, determined, and destined (it’s going somewhere particular). But it is life-giving.
Come and see.
Who is this God-man and how could he possible come from such a place as Nazareth?
Come and see.
John 1:35-51
The next day John was standing again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus walking along he said, “Look! The Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard what he said, and they followed Jesus.
When Jesus turned and saw them following, he asked, “What are you looking for?”
They said, “Rabbi (which is translated Teacher), where are you staying?”
He replied, “Come and see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon.
One of the two disciples who heard what John said and followed Jesus was Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Christ ). He led him to Jesus.
Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon, son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).
The next day Jesus wanted to go into Galilee, and he found Philip. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” Philip was from Bethsaida, the hometown of Andrew and Peter.
Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law and the Prophets: Jesus, Joseph’s son, from Nazareth.”
Nathanael responded, “Can anything from Nazareth be good?”
Philip said, “Come and see.”
Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said about him, “Here is a genuine Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”
Nathanael asked him, “How do you know me?”
Jesus answered, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.”
Nathanael replied, “Rabbi, you are God’s Son. You are the king of Israel.”
Jesus answered, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these! I assure you that you will see heaven open and God’s angels going up to heaven and down to earth on the Human One.”
Jeremiah 1:4-10
The Lord’s word came to me:
“Before I created you in the womb I knew you;
before you were born I set you apart;
I made you a prophet to the nations.”
“Ah, Lord God,” I said, “I don’t know how to speak
because I’m only a child.”
The Lord responded,
“Don’t say, ‘I’m only a child.’
Where I send you, you must go;
what I tell you, you must say.
Don’t be afraid of them,
because I’m with you to rescue you,”
declares the Lord.
Then the Lord stretched out his hand,
touched my mouth, and said to me,
“I’m putting my words in your mouth.
This very day I appoint you over nations and empires,
to dig up and pull down,
to destroy and demolish,
to build and plant.”
Prayer
God,
Why do I still make you out to be a tyrant sometimes?
Actually, I know the answer to that. It’s because much of the Bible depicts you in such ways. Honestly, it’s kind of difficult to reconcile at times. What you did through Israel - what the text says you did or told Israel to do - it often seems wholly contrary to who I’ve come to understand you are through Jesus’ life and example.
I’m just being honest.
Are those parts of Israel’s story like your teenage years or something? That’s likely not a good metaphor, but I’m just trying to figure it out.
So help me, God.
In the end, I want to be like Jesus. I’m in love with his person, God. So if you sent him to show us the fullness of your character, I’m all in.
By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.
I don't see you in twitter much anymore but I wanted to come and say thank you for these.