Title: Nathanael Called by the Lord
Contents
Title: Nathanael Called of the Lord
Bible: John 1:45-51
Starting Point of the Word>>
This time, we would like to share a sermon with the title of “Nathanael called by the Lord”.
When you look at how Jesus chooses his disciples, you can see that he chose them in various ways.
Some of the disciples became Jesus' disciples while fishing, some became Jesus' disciples while collecting money as a publican, and some became Jesus' disciples while listening to the word.
But Nathanael, who appears in today’s text, sat under a fig tree and became a disciple of Jesus.
Jesus praised Nathanael, whom he met through Philip while walking with his disciples, and made him a disciple.
Nathanael was later known as “Bartholomew” among the disciples of Jesus.
Today, we would like to share the grace of Nathanael with Jesus through the disciple.
Go to Word>>
What was the heart of Jesus looking at Nathanael through today's Word?
First, Jesus said to Nathanael that he was “a true Israelite.”
If we look at verse 47 of the text,
“Behold, this is indeed an Israelite”
Says.
The word “true” in this verse is the Greek word “aledos”, which means “the same on the outside” and “sincere”.
This means that Nathanael was a sincere man without lies.
And the word “Israeli” means “God’s chosen people,” “the people of the covenant.”
When Jacob met God at the river Jabbok and was changed, God promised to bless him. The name Israel was given to Jacob.
Therefore, when Nathanael is called an Israelite, it means that the people who will receive the promised inheritance.
Nathanael was recognized by Jesus as a sincere person who had no lies and was recognized by Jesus as a person whom God would bless and a person who would receive the promised inheritance.
All of our members today, like Nathanael, must become believers who are recognized as “a true Israelite”, that is, “a person whom God will bless.”
Second, Jesus said to Nathanael, “There is no deceit in him.”
Looking at the second half of verse 47,
“There is nothing deceitful in it”
You said.
The word “cunning” is the original word “dolos”, which means “trick” or “wiles.”
In other words, to say that Nathanael was not deceitful meant that he had a faith without a heart of “tricks” or “wiles” and that he was honest with God and with people.
I see many believers today cherish a lot of wrong thoughts while living their faith life.
But the most important thing for us to consider is that God does not want the lives of such people.
God is pleased with our faith without deceit.
According to Psalm 32:2,
“Blessed is he who has no deceit in his heart, and is not condemned by the Lord.”
Confess the writer of the psalm.
Also, in the words of Psalm 84:11,
“The LORD God is a shield and a shield, for the LORD gives grace and glory, and will not spare any good from the upright.”
I did.
In this way, honesty without deceit is the way to receive God's help and to receive God's grace.
Third, Jesus says that Nathanael “saw Nathanael under a fig tree”.
If we look at verse 48 of the text,
“Before Philip called you, I saw you while you were under the fig tree.”
Now Nathanael was sitting under a fig tree and met Jesus.
The fig tree is the symbol of Israel.
If you look at the state of Israel where the text is now written, it was a time of crisis for Israel, living as a Roman colony.
At this time, it is said that many Jews loved their country and prayed under the fig tree that symbolized Israel when they wanted to be freed and become independent as soon as possible.
Therefore, the fact that Nathanael was under the fig tree meant that he longed for and hoped that the blessings and prosperity that God had promised to their ancestors would be accomplished quickly by God's power.
Even though there was a 400-year hiatus from the prophet Malachi until the arrival of John the Baptist, Nathanael's longing for the Messiah was still burning.
Unlike the Israelites, who worshiped idols and disobeyed God whenever they had a chance, their faith and patriotism remained unchanged.
The Lord praised Nathanael as a true Israelite and had no deceit, and made him a disciple.
Fourth, Jesus said to Nathanael, “You will see the glory of God.”
Looking at the words of verses 50-51,
“Jesus said to him, “Do you believe because I said I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.
Nathanael, who was praised by Jesus, confessed in verse 49, “You are the Son of God, and you are the King of Israel.”
The words of the Lord at this time are the words of verses 50-51.
One of the greatest blessings for believers is to see the glory of God.
Today, Nathanael heard the word of the Lord that he would see the glory of God when he made the profession of faith professing Jesus as the Son of God and the King of Israel.
Even now, Jesus wants us to hear such a confession of faith.
In the name of the Lord, we pray that we will become saints who acknowledge the Lord as our King and Savior and see the glory of God.
At the end of the speech>>
When Nathanael met Jesus, he not only became a disciple of Jesus, but also received praise from the Lord and became a disciple who saw the glory of God.
I pray in the name of the Lord that today will be a precious and blessed day when we also experience the fullness of the Lord's grace by having the same faith as Nathanael.