Skip to main content

The Invitation

    When we look at the story of the call of Nathanael (the Apostle believed to be Bartholomew). We see the importance of the invitation. “Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph” (John 1:45). Jesus found Philip (1:43) and Philip found Nathanael. Notice what Philip said to Nathanael: we have found the one of whom Moses in the law and the prophets wrote. It is Jesus. His invitation came with a proclamation and a reference. All the Jews looked forward to the Messiah that was to come. Philip did not keep it to himself. He went and found Nathanael and told him the truth that Jesus is the Messiah, the one foretold. 

    Nathanael’s response was one of skepticism. “And Nathanael said unto him, Can any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see ( John 1:44). He had his own biases that Jesus might not be the One because of the location from which He came. Philip was undeterred; he said come and see. So upon coming to the place where Jesus was, the Lord said, Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! ( cf. John 1:47). Jesus knew Nathanael; Nathanael could not place how this is possible. Had they met? He could not remember such an occasion so he asks Jesus how He knew him (cf. Jn 1:48 ). Jesus reveals He saw him while he was sitting at the fig tree before Philip invited him. For Nathanael, this was astonishing; this was all the proof he needed to believe that the Lord was as advertised by Philip.  “Nathanael answered him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art King of Israel (John 1:49).”

    Do you see how important one invitation is?  There are many out there that are waiting for the invitation. Sure, there will be many skeptics, but skeptics still come. Look at Nathanael. There will be many who will be enemies of the Lord’s people. Look at Paul, enemies can become great missionaries for the Lord. It starts with His church fulfilling the great commission to teach, baptize, and teach (cf. Mark 16:15-16; Matthew 28:19-20). Who can you invite today?

Grace and Peace, 

R.D. Beavers 
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Don't Raise an Ahaz

           Twenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign; and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: and he did not that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah his God, like David his father. But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the nations, whom Jehovah cast out from before the children of Israel.   And he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree . 2 Kings 16:2-4                   When was the first time you drove a car? What about the first time you jumped off a diving board or gave a speech? After that first time, it certainly became easier. What about the first lie you told? Did it become easier? King Ahaz of Judah was evil and far from the example of David. Ahaz was the first to offer child sacrifices to t...
Post a Comment
Read more

At the Feet of Jesus

          How amazing it must have been to sit at the feet of Jesus. Have you thought much about that? What would it have been like to be around the Master? It was obviously life altering for His disciples, the majority of which (by historical accounts) would go on to violent deaths. Christians would go on to be persecuted throughout the centuries. Why? Jesus is worth the shame (Acts 5:41). Jesus is worth it all, because “there is no other name, under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). It is for this very reason we think about how amazing it would have been to personally sit at the feet of Jesus. To Talk to Him Must Have Been Tender           Talking to Jesus must have been so tender. We know that He would tell people what they needed to hear, and sometimes that was rather forthright (see Matt. 23), but he was loving and compassionate to those who wanted to learn from Him. Remember when parents were b...
Post a Comment
Read more

Hanging On

Therefore let us also, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of the throne of God  Hebrews 12:1-2      In order to hang on, you must let go. This seems counterproductive at first glance. If we let go, we might fall and get hurt. If we let go, we might hurt someone else, and we might even hurt ourselves. Yet, letting go can also allow us to hang on to what matters.       We can hang onto the righteousness of God. This helps us to run with patience. When the race is long and arduous, and when life doesn’t end up as we planned, we can look forward to letting go of the doubts and sins that tell us to quit, give up, and stop running...
Post a Comment
Read more