October 07th, 2017

John 1:47-51 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false.” 48 “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.” 49 Then Nathanael declared, Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.” 50 Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that.”  51 He then added, “I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
 
TO understand this conversation, we need to go to Jacob’s dream in
Genesis 28:12 Jacob had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.
   When Jesus calls Nathaniel a true Israelite, he refers to Jacob, who was a deceiver. Even so, God had great plans for Jacob. He communicated his plan through this vision of heavenly forces to change his life. Many years later, Jacob returned to that spot of the dream to encounter God. There the Lord renamed him Israel – one who overcomes. The Deceiver became the Overcomer. Israel became the name of the nation that descended from Jacob’s 12 sons. When one said, “I am an Israelite.” he or she could remember, “I am an overcomer. I am chosen by God for a special purpose.” How sad they forget their identity in God.
   To be a true Israelite, then, is to be an overcomer against adversity and true to God’s purpose for your life. Jesus spoke into Nathaniel to essentially tell him, “I have chosen you for a special purpose.”
   When Jesus tells Nathaniel he will “see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”  he prophesies of heavenly things to come to the young man. Jacob saw angels in a dream. Nathaniel will see in the flesh the Son of Man – the Holy One of God – come from heaven and return.
   This young man whom Jesus saw in the Spirit under a tree – his first display to his disciples of divine power – became a disciple who watched the Son of Man minister, die, rise and ascend to heaven. He walked with the Savior who descended, so he could open heaven’s gates to true Israelites – those who would believe Jesus overcame death for their souls.
   What would it mean to be a true Christian in whom there is nothing false? Perhaps it means we would continually recognize we have overcome death in the power of our resurrected Lord.
 
Prayer: Lord God, when I say, “I’m a Christian,” I will faithfully know I live in the power of Jesus’ resurrection. Amen.