Step By Step
Opening Prayer
Take time to thank God that he called you to faith and that you responded. Praise God for that gift.
Read John 1:43-51
[43] The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.” [44] Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. [45] Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote-Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” [46] “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip. [47] When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” [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 will see greater things than that.” [51] He then added, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man.” Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What do you learn here about who Jesus is?Jesus is gathering his fledgling band of disciples: Peter, Andrew, Philip and now Nathanael. Here in this brief encounter we can trace Nathanael’s journey into discipleship. The journey begins in skepticism. “The Messiah, from Nazareth? You must be joking!” Crucially, Nathanael accepts Philip’s invitation to see for himself, and in the encounter with Jesus, skepticism gives way to amazement (48), and then to ringing confidence (49). The key to this journey into discipleship—then and now—is an open, honest mind. When we come in that way, Jesus will reveal himself, gently dismantling our defenses so that there is nowhere to hide. When that happens everything begins to make sense. You can almost hear the relief in Nathanael’s voice (49). “Nathanael, Sarah, John, Katie (put your name here) … I know you through and through and I’ve been waiting for you to come! And you’ve seen nothing yet. Keep following me and you will discover not just what I can do, but who I am. I’m the link between earth and heaven (51; see also Gen. 28:10-17), your Savior, Lord and Friend. Come and see.”
Apply
Is there someone you can invite today to “Come and see” about Jesus? Pray to know who and how.
Closing prayer
Lord Jesus, may I learn more of You and be able to invite someone else to get to know You, too.
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