Category: The Believing Faith

John 1:49-51 NRSVUE –
Nathanael replied, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! 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.”  And he said to him, “Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”

In this blessing for Nathanael where he “will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man,” Jesus is alluding to Jacob’s dream in Genesis 28.  In this dream, Jacob saw a stairway resting on earth and reaching heaven and the angels of God going up and down.  The Lord was standing at the top of the stairway and recounts his covenant with Abraham and Isaac where he would bless the earth through his people.  After Jacob woke up from his dream and realized God was there, he named the place Bethel. (Adapted from Pastor Mark’s message)

Here is what Grant R. Osborne, from John: Verse by Verse, says about Bethel:

In Hebrew, Bethel means “house of God,” and Jesus is indicating that this is precisely who he is. The vision of Jacob described the locus of revelation, the point of connection between heaven and earth. Jesus is this place. Jesus incarnates the dream of Jacob, and Nathanael is going to see it himself.

Nathanael would be moved to see the place of God’s dwelling, the point of connection where heaven and earth met which is Jesus. He would see and be part of the work of God’s kingdom coming. May we be moved even more in believing faith to take part in bringing God’s kingdom to our cities and campuses.

Prayer:  Our Father in Heaven, thank you for the incredible blessing and calling to take part in the work of your kingdom.  “May your kingdom come. May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”  We ask for the greater move of your kingdom in our cities and on our campuses.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s continue in our prayer as we sing “Forever and Amen” by Cody Carnes (click here).

– EK

John 1:46-47, 49 NRSVUE
Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”  When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!” 
Nathanael replied, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” 

You can hear the skepticism in Nathanael’s question, “can anything good come out of Nazareth?”  Skepticism or doubting is so contrary to faith.  Let’s consider how often we can approach things in skepticism.
But the story of Nathanael moves so quickly from his skepticism of Jesus to Jesus’ proclamation of the new Nathanael as a “true Israelite” to Nathanael’s posture of worship unto the Lord. It is such an encouraging testimony of the Spirit’s movement of believing faith that occurs in our lives – which takes us out of our skepticism or doubting the truth of who we are in Christ to the posture of worshipping as genuine disciples of our Lord Jesus.

Let’s read what Grant R. Osborne (from John: Verse by Verse) writes about Nathanael’s transformation:

Here Nathanael is called a “true” or “genuine” Israelite, an Israelite who is not like the old Jacob (filled with deceit) but like the new Israel, a man who “strives with God” (the meaning of Israel) and is completely trustworthy. In other words, this is an Israel with all the Jacob removed. Nathanael is a model disciple, completely honest and reliable.

In the believing faith we have been given by the Spirit, may we be the genuine disciples of our Lord Jesus, posturing our lives in worship to him.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I turn away from the skepticism and doubts that hinder me from staying in the truth of who you say I am as a child of God and your disciple.  Instead, I yield to your Spirit who moves my heart to believing faith to be the worshipper who proclaims you as the “Son of God” and my “King.”  I worship you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s give our Lord Jesus all the praise as we sing the song, “Because of Jesus,” by Charity Gayle (click here).

– EK

John 20:30-31 NIV –
Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book.  But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

“The book of John has a special place in my early life of following Jesus. I had confessed my faith in Jesus at the end of my junior year of high school at a church retreat.  There, I confessed my sin and gave my life to Jesus. It was a very special moment that I hold dear to my heart, but it didn’t last long because I was still young in faith and lacking the knowledge of knowing Jesus. After a series of events and struggles, I was kind of in the dumps with a major dose of identity crisis – feeling betrayed by friends and feeling lonely. Then I was brought to start reading the gospel of John. I did a chapter a night and I remember at the last night (I guess 21 days later), I confessed to Jesus, ‘Lord I believe in you, you are my Lord and my God, and I will live my life forever for you.’ I remember in tears thanking him for saving me, for loving me and I really started to believe in him. Now that I look back the gospel of John did exactly what it was intended to do – to make me a believer in Jesus. So today let’s together believe in Jesus. Let’s come to believing faith.” (Adapted from Pastor Mark’s Message)

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for the power of your word that has saved me and brought me new life.  I believe in you.  You are my Lord and my God, and I surrender my heart and life to you.  Help me to consider how I am to live for you today.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s confess our faith in our Lord Jesus as we sing the song, “This I Believe,” by Hillsong (click here).

– EK

Let’s remember how blessed we are because of all we have received through Christ as we proclaim these passages and pray this prayer aloud together.

Psalm 32:1-2 NIV –
Blessed is the one
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the one
whose sin the LORD does not count against them
and in whose spirit is no deceit.

Titus 3:3-7 NIV –
At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.  But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for the greatest blessing of your forgiveness and reconciliation through Christ. Thank you that the old ways of deceit, rebelliousness and selfishness are gone. May your Spirit renew our faith to live in the fulness of your love and forgiveness. May it be evident in all that we are doing and with all we are interacting with today. We praise you as we have been so blessed in Christ!  In Jesus’ name, amen.

As blessed people in Christ, let’s continue in praise to the Lord singing the song, “The Praise Is Yours,” by Matt Redman (click here).

– EK

John 1:45-46 NIV – 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.”
“Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked.
“Come and see,” said Philip.

“Have you ever stopped to think about all the things you accept by faith every day? By faith we assume the other driver will stop at his red light. By faith we assume the pharmacist filled the prescription correctly. By faith you assumed that when you put your feet on the floor this morning, it wouldn’t collapse. Faith is a much greater part of life than most of us realize.
A skeptic may protest that these are things we can see and touch, whereas God is not. But look at the world around you, with all of its beauty and complexity. Isn’t it more logical to believe in an all-powerful and all-wise Creator, than to think the universe happened by chance?
The real foundation of our faith is Jesus Christ: He was God in human flesh, and He proved it by dying and then coming back from the grave. If you want to know not only if God exists but what He is like, look at Jesus Christ—and then put your faith and confidence in Him.”
(Billy Graham, “Daily Living by Faith,” Hope for Each Day: Morning & Evening Devotions, p. 476.)

As Philip invited Nathanael to “come and see,” may we daily respond to this invitation to “come and see” Jesus and to live each day believing in him.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord Jesus, for opening the eyes of my heart to see you and to believe in you.  Today and once again, I say, “yes,” to your invitation to “come and see,” to know and to experience more of you. By your Spirit, I will depend on you for all things and to live a life that is centered on worshipping you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s continue to center our hearts in worship to our Lord Jesus as we sing the song, “Come and See” by Matt Redman (click here).

– EK