Verse 39 – He said to them, “Come and see.”  They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour). - or 4pm

 

The bible does not tell us where Jesus was staying, it just simply says that the two came, saw and remained...there are many circumstances and situations in my life that I have the end game for.  You know, if this would just go this way, or if this that would just transpire like this, then surely the outcome, the destination will be good. 

 

But that is a dangerous mindset.  If I presume to know the best or most desirable outcome then when it ends differently, I can easily find myself questioning God...the better way is to simply walk by faith.  Faith that God is leading, God is guiding and I can be sure of that as I choose to obey His word. 

 

The key is to simply come, see and then remain...and that is truly His desire for you...Jesus said in John 17, “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am...The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me.  And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”

 

 

 

Paul would say, “I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content...full and hungry, abounding and suffering, I can do

all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

 

How is that Paul?  How is it that so many times you found yourself in chains, so many times you found yourself beaten, abandoned, cold, hungry, alone...yet your heart cry that we read in your letters is that all things are loss but the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus?

 

Paul would answer as he wrote in Ephesians chapter 3, “Christ dwells in my heart through faith; and I, being rooted and grounded in love, am able to comprehend what is the width and length and depth and height, knowing the love of Christ which passes knowledge and so I am FILLED with the FULLNESS of God!”

 

Wherever you are at, Jesus' call is simply come.  Come and see, and with a willing heart you will begin to comprehend the measurements of the love of Jesus and then wherever you find yourself, doesn't really matter...what you will find is that you are filled.

 

And people, THAT is God's will for you.  THAT is the subject of Jesus' prayer that night before setting out over the Brook Kidron to accomplish our salvation...God's longing desire for you is to be filled with His love and abiding in His presence.

 

 

Verse 40 – 42

 

Jesus there being introduced to Peter says to him, “You are Simon...” and the meaning of the name Simon is rash, unstable; but Jesus says no longer will you be known as unstable, today and forever, Cephas or Peter, which is stone!

 

Remember to bring people to Jesus.  Jesus alone has the power to change...not you, not logic, not reason, not intellect, not money, not circumstances, Jesus alone...2 Cor 5:17 says, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

 

How rediculous does this sound, behold if anyone gets a new job, he is a new creation...if anyone inherits a million dollars, he is a new creation....if anyone is impressed with my intellect, he is a new creation....foolishness...if anyone is in Christ.....

 

And so remember, in your discussions, in your debates, in your times of ministry, bring people to Jesus...

 

Verses 43 – 49

 

So Philip encounters Jesus, hears His call and follows and then goes to his homeboy Nathanael and says hey the Prophet that Moses spoke of, the savior, deliverer and king that the prophets wrote of, we've found Him!

 

What a natural response following a true encounter with Jesus...You run and tell dat...remember the woman at the well, encounters Jesus and then goes and proclaims to the entire city!  A natural response, but also a necessary response.  Our calling is to go and make disciples of all nations bringing the good news of true everlasting life that is found in Jesus...without us, the bible says, how will they hear? 

 

And so Philip takes the news to Nathanael who doesn't immediately receive...so Philip says look man, just come and see...see for yourself!

 

And so Jesus sees Nathanael coming and He calls out to him!  That's the recipe by the way regarding bringing folks to Jesus and to church.  Tell them the good news of Christ and if they receive, bring them to church to hear God's word, and if they don't receive, bring them to church to hear God's word!  Jesus will call out to them, not me!  They need not fall in love with me, enjoy me, the work is the Lord's!  Their love is to be for the Lord, not me!  I love that!  I just get to teach His word and then get out of the way!  You walk in faith, you teach them the word, you bring them to church, and God will be God!

 

And so Jesus says, Nathanael, My son, I know you!  I have been watching you.  I have seen you there under the fig tree.

 

No doubt Nathanael was there under the fig tree praying or seeking God's presence because immediately Nathanael was struck with wonder at Jesus and proclaimed, Messiah! 

My King!  How personal is Jesus?  He knows each of us so personally, enough to relate one on one with us...

 

And so Jesus answered and said to him, in verse 50, Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe?  You will see greater things than these.  And He said to him, Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”

 

Jesus says, you believe simply because I answered your call, I was there with you under the fig tree?  Buckle up, you're going to see much more than this...

 

They would know exactly what Jesus is saying here.  This bit about heaven open and angels ascending and descending...where do we find that in scripture?  Turn over to Genesis Chapter 28 (pick it up at verse 10 and read to verse 19). 

 

Jesus, in essence, is saying, "I am the ladder. I am the access by which man can come to God. I'm the One who ties heaven and earth together. You're going to see heaven open. You're going to see the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man." So, the Son of man is the ladder by which heaven is joined to earth.

 

 

When one of Job's friends counseled him, "Look man, just get right with God and you'll be over with your problems," he said, "Yeah thanks...You tell me get right with God. You think you're helping me? Who am I that I can plead my case with God? God is so vast, I look for Him and I don't see Him! I look to my right, I look to my left, I look behind me, and I can't see Him." And he said, "There is no mediator between us who can lay his hand on us both. God is so vast. He fills the universe. I can't see Him. How can I plead my case with Him when I am just so nothing and God is so great, and there's no one between us that can touch us both. Heaven is so high, how can I ascend? How can I plead my case before God?"

 

But Jesus is the answer to that cry of Job. The mediator who stands between God and man, who touches God and who touches me. The link between us. He is the ladder that has bridged from the infinite to the finite, from the eternal to creation.