Text: The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. he found Philip and told him," come with me." (Philip was from Bethsaida, Andrew and Peter's home town. Philips now went off to look for Nathanael and told him, " we have found the Messiah!- the very person Moses and the prophets told about! His name is Jesus, the Son of Joseph from Nazareth!' Nazareth!" exclaimed Nathanael. " can anything good come from there?" Just come and see for yourself," Philip declared. and Jesus replied. as they approached, Jesus said, here comes an honest man- a true son of Israel." ' How do you know who I am like?" Nathanael demanded. And Jesus replied, " I could see you under the fig tree before Philip found you. Nathanael replied, " Sir, you are the Son of God-the King of Israel!"
Jesus asked him, " Do you believe all this just because I told you I had seen you under the fig tree?
You will even see heaven open and the angels of God coming and going back and forth to me, the Messiah, ( literally, " the Son of Man."). These readings lead us into awareness that the living God wants to have a vital relationship with us. Taken together, these texts, create a tapestry that reveals our God to be a seeking God who desires to lead, guide, influence, and encourage us. But, for us to hear what God has to say, we need first to listen for God's voice- to become aware, once again, that God is constantly communicating with us every second, every moment, of our lives. God is a lover who wants nothing more than the very best for his beloved. Like Nathanael we may find ourselves dumbfounded that God is this interested in our welfare,but for the believer who stops for a moment and says, "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening."
In 1519, Martin Luther had his "tower experience," where the previously imagined God of vengeance reveals himself to Luther as a just and merciful God who justifies us by Faith. Luther reads Roman 's 1:17 and is struck by the phrase, The one who is righteous will live by faith,"
Luther writes, " all at once I felt I had been born again. and entered paradise itself through open gates. Immediately I saw scripture in a different light. The big one is coming up, "Christmas." which is an extraordinary time for the followers of Jesus Christ, a time rich in church celebrations, traditional's carols, and the familiar manger scene with a couple in a stable huddled around a new born baby in a straw-filled manger and surrounded by shepherds, magi, and angels singing " glory in excelsis." The season also denotes extensive decorating, trees, glittering with lights and ornaments, family gatherings, and children anticipating the coming of Santa Claus. Although the season has become social and commercial, Christians struggle to remember this feast is first and foremost the commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ. It is astounding enough that Jesus appeared to his disciples and his friends after his death. But it is even more astounding that he never ceased appearing, we can reasonably conclude that Jesus still appears today-healing and transforming people just as he ministered to his brokenhearted and defeated disciples. Once the despairing band ordinary men and women experienced the risen Jesus, they went forth exhibiting an incredible faith and love that eventually conquered the mighty Roman Empire, which had tried to destroy them. Similarly, when people experience Christ today, they find encouragement, help in the midst of darkness, and sometimes healing of the mind and body. Further, Christ instills in the conviction that ultimately, all will be well. Jesus began appearing to people immediately after his death. After he was crucified by the Romans on the day before Passover A.D. 29, his terrified disciples hid in fear that they might be sought out and forced to meet their "Master" fate. On Sunday, Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene, whose grief was turned to pure joy by the evidence that her beloved Lord was alive. Soon after, Jesus fell into step on the road to Emmanus with two grieving followers and revealed himself to them as He broke the bread they prepared together. When He then vanished, these two awe struck followers of Jesus ran back to Jerusalem to share the incredible good news with the hiding disciples. Then they all saw Jesus standing standing in their midst in his glorified transcendent body. Then He disappeared again. Jesus numerous appearances prepared his friends,family members and disciples to expect him to make good on his promise to be with them always. For nearly two-thousand years people have continued to experience the presence of the risen Christ. Some momentous events in world history have occurred because of encounters with his being. Saul of Tarsus encountered Christ as an orb of blinding light, on the road to Damascus. As he was going to persecute Jesus followers in that city, Christ spoke to him, and Saul was transformed. Then Christ appeared to Ananias, Against his will, Ananias met with Saul and helped transformed him into Paul., the apostle to the Greek world.
In the epilogue of John's gospel, there is recorded a very revealing exchange between Jesus and Peter, Three times Jesus ask' s Peter: " Do you love me?" Three times, Peter, Peter replies that he does. On the basis of that confession of love, Jesus tells him: In truth I tell you, when you were young you gird your own belt and you walk where you liked; but when you grow old you will stretch out your hands, and some one else will put a rope around you and take you where you would rather not go."
What has just been described is, in essence, Peters baptism ( how he will die.) and the real dynamics of any real baptism into the church.
Baptism consecrates us and consecration is a conscriptive rope that takes us where we would rather not go, namely, into that suffering that produces maturity. God offers us a glorious destiny! He destined us in love to be his sons (Eph.1:5) god intends great things for us, but He won't force them upon us. He wants everyone to be made whole and free- to be saved He offers us the truth that makes us free. But our destiny is not predetermined. We can refuse it or simply miss out on it.
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