An Israelite Indeed

intro-

I love to watch different sports, I love football, and basketball, I even watch a little baseball there is just something about the competiton that I love, to me that is reality tv, not the singing, dancing or dating shows. Amy on the other hand does not enjoy watching them and has no real interest in them. So for me to share with her about it i have to be very specific and detailed when i talk about them, If I am talking about any team other than Michigan iI have to take a very specific approach, such as if i am talking about the green bay packers I have to say the team in yellow and green, she doesn't know the packers but she knows what the uniform looks like, and it works the same way with her when she is talking to me about things that I am not interested in, she has to find away to make me understand.

Prop-

Tonight as we continue looking at The Ordinary Heroes our study of the apostles, we come to Nathanael. We saw last week that Philip was a close companion of Nathanael and that he went and told Nathanael about the Messiah. Tonight as we look at Nathanael we will see how our view or understanding effects our beliefs.

Philips Description

Nathanaels Disbelief

Christ’s Declaration

(ESV)

Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael

Philip’s Description

43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

Philip’s Description

Philip’s Description

The One

From the Law of Moses

The First five books of the Bible

Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers Deuteronomy

He Knew that Nathanael would know these books

He knew Nathanael knew what they said about the Messiah

He knew what Nathanael was seeking

The One

The Prophets Wrote about

The one they said was coming

this is Him

This is the Messiah

What he didn't say

The one who will make you happy

the one who is great

the one who can fix your marriage

the one ............

He knew how Nathanael would recognize Him

We need to make sure we are giving a proper description

Nathanael’s Disbelief

John 1:46 ESV

Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”

Wait what?

Can anything good come from Nazareth?

A few factors in play

Nazareth was a small, unimpressive town

In Fact not mentioned in Old Testament

Judeans looked down on Galiieans

Galileans looked down on those from Nazareth

Those from Nazareth were considered low of the low

Those from Nazareth were considered low of the low

He was from a town just a few miles away

It could have been a little rivalry

The Nazareth Wildcats vs the Cana Camels

He allowed his own feelings cloud his Judgement

Even though he was a seeker of the Scriptures

He was also still Human

We face the same battle

Christs Declaration

John 1:47–51 ESV

Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” Jesus answered him, “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, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

Declaration of Character

An Israelite with no deceit

He knew where Nathanael’s heart was

Word used here means he was authentic

It wasn't just for show

He was truly seeking after the things of God

Many put on a show on the outside

People would get circumcised to show they belong

Heart wouldn't change

Needed an internal circumcision

Wasn't an Israelite indeed because of nationality but because of heart condition

Declaration of His Power

I Saw you

Jesus knew where he was both physically and Spiritually

He saw him even though he wasn't their

Theological word for this is omnipresent

Declaration of Things to Come

You will see greater things

Reference to Jacobs ladder

A link of Heaven and Earth

Jesus is the link between Heaven and earth

He is the only link

For us:

Are we a Student of the Word?

Are we studying it like we should ?

Do we know what it says ?

As a husband I should be a student of my wife, I should be earning my PHD.

What happens when the human side gets in the way

Nathanael was blinded by Prejudice

Yet he still came to see

What about us?

What would Jesus say about you?

It had to be great for Nathanael to hear what Jesus said about him

What do you think he would say about you?

Do you know the Link between heaven and earth?

Jesus is the only way, have you trusted in Him?