Untitled Sermon (2)

We are known by God

A couple had two little boys, ages 8 and 10, who were mischievous. They were always getting into trouble, and their parents knew that if any mischief occurred in their town, their sons were probably involved.

The boys' mother heard that a clergyman in town had been successful in disciplining children, so she asked if he would speak with her boys. The clergyman agreed, but asked to see them individually. So the mother sent her 8-year-old in to see him the following morning, intending to send the older boy in the afternoon.

It’s amazing, isn’t it? We can be known by God. The God who fashioned the stars, created the world, the God who crafted the heavens and Earth- He knows us. What even more amazing how God knows us. God knows us intimately, and honestly knows us better than we know ourselves.

This is the delight of the Psalmist in 139. This Psalm reminds us that it is God who has fashioned us and made us, the same God had breathes stars and molds mountains makes you, and as says knows the number of hairs on your head....

The clergyman, a huge man with a booming voice, sat the younger boy down and sternly asked, "Where is God?" The boy's mouth dropped open, but he made no response. The clergyman repeated the question in an even sterner tone, "Where is God!!?" Again the boy made no attempt to answer. The clergyman got to his feet. Shaking his finger in the boy's face, he bellowed, "WHERE IS GOD!?"

The boy screamed and bolted from the room. He ran directly home and dove into his closet, slamming the door behind him. When his older brother found him a few minutes later, he asked, "What happened?"

Jesus knew Nathaniel

The younger brother, gasping for breath, replied, "We're in BIG trouble this time, dude. God is missing—and they think we did it!"

Its amazing, isn’t it? That God

Jesus knew Nathaniel

We see this in the second of today’s passages- Jesus knew Nathaniel- or maybe it was Bartholomew- it seems that Nathaniel in John and Bart in all the other Gospels are the same person. Nathaniel who was skeptical at best of Jesus and who he was. Even in the midst of Nathaniel’s seemingly condescending comments Jesus meets him where he is at.

Not only did Jesus know him in the moment, Jesus reveals that he knew Nathaniel before- even speaking about him sitting under a tree the day before. “Sitting under the fig tree” was a common phrase used to show prosperity. Pharisees would often sit under fig trees and study. We do not know if Nathaniel was literally sitting under a fig tree, or if Jesus was using metaphor, but either way it got Nathaniel’s attention!

“Sitting under the fig tree” was a common phrase used to show prosperity. Pharisees would often sit under fig trees and study.

Here’s the things though, Nathaniel is by far not the most well known, or qualified of the Apostles.

John- The Disciple Jesus Loved

Peter- The Rock

James- The other Son of Zeb

Thomas- Because he doubted

Judas- The Betrayer

That is not the amazing thing!!

That is not the amazing thing!!

\That is not the amazing thing!!

That is not the amazing thing!!

Nathaniel confesses that Jesus was Rabbi…but that is not going to be the end of Nathaniel’s story. Not in the least bit...

Too many of us never pass the point of confession of Rabbi- But Jesus has so much more to show us!

In 2014 Pew Research found out that 63% of people were certain there was a God; 20% said they were fairly sure; Only 9% of people were able to say the believed for certain there was no such thing as God!

51- Jesus has seen who Nathaniel was- now Nathaniel was going to see who JESUS is...

We can know and find God

The day I turned 18, I left home. I had saved some money, and despite my parents' strong objections, I packed a few things in my Volkswagen and headed for California. Just outside of Needles, California, a man at a rest stop pulled a gun, took my wallet, and drove off with my car. I had not been in the state more than 15 minutes, and I was broke and on foot. I made a report to the California Highway Patrol, but the officer said there was little chance I would ever see my car or my stuff again. As a final warning he said, "It's against the law to hitchhike on the interstate." I walked to a truck stop and finally convinced a driver to give me a ride to Los Angeles. The driver listened to my story, and then as he let me out, he gave me a $20 bill.

I walked 32 blocks to the beach. I was thrilled to see the waves beat up on Will Rogers Beach. It was more beautiful than I had ever imagined. I sat t

here in the bright day, and considered what to do. As the sun began to set, I spent part of my $20 for something to eat. Determined to get a fresh start in the morning, I slept that night in a park where I could hear the pounding surf.

The boys' mother heard that a clergyman in town had been successful in disciplining children, so she asked if he would speak with her boys. The clergyman agreed, but asked to see them individually. So the mother sent her 8-year-old in to see him the following morning, intending to send the older boy in the afternoon.

The next few weeks were not pleasant. Within a few days, I was dirty and reduced to asking strangers for money. For two months I slept wherever I could. I searched behind restaurants and grocery stores for food. One day I spent a precious dollar on a picture postcard to send to the folks. "Having a great time. Found a good job, and have rented an apartment near the beach," I wrote. All lies, but I was too embarrassed to tell my folks of my situation.

I got into a routine. Every morning I would walk down Santa Monica Boulevard and hold out my hand and ask everyone I passed, "Do you have any extra change?" One day, a lady gave me a dollar. I quickly stuck it into my pocket, and approach the next person coming down the street. I stuck out my hand and looked at him, -- but didn't say anything. I couldn't. I stood there in shocked silence. I was staring at my own father. I was instantly embarrassed, and then I realized he didn't recognize me. As he fumbled for some change, I realized that I had lost a lot of weight, and behind the beard and dirty clothes, he could have easily passed me by.

The clergyman, a huge man with a booming voice, sat the younger boy down and sternly asked, "Where is God?" The boy's mouth dropped open, but he made no response. The clergyman repeated the question in an even sterner tone, "Where is God!!?" Again the boy made no attempt to answer. The clergyman got to his feet. Shaking his finger in the boy's face, he bellowed, "WHERE IS GOD!?"

Then without really thinking about it, I said, "Dad! It's me. Scotty." Tears came instantly to both our eyes. He stood there in silence for a few moments; then said, "Son, I've been looking for you." Despite the filth and the smell, he hugged me close to himself.- Scotty Plumber

The boy screamed and bolted from the room. He ran directly home and dove into his closet, slamming the door behind him. When his older brother found him a few minutes later, he asked, "What happened?"

I was not really like the boy in the Prodigal Son parable. I just wanted to make my own way in the world. I was not really a bad kid; I just got into a lot of trouble because of my naive, youthful outlook on life. And then I stayed in trouble, because my pride will not let me ask my folks for help.

Sometimes I wonder if in this story we are like the father- we miss God standing right in front of us.

The younger brother, gasping for breath, replied, "We're in BIG trouble this time, dude. God is missing—and they think we did it!"

Well, that was years ago. Both my mom and dad have passed away now. In fact I live in their house, the one I left so long ago. I realize now just how young and foolish I was back then, but I'll tell you something that is a lot more foolish than that. That day in Santa Monica, all I had asked from my dad was "any spare change." Yet he would have willingly given me all he had. I asked so little from him that day because (at first) I didn't know who he was. We often ask so little from God, because we really do not know him. We ask him for a bauble here or a trinket there, yet all He has is ours if we will only ask. We project our limited love toward God, and assume His love is limited towards us. But "He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us, will He not also graciously give us everything we ask?" ( - Montgomery NT).

Jesus tells Nathaniel in this story that he will see heaven open up and the angels descending and ascending upon the Son of man. This is a reference and illusion to the ladder Jacob saw in . Turn to This is one of the most transformational moments in Jacob’s life. This is really the first time that he begins to get a glimpse of who God is and what God has in store. Now, consider a few ways that this comparison plays out between Jacob and Nathaniel.

Jacob’s name means “The Heel” which we see in his life story over and over again. At least 4 times Jacob is called deceiver or one who practices deceit. Remember the things he did to his brother? However, Nathaniel is called “An Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”

Jacob was from a wealthy family and is associated with wealth his whole life. We do not know much about Nathaniel, in fact his profession is never mentioned, but it is safe to assume that he is certainly not a person of power or prestige.

Jacob is known by 2 names Jacob, and then Israel after his wrestling with the angel. Nathaniel may also be Bart

Jacob/Israel is all over the Bible. He is a major influence on our faith story and the way we view God. While Nathaniel is only mentioned by name 2 times in the Bible. Here and in the list of disciples who saw the risen Christ.

Bottom line, friends, Jesus can be known by anyone. and as Jesus said in “Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?”

So how about you, friends? Nathaniel decided to take the next step- not just to confess that Jesus was a good guy, or a wise teacher- but the Son of God, and from that moment on he found himself on a roller coaster ride seeing the Kingdom of God in action.

What will you do today?