Tuesday, Apr 7

Scriptures: John 1:47-51 (ESV) – “Jesus saw Nathanael coming towards 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 defending on the Son of Man.’”

Message: On the West front of Bath Abbey, England carved in stone are ladders, with angels ascending and descending (see Link¹ below). When it was finished, painted and gilded in the Middle Ages it must have been a magnificent sight – a truly monumental illustration of John 1:51 for pilgrims to gaze at and ponder.

In Hebrew thought, figs are symbolic of the knowledge and goodness of God; and the fig tree is symbolic of God’s chosen people. Thus, Nathanael is pictured as a true Israelite, a good man immersed and contented in his faith. Yet he is called to leave what is familiar and comforting to him and join Jesus in finding an even deeper relationship with God – a relationship rooted in unconditional love.

Written at a time of great turbulence and violence, in the last decade of the first Century after the second destruction of the Jerusalem Temple, the fourth Gospel was a rallying cry to people being torn this way and that, many of whom were forced into exile, by powerful social and political events they felt unable to influence. John’s Gospel called people to become rooted in the ultimate reality of God, the Jesus way. It still has that power today, if we are prepared to leave what is familiar and comforting and instead open our hearts and minds fully to Jesus’ invitation and follow Him to the uttermost.

Prayer:

Sacred One
Source and Giver of all life
In the turmoil and chaos
Grant me the courage
To let go of old comforts;
To open my life fully to Your transforming love
And become rooted in that love|In thanksgiving and self-sacrifice
In Jesus’ name
Amen.

Mike Evans

Midsomer Norton Methodist Church, Midsomer Norton, UK

1. Bath Abbey SW Door Façade: https://www.uksouthwest.net/p1080/bath-abbey-west-front.jpg