Saturday 16 February, 2019

43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. 45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip. 47 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” 48 “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.” 49 Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.” 50 Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.”

For me, this passage is about seeing.

God sees me. All of me. My doubts, my pain, my troubled thoughts. He sees it all. Yet He loves me. He cares. He is my Heavenly Father and I am His son. I am dear to His heart in the same way that Jesus is dear to His heart. That’s how much He loves me.

I’m in awe….how can that be?

But there is more to this “seeing”. First He sees me – then He helps me to see.

Just like Nathaniel He says now you will see… and I do. I see that this world is a temporary veil that will soon be torn away. I see angels strong and mighty dispatched at the Fathers command to bring His purposes on earth about. I see Jesus on the cross carrying all my sin upon Himself – past, present and future – that makes this “seeing” possible. I see a Father in Heaven who says of me “I must have him in heaven with me! No other outcome is acceptable!”

Oh God thank you for seeing me.   Amen

Written by Boudy Van Noppen