The Son of Man
For Meditation
Last week we saw that Jesus’ call to his new disciples began with a simple invitation: to come with him, to see him, and to stay with him. This is the simple work of discipleship- to leave what is behind, to look to Jesus as the one who reveals God, and to stay as Jesus’ companion in all you do. This week, the same story continues as we see the rippling effect of Jesus’ invitation among a group of friends as Jesus invites each of them to “come and see.”
As the story continues, we get a deeper glimpse into what Jesus is inviting his disciples into. We get a hint in the way that Jesus seems to know Peter and Nathaniel deeply, that he is able to see into them and know them, both who they are and who they will be. We get a sense that to come into relationship with Jesus means a change of identity, from an old name to a new name. We also see that Jesus is turning them outward, as when they encounter him they have a sudden desire to share the good news about him with others. And we also see Jesus’ promise that in coming to him they will know God himself, as they encounter God in powerful ways that their ancestors only dreamed about (litearally). Coming to Jesus means powerful, beautiful changes, as we come to know ourselves, move out toward others, and encounter God himself.
John 1:40–51
40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus.
Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).
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.” 51 He then added, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man.”