Nathanael Noticed What No-Good Nazareth Ignored

Second Sunday after the Epiphany

January 18, 2015

John 1:46

Nathanael Noticed What No-Good Nazareth Ignored

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."

"Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" Nathanael asked.

"Come and see," said Philip. (John 1:46)

†

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

We don't know a lot about Jesus' hometown of Nazareth. But what we do know isn't great. Nazareth is the town where Jesus couldn't do any miracles, because they rejected Jesus. And Jesus was amazed at them for the worst possible reason.

Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by His disciples. When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard Him were amazed.

“Where did this Man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given Him? What are these remarkable miracles He is performing? Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t His sisters here with us?” And they took offense at Him.

Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in His own town, among His relatives and in His own home.” He could not do any miracles there, except lay His hands on a few sick people and heal them. He was amazed at their lack of faith. (Mark 6:1-6)

So when Philip finds Nathanael and tells him that he knew where to find the promised Savior, and that He came from Nazareth, Nathanael wasn't impressed: "Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" But when Nathanael did come and see, He noticed the One Good Thing that no-good Nazareth ignored.

Nathanael was impressed with Jesus because Jesus had told him that he had been under a fig tree—a mini-miracle.

When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, He said of him, "Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false."

"How do You know me?" Nathanael asked.

Jesus answered, "I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you."

Then Nathanael declared, "Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel."

Jesus said, "You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that." (John 1:47-50)

But even more impressive was that Jesus knew Nathanael. He knew Nathanael. He knew what Nathanael was looking for and He was it. And so even though Nathanael hadn't seen any big miracles or heard Jesus' preaching, he had received Jesus' call into righteousness through Jesus' words. The miracle got Nathanael's attention, but Jesus' words created trust in his heart.

The people of Nazareth and Nathanael. They were both Israelites who knew the promises of Moses and the prophets. They were both looking ahead to the Messiah, the One sent from God to save sinners. But when encountering Christ, Nazareth was offended by Him, but Nathanael confessed Him.

Today the Church also remembers the Confession of St. Peter

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?"

They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."

"But what about you?" He asked. "Who do you say I am?"

Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by My Father in heaven." (Matthew 16:13-17)

These words of Peter came later in Jesus' ministry; Nathanael's similar confession came right away. Both men would join Nazareth in their sinful rejection and betrayal of Jesus. But by His mercy Jesus held onto Nathanael and Peter and brought them back into His forgiveness. This forgiveness of our sin is what makes access to everlasting life a reality.

And so Jesus said to Nathanael:

"I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man." (John 1:51)

How do we gain heavenly life? Upon the Son of Man. On Jesus and Him alone. If even the angels need Jesus to get to and from heaven, how much more do Nathanael and Peter and you and I need Him?

We used to be Nazareth; we thought we didn't need Him. But He came to us in the Gospel Sacraments, and He gives Himself to us and gives us all we need.

Christ Jesus came into the world

to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.

Alleluia! Amen.