Daily Devotion, January 17, 2023

 

Devotion:

Read John 1:43-50.

Philip, one of the new disciples, shows up and tells Nathanael that they have found the Messiah and identifies him as Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. And Nathanael responds: “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”

Nathanael had certain expectations for the Promised One, the great hope of Israel – expectations about who he would be and where he might come from … and Nazareth fell short of those expectations.

During this time many Israelites looked down on people from Galilee, and Galileans looked down on those who were from Nazareth. And that is Jesus’ home! He was known as “Jesus of Nazareth.” So, when Nathanael hears Philip claim the great hope of the world is from Nazareth, he blurted out, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”

Nathanael made an assumption about people from Nazareth. It makes me wonder what our “Nazareths” are. We all have Nazareths in our lives. Nazareths are the objects of our own assumptions, judgments, prejudices, and misunderstandings. We don’t see anything good coming from our Nazareths. It’s about how we see and relate to others.

Fortunately, his encounter with Jesus changed his understanding. Jesus assured Nathaniel that he knew him, and Nathaniel could trust him. Jesus spoke truth and showed compassion to Nathaniel who became a follower of the Messiah.

If Nathaniel had stuck to his preconceived beliefs, he would have missed a relationship with the Messiah. Let’s be careful not to let our stereotypes prevent us from our own relationship with Jesus or from seeing others the way Jesus sees them.

Personal Worship Option:

Thank God today that he knows you and loves you. Ask him to show you how to love others the way he does.