Lenten Reading and Devotion - February 23, 2023

The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”  When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.  Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?” They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon. Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). 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.) The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.” Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. 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. When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”  “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[h] because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.” 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.”

In our reading today we see Jesus calling the Disciples to follow Him. Notice they are the last part of the domino effect in the chapter. The first section gives us an amazing testimony of who Jesus is...The One was before all creation, the one who created all, the one who is the living Word of God, the Light of the world! Then John comes to confirm all that has been said in the opening proclamation and to speak the revealed truth. And finally we come to the disciples, who one after the other, hear about, encounter, believe, and begin to follow Jesus! Even skeptical Nathaniel, who presents a doubting contrast to the sure hearted opening statements of proclamation about Jesus.

Here are a few questions I have asked myself after reflecting on the chapter.

1. What do we believe about Jesus? That really is the central question here and throughout the book. Who is Jesus to you?

2. Are you proclaiming who you believe and know Jesus to be...Like John the Baptist? Does your life word, deed and attitude point to and proclaim Jesus? If not, why not?

3. And lastly, when have you felt Jesus calling  you to follow Him? To trust Him? To step out in faith? How during Lent can you add a spiritual discipline to help you hear and trust God more daily?

Prayer:

God of all grace, help us to remain humble and open to the leading of Your Spirit during the season of Lent. Give us ears to hear and hearts to listen for what you desire to do in us. May we learn to set aside all our doubts, fears, and distractions so we may wholeheartedly follow you. In the name of the One who gave His life for ours, Amen.

Grace and Peace,

Chip