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A commendation of faith

Text: John 1:43-51

A COMMENDATION OF FAITH

Nathanael had come to faith in Jesus! Just a little while ago, he had been skeptical. Now he too was a firm believer. What caused Nathanael to believe in Jesus? The answer might well be found in this word from Jesus.

“Because I said to you,
‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ Do you believe?
You will see greater things than these.”
John 1:50

To Nathanael, what Jesus said to him was nothing short of the supernatural! How could Jesus have seen him under a fig tree? How could Jesus have known him so deeply? There was only one answer. This was a display of the powers of Jesus, the Son of God! This was a great thing as far as Nathanael was concerned. From this one experience with Jesus, faith began to grow in Nathanael.

Jesus obviously liked his genuine faith. Nathanael was indeed an Israelite with no guile. He would be blessed further. He would see “greater things”.

THE COMMENCEMENT OF FAITH

What causes a person to believe? What caused people to believe in Jesus? For Philip and Nathanael, faith in Jesus came about because He fulfilled what the Scriptures had said about Him. There had been conscious seeking on the part of Philip (and Nathanael). Thus, when he came to know Jesus, he became convinced as to who Jesus was!

Philip’s word concerning Jesus must be borne in mind. He said,

“We have found Him of whom Moses in the law,
and also the prophets wrote…”
John 1:45

What was that word of Moses Philip mentioned? Perhaps the most significant word Moses spoke that had direct reference to the Messiah was this prophecy.

“I will raise up for them a Prophet like you (Moses)
from among their brethren, and will put My words
in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that
I command Him.
And it shall be that whoever will not hear My words,
Which He speaks in My Name, I will require it of him.”
Deuteronomy 18:18-19

Philip and Nathanael would have measured Jesus against what Moses had written. Did Jesus compare with Moses? Did He know the Word of God as well as Moses did? A deep conversation with Jesus would soon reveal the truth. If Jesus had failed to impress with reference to knowledge of God, then of course He could not have compelled faith in anyone.

The Person who was the Messiah has to be a Prophet! Moses was a prophet of God and more. This was what God had said about Moses.

“Hear now My words:
If there is a prophet among you,
I, the Lord, make Myself known to him in a vision;
I speak to him in a dream.

Not so with My servant Moses;
He is faithful in all My house.
I speak with him face to face,
Even plainly, and not in dark sayings;
And he sees the form of the Lord.”
Numbers 12:6-8

Moses was a special prophet of God. He won a distinctive place of honour because of his faithfulness to God. What about Jesus? As Philip, Nathanael and others discovered, Jesus was far greater than even Moses of old!

He displayed the power of a prophet. God revealed things to him, about Simon the son of Jonah. God must have revealed things about Nathanael to Jesus too. Yes, he was a true Rabbi, wise and learned in every way!

The faith that Nathanael had was not “blind faith”. It was a faith that arose from his knowledge of the Scriptures. It was knowledge that arose from conviction that Jesus was all that Moses said He would be. He would know the Word of God. He would teach and expound the Word of God. He would do all that and more! Who else but the Messiah could have a formidable knowledge of God?

Jesus had come from Nazareth. Considering the fact that He had only been a carpenter’s son, His knowledge could not have been derived from having gone to a Rabbinic school somewhere. Beside, if Jesus had spoken like one trained in a typical Rabbinic school, He would most likely have sounded like a Pharisee or a scribe. There was no way in which a humble son of a carpenter named Joseph could have known the Scriptures, and have been so impressive, compelling faith in Him, unless that Person was indeed the Messiah!

How could one refute such obvious facts? Nathanael had indeed experienced great things. They compelled him to believe in Jesus. That was the most logical conclusion!

WHAT IS THE BASIS OF OUR PERSONAL FAITH IN JESUS?

Each of the followers of Jesus had come to faith in Jesus in a very personal way. None had come to faith without having a deep and personal experience with Jesus. Each person had his own personal set of questions that required answers. Can you speak of having personal faith in Jesus? What made you convinced that Jesus is truly the Son of God? What route did you take before you came to faith in Jesus?