John 1:43-51
The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth." Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, "Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!" Nathanael asked him, "Where did you get to know me?" Jesus answered, "I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you." Nathanael replied, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" Jesus answered, "Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these." And he said to him, "Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."
The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth." Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, "Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!" Nathanael asked him, "Where did you get to know me?" Jesus answered, "I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you." Nathanael replied, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" Jesus answered, "Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these." And he said to him, "Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."
I have to admit I have never watched the TV series “Lost” partly because I don’t watch a lot of TV and partly because I don’t like the idea of being lost. I much prefer being found, which is why I especially appreciate John’s text.
ReplyDeleteTo be found is to be seen or recognized. This may be at a physical or social level as in locating someone who has been lost or it may be at a deeper level as in coming to know someone as when Jesus said to Nathanael, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is (I find) no guile!" And Nathanael replied, "How do you know me?" Being found may happen by accident or following a deliberate search. In every case being found implies an encounter and an opportunity to gain knowledge of another. Andrew found his brother Simon and told him “We have found the Messiah.” The next day Jesus found Philip and “said to him, “Follow me.”” Then Philip found Nathanael and said, “We have found him of whom Moses in the law and prophets spoke, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
Being found is the beginning of an encounter. Being found is an invitation to relationship, an opportunity to move toward deeper intimacy. In this story Jesus is the one who initiated the finding, which gives me great comfort. Jesus wants to find me and I want to be found by Jesus, known by Jesus and called into intimate relationship with him. Jesus knows the ways I am lost and so I pray, may I be found.