They Knew Him

John 1:45  Philip found Nathanael, and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 


From the very start people were making amazing statements about Jesus. No miracles, no healings, no demons cast out and already Philip declares that he is the one the scriptures are waiting for. It must have been amazing to look in his eyes. Those who met this Jesus must have seen something so strong and powerful that they just knew he was special. In a couple of lines Nathanael says, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” The thought of the kingly messiah is even exceeded by that statement.   What makes some people so open to perceive the identity of Jesus. 


In the gospel accounts we watch these same disciples ebb and flow in their understanding of the one in their presence. I know in my life I can identify times when I was ready in some way for momentous encounters with Jesus. At other times my spiritual life just moved along hopefully not losing what Jesus had already taught me. Other moments followed at unpredictable intervals and never with any clear event that opened me to new revelations. I would love to know how to help people find that place where meeting Jesus is so easy. I've watched others at those moments of growth and encounters with Jesus and again I don't see a pattern. I do know that when we truly seek him not for ourselves but because we have come to value Jesus, then Jesus reveals himself.


We have so much more evidence of the nature and power of God present in Jesus. It should be so much easier for us to encounter the living Christ. Seek, really seek, and you will find, or perhaps more accurately be found.