You may have seen word clouds online, or in magazines. They are produced when the words folks provide are counted by a computer, and then mixed together to form a ‘cloud’ in which the size of each word is proportional to its occurrence. I believe that the word which this week’s scripture would produce would be a great big, “FOUND.”
In a couple of verses alone, Jesus ‘found’ Philip, then Philip ‘found’ Nathanael, then Philip declares, “We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth” (vs. 45). This is a powerful image; finding that which was lost, or which is needed. A thing of worth has been discovered, recovered, or obtained. Jesus has a habit of doing that: of locating the valueless, the lost, the ones in need of affirmation, or challenge, and making them his own – things that are lovely because he loves them.
There is hesitation at first, for Nathanael (as Scripture told him) expects the Messiah to come from Bethlehem, not Nazareth. Thus, his rather pointed question, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” (vs. 46). Remarkably, it is not a miraculous sign that attracts Philip and Nathanael, or Jesus imparting some deep theological nugget into
their heads and hearts. It is an invitation, “Follow me” (vs. 43) and “Come and see” (vs. 46). This is a literal and spiritual invitation. It is an invitation to ‘come with me’ and call to discipleship.
Nathanael asks Jesus, “Where did you get to know me?” (vs. 48). It is a question which a whole bunch of sinners and tax collectors, the sick, the demonic, Syrophoenician woman, and a multitude of the vulnerable will ask Jesus. Those who went unseen, and those who were excluded, all marvel at the depth of Jesus’ understanding of who they
are, where they came from, and what they lack. Jesus sees them and knows them.
There then emerges a pattern. Following leads to finding, which leads to testimony. Jesus finds you, asks you to follow him, then you find others, and you tell them about Jesus. That is the shape of the Christian life. And what do you testify? Well, John’s opening chapter reveals what we in the trade refer to as John’s incarnational theology:
Jesus incarnates (makes flesh) God. And so, we testify that Jesus is Lamb of God (vs. 29, 36), Son of God (vs. 34, 49), Rabbi (vs. 38, 49), Messiah (vs. 41) and King of Israel (vs. 49). And then, as one scholar observed, ultimately and even more remarkably, we testify that “The historic Christian doctrine of the divinity of Jesus Christ does not simply mean that Jesus is like God. It is more radical than that. It means that God is like Jesus.”
