Samuel 3:1–10 (11–20)
1 Corinthians 6:12–20
John 1:43–51
The Lord God Is with You and Reveals Himself to You by the Preaching of His Word
Almighty and everlasting God, who governs all things in heaven and earth, mercifully hear the prayers of Your people and grant us Your peace through all our days; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
The Lord Jesus calls Philip and Nathanael to “come and see” that He is “the Son of God” and “the King of Israel” (John 1:43–49). And they shall see even “greater things than these” (John 1:50). For His body is the temple of God on earth, and by His priestly sacrifice the heavens will be opened to all who believe and are baptized into Him. Therefore, He calls Philip and Nathanael, first to hear His Word and then to speak as apostles, even as He once called Samuel and established him “as a prophet of the Lord” (1 Samuel 3:20). As the Lord was with Samuel “and let none of his words fall to the ground” (1 Samuel 3:19), He also accompanies and upholds the preachers of His Word in our day. Thus, by the Gospel that is preached to you, “your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you” (1 Corinthians 6:19). Since your body thus belongs to the Body of Christ, is meant “for the Lord” and shall be raised up like Him, now “glorify God in your body” (1 Corinthians 6:13–20).
How do you walk with Jesus?
1. Go before Him examples Pilate, Caiaphas, Peter
2. Walk besides Him - yet we do not co-operate with our salvation. See explanation to 3rd. article
3. We walk behind Him - "Follow me" Jesus said. See Christ Be my leader stanza 1 LSB #861 "Let us ever walk with Jesus" 'Savior lead I follow Thee'
Rev. Dr. Daniel J Brege
“…hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.” (John 1:51)
Jesus frequently ended his discourses or parables with rather cryptic statements. Thus in Sunday’s Gospel we observe that when He finished speaking his words of revelation to Nathaniel, Jesus strangely stated, Truly, Truly I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man. [Jn 1:51]. Though it appears Jesus is only speaking to Nathaniel, the “you” (I say to you) is in the plural; thus this saying is for all followers of Jesus. In good Lutheran fashion we ask, “What does this saying mean?”
It is clear that Jesus is referencing the Old Testament account of Jacob who fell asleep with a rock as his pillow, Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. [Gen. 28:12]. Various interpretations have identified Jesus as the new Jacob, Jesus as the rock, Jesus as the ladder, or Jesus as God who is standing at the top of the ladder. There are good arguments for each of these.
In this brief essay we will simply associate Jesus with Jacob’s ladder, for this is what the angels of God were ascending and descending upon in Jacob’s dream, and Jesus says that His followers will see the angels of God ascending and descending upon Him.
A ladder connects what is below with what is above. To climb on a roof one uses a ladder. So too Jesus is that which connects heaven and earth. Appropriately He would declare: I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. [Jn 14:6]. Jesus Christ is the only way—the only ladder—by which we can be connected to the Father who is in heaven. Saint Paul would explain: For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus [1 Tim 2:5]. Jesus is the only mediator—only connecting ladder—between God and men, between heaven and earth. To behold angels ascending and descending upon Jesus is to realize and believe that He alone connects heaven and earth. As God, Jesus is of heaven; as Mary’s son, He is of earth. Appropriately He connects both.
How did Jesus establish a connection for us? First, the ladder was firmly set upon the ground—connected with the very dust of humanity—when the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.
Irenaeus, a pastor who lived within a century of Jesus, identified the “ladder” with the cross of Jesus. Jesus upon the cross is truly that which reconciles and thus connects man with God.
Unfortunately a ladder connotes the ability to climb it to the destination above. Of course we know from Scripture that climbing this ladder is impossible for fallen humanity. However, the crucified, risen and ascended Christ has sent and continues to send the Holy Spirit through His Word. The Holy Spirit, who is bestowed upon us in our Baptism, testifies of and connects us with Jesus by faith. We are washed with water and the word, and as such the Spirit has raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. [Eph 2:6]. By faith we are already established as citizens of heaven, already seated with Him in the heavenly places! And when we die the angels—who indeed ascend and descend upon the ladder—will carry our souls to Abraham’s bosom (that is, to heaven).
When our bodies are raised on the last day, heaven and earth will be blissfully united. The ladder—Jesus on the cross—will have permanently drawn together God and His people into eternity.
John 1:43–51
Τῇ ἐπαύριον ἠθέλησεν ἐξελθεῖν εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν. καὶ εὑρίσκει Φίλιππον καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς· Ἀκολούθει μοι.
The next day Jesus decided (desired/determined) to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." - John 1:43
How much of John's preaching had Philip heard? He had heard the prophets every Saturday. Andrew and Peter had indeed heard John the last prophet. (See John 1:29-42)
Now Philip was from Bethsaida, from the city of Andrew and Peter. - John 1:44 not far from synagogue in Capernaum See Matthew 8:24, Mark 1:29, perhaps the city of James and John.
Bethsaida is town where Jesus met a blind man Mark 8:22-26, one of the woes see Luke 10:12-14
Bethsaida, city containing one of Jesus' woes. From Galilee, small, northern border.
Philip found Nathanael (see John21:1-2; John 2)
εὑρίσκει Φίλιππος τὸν Ναθαναὴλ καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· Ὃν ἔγραψεν Μωϋσῆς ἐν τῷ νόμῳ καὶ οἱ προφῆται εὑρήκαμεν, [a]Ἰησοῦν υἱὸν τοῦ Ἰωσὴφ τὸν ἀπὸ Ναζαρέτ.
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." - John 1:45
John's code "the beloved Disciple"
John 1:15-16, 13:22-25, 19:25-27, 20:2, 21:20-23, 21:24
"Son of Joseph" people were known by their parents, literally, "Jesus, the son of Joseph, Joseph who comes from Nazareth"
We have found him. Verbs are flipped from vs. 43. The nature of man is to find God. Look at v. 43 he determined...he found Philip. Especially in the gospel of John Jesus is in control even during the passion. John 10:18, 18:1-11
καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Ναθαναήλ· Ἐκ Ναζαρὲτ δύναταί τι ἀγαθὸν εἶναι; λέγει αὐτῷ [b]ὁ Φίλιππος· Ἔρχου καὶ ἴδε.
Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." - John 1:46
"Come and see." Evangelism in one verse here.
Is it possible for anything good to be from Nazareth? Why? After the resurrection Jesus will be called the Nazarene despised and rejected by men. Luther, "he spoken in amazement."
εἶδεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς τὸν Ναθαναὴλ ἐρχόμενον πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ λέγει περὶ αὐτοῦ· Ἴδε ἀληθῶς Ἰσραηλίτης ἐν ᾧ δόλος οὐκ ἔστιν.
Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of (concerning)him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!" - John 1:47
Here is one who has no guile.
λέγει αὐτῷ Ναθαναήλ· Πόθεν με γινώσκεις; ἀπεκρίθη Ἰησοῦς καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Πρὸ τοῦ σε Φίλιππον φωνῆσαι ὄντα ὑπὸ τὴν συκῆν εἶδόν σε.
Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." - John 1:48
How do you know me?
I saw you while you were being under the fight tree. A private place...Jesus sees in secret...he knows all.. See Psalm 139 " Lord you search me and know me. I'm the one who called you, who knows you even before you were formed. I am the one who calls you to faith.
ἀπεκρίθη [d]αὐτῷ Ναθαναήλ· Ῥαββί, σὺ εἶ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ θεοῦ, σὺ [e]βασιλεὺς εἶ τοῦ Ἰσραήλ.
Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" - John 1:49
All Nathaniel says is spoken in faith see Matthew 25, "when did we see you..."
This is close to Peter's confession, a powerful confession, Matthew 16:13-18
ἀπεκρίθη Ἰησοῦς καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Ὅτι εἶπόν σοι [f]ὅτι εἶδόν σε ὑποκάτω τῆς συκῆς πιστεύεις; μείζω τούτων [g]ὄψῃ.
Jesus answered him, "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
Greater things you will see. Romans 10
Nathaniel believed because what he heard Jesus promises greater things he will see.
καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· Ἀμὴν ἀμὴν λέγω [h]ὑμῖν, ὄψεσθε τὸν οὐρανὸν ἀνεῳγότα καὶ τοὺς ἀγγέλους τοῦ θεοῦ ἀναβαίνοντας καὶ καταβαίνοντας ἐπὶ τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου.
And he said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, (heavens were opened at Jesus' baptism) and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man." - John 1:51
See Amos 9:2; Ezekiel 44.3 entrance through the Christ. Ezekiel 34
Fulfilled at the baptism, transfiguration crucifixion, resurrection, return.
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