Today’s Theme for Prayer – Jesus Calls Me Beyond Myself
How Generous is My Response to the Lord?
Dwelling in His Presence: A Journey to the Heart of Jesus
John 1:35-51
The next day John was there again with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, “Behold, the Lamb of God. The two disciple heard what he said and followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come, and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about four in the afternoon. Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus. He first found his own brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Anointed). Then he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John; you will be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter). The next day he decided to go to Galilee, and he found Philip. And Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the town of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law, and also the prophets, Jesus, son of Joseph, from Nazareth.” But Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Here is a true Israelite. There is no duplicity in him.” Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.” Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” And he said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see the sky opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
Grace Prayed For
The Grace of Openness to the Holy Spirit: The image of the open heavens and the angels ascending and descending speaks to the constant flow of grace and communication between heaven and earth through Jesus. We can pray for the grace to be open to the Holy Spirit’s guidance and to receive the gifts and graces He desires to bestow upon us.
Reflection
Imagine yourself there, on the banks of the Jordan, the air thick with anticipation. John’s voice, rough yet reverent, cuts through the quiet: “Behold, the Lamb of God.” These simple words, a whispered invitation, ignite a fire in the hearts of two disciples. They turn, drawn by an invisible cord, and begin to follow Jesus.
Jesus, in His infinite gentleness, doesn’t ignore their hesitant steps. He turns and asks the most intimate of questions: “What are you looking for?” It’s a question He asks each of us, even now. Are we searching for mere knowledge, fleeting excitement, or the deep, abiding presence of the Divine?
Their response, “Rabbi, where are you staying?” isn’t just a request for directions. It’s a yearning to be close, to enter into His very life. And Jesus’ answer, “Come and you will see,” is an invitation into the deepest intimacy. He doesn’t offer a lecture or a distant pronouncement. He offers Himself. He invites them, and us, into His dwelling place, into the very heart of His being.
Think of the preciousness of that day. They spent hours with Him, sharing conversation, perhaps simply being in His presence. It was four in the afternoon when they first encountered Him. They chose to stay. Imagine the intimacy of that shared time. The scripture doesn’t detail the conversation, but the simple act of staying speaks volumes. It was a day of profound connection, a day that forever altered the course of their lives.
This scene echoes through the ages. Just as Andrew then brought his brother Peter, we are called to bring others to this same encounter. Philip’s simple words to Nathanael, “Come and see,” are a powerful testament to the transformative power of a personal meeting with Jesus. He didn’t try to convince Nathanael with eloquent arguments; he simply invited him to experience Jesus for himself.
And then there is Nathanael, sitting under the fig tree, lost in thought. Jesus sees him, even before Philip calls him. He knows the depths of Nathanael’s heart, his sincerity, his lack of guile. “Here is a true Israelite,” Jesus declares, “there is no duplicity in him.” This intimate knowledge, this divine recognition, melts Nathanael’s skepticism. “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel!” he proclaims.
Jesus’ response is a promise of even greater intimacy: “You will see the sky opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” This imagery speaks of constant communion, a divine flow of grace and connection between heaven and earth, made possible through Jesus.
This passage isn’t just a story from the past. It’s an invitation for today. Jesus is still asking us, “What are you looking for?” He is still saying, “Come and you will see.” He is still seeing us under our own “fig trees,” knowing our hearts, longing for us to draw near. Let us accept His invitation. Let us seek Him with all our hearts, and experience the profound intimacy of dwelling in His presence. Let us, like those first disciples, choose to stay with Him, and in Him, forever.
Growing in Intimacy/Union with Jesus
Nathanael’s recognition of Jesus as the Son of God and King of Israel marks a crucial step in his understanding of who Jesus is. Growing in intimacy with Jesus requires us to acknowledge His divinity and to approach Him with reverence and awe. This understanding deepens our appreciation for His sacrifice and His love for us.
When Time Allows Reflect on the Posts in Library and Musings
Sharing
Jesus last words on Earth were to his disciples, can be found in Matthew Chap 28 when Jesus told his disciples, “Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
Jesus calls all of us to share in his redemptive mission here on Earth. I would ask you to share this Scripture reflection with your family, your friends and your acquaintances, and then share it with a couple of individuals that you may may not be comfortable sharing with, keeping in mind always the words of Jesus, And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age
Author was assisted by AI in the drafting of this Post