Seeing Jesus Clearly

This powerful message takes us into John chapter 1, verses 43-51, where we witness the calling of Philip and Nathanael as disciples of Jesus. At its heart, this passage reminds us of a profound truth: we didn't find Jesus—He found us. When Philip encounters Christ, Jesus simply says 'follow me,' and immediately Philip goes to share this discovery with Nathanael. Yet Nathanael's skepticism—'Can anything good come out of Nazareth?'—mirrors our own doubts and prejudices. Philip's response is beautifully simple: 'Come and see.' This is the essence of authentic witness—not having all the answers, but inviting others to encounter Jesus for themselves. When Nathanael meets Jesus, he's stunned that Jesus already knows him, having seen him under the fig tree in prayer. This reveals the intimate, personal nature of Christ's love—He knows us completely, sees us in our most private moments, and still calls us His own. The message culminates with Jesus promising that we will see 'heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man,' echoing Jacob's ladder from Genesis. Through Christ, heaven and earth are connected, and every spiritual blessing becomes ours. This Christmas season, we're challenged to remember that our greatest gift isn't wrapped under a tree—it's the Savior who sought us out, knew us completely, and loved us anyway.