Deuteronomy 7:17-26
Psalms 30, 32, 42, 43
Titus 3:1-15
John 1:43-51
No Good - John 1:43-51
“Can
anything good come out of Nazareth?”
This is the question that Nathanael asks when first urged by Philip to “come
and see” Jesus. Nathanael, without being
in relationship with Jesus, finds him suspicious, at best. He knows Nazareth and can’t possibly think of
anything good that might come from such a place.
What
is the Nazareth in your life?
· Our family has a 5-year-old
friend who is currently battling a rare type of childhood cancer called
neuroblastoma. “Can anything good come
out of childhood cancer?”
· Our church, currently,
seeks a new rector. “Can anything good
come out of all this waiting?”
· Children living in the
Third Ward experience hunger on a regular basis. “Can anything good come out of childhood
hunger?”
· Ugandans live without a
fresh water source. “Can anything good
come out of a place of thirst?”
· Soldiers die far from home
and we ask, “Can anything good come from fighting battles not easily won?”
· Teens run away from home,
only to be caught in the web of addiction, slavery and brokenness. “Can anything good come from this darkness?”
· Children die while in their
classroom. “Can anything good come from
a massacre?”
· The Son of Man was hung on
a cross to die. “Can anything good come
from His crucifixion?”
Because
we are Easter people, we can rejoice in finding the “yes” in all of life’s
scenarios despite our ability to understand.
Yes, Jesus is with us no matter what circumstances abound. Yes, Jesus shines a bright light into dark
spaces. Yes, Jesus shows up right on
time. As a community of faith, let’s
rally each other to believe the “yes” even when we don’t understand, even when
the world tells us “no.”
And
like Philip in this story, let’s commit to share the “yes” with others and
invite them to “come and see!”