Rejoice, for every friend of Jesus is your friend also!

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Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you [Nathaniel].”– John 1:48

Nathaniel asked Jesus how he knew him. Jesus’ reply indicates that he saw Nathaniel before they met. Like the case of Nathaniel, Jesus knows us all before we receive the call to meet him. Nathaniel received the call to meet Jesus through his friend Philip. Think about it. Nathaniel became one of the apostles, but he received his initial invitation to meet Jesus through a friend. Some people are waiting for a call directly from God. Even though God knows you, he may also know that you will listen to a mutual friend that is acting on his behalf.

Rejoice, for every friend of Jesus is your friend also!

Dr. J. Clontz

Biblical text is from “The Comprehensive New Testament.”

Anyone who represents themself when they face their accuser has a fool for a client

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Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!” – John 1:47

Jesus and Nathaniel had never physically encountered one another. Yet, Jesus knew that Nathaniel had no deceit in him. Jesus is the Son of God. He knows everything about every person that has existed, currently exists, and will exist. When you meet Jesus he already knows you. Jesus chose to concentrate on Nathaniel’s past virtues without mentioning any of his shortcomings. Let that sink in. Jesus knows the best and worst in everyone. He chose to focus on the best in Nathaniel. An advocate focuses on the best on those he helps.

Conversely, our adversary, Satan, focuses on the worst in everyone.

I hope you chose to have our advocate, Jesus, represent your best before God. It would be a shame to face eternity without someone to represent you. Ask any lawyer, anyone who represents themself when they face their accuser has a fool for a client.

Dr. J. Clontz

Biblical text is from “The Comprehensive New Testament.”

 

Definitely Somebody!

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The next day he wanted to go to Galilee, and he found Philip. And Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” – John 1:43

Jesus found Philip. There was no introduction. Simply the request for Philip to follow him. For the rest of his life, Philip was one of Jesus’ followers. If you’re found, there is an implication that you were lost. We don’t know what Philip was doing before he was found. Possibly, he was a nobody going nowhere doing nothing. After Jesus found him, he became one of the most important people in the destiny of the human race.

When Jesus found you, maybe like Philip you were a nobody. But you won’t stay that way. For two thousand years, the Son of God and his followers have been changing the world by bringing food to the hungry, clothes to the naked, and care to the sick. Anyone who brings hope to the hopeless is definitely somebody!

Dr. J. Clontz

Biblical text is from “The Comprehensive New Testament.”

 

Everyone is Changed

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After Andrew met Jesus, he went and found his brother Simon. Andrew brought Simon to Jesus. Now Jesus made a statement that also turned out to be a prophecy.

He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter). – John 1:42

When Jesus said that Simon would be called Cephas (which means Peter) that was the name that Simon would be known by around the world. For thousands of years, billions of people have called Simon by the name Peter. Think about it. Within seconds of meeting Jesus, Simon’s name and his future were changed - and all of human history pivoted on that name from that moment forward.

Within seconds of meeting Jesus, everyone is changed. I hope you will be changed like Simon called Peter and the Lord will call you by a name you will have for eternity!

Dr. J. Clontz

Biblical text is from “The Comprehensive New Testament.”

 

Come and you will see

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Jesus asked his first two followers what they were seeking, they said that they wanted to see where he was staying.  

He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying. And they stayed with him that day. It was about the tenth hour. – John 1:39

The Gospel of John identifies Andrew as one of the two men and by inference the second follower is the man who would be known as the apostle John. These two men would be with Jesus from that time forward. John saw much more than where Jesus was staying. He would eventually "see" thousands of years into the future in a vision that is recorded in the Book of Revelation.

I hope like John and Andrew you will always be with the Lord!

Dr. J. Clontz

 

Biblical text is from “The Comprehensive New Testament.”

 

What do you seek?

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After Jesus returned from the wilderness, two men started following Jesus when John the Baptist indicated that Jesus was the Lamb of God.  

But Jesus turned, and saw them following, and said to them, “What do you seek?” – John 1:38

Notice that before Jesus asked them, “What do you seek?” – He saw them following him. Jesus helps those who are following him find what they are seeking.

I hope that Jesus will also help you find what you are seeking!

Dr. J. Clontz

Biblical text is from “The Comprehensive New Testament.”

Away, Satan!

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After Jesus was baptized, he was tempted by Satan. Jesus’ response after the last temptation parallels the baptism ceremony that early Christians used and is still used in many Christian churches today.

 

Then Jesus said to him, “Away, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’” – Matthew 4:10

 

Nevertheless you are bidden to say, with arm outstretched towards him as though he were present, I renounce you, Satan. I wish also to say wherefore you stand facing to the West; for it is necessary. Since the West is the region of sensible darkness, and he being darkness has his dominion also in darkness, therefore, looking with a symbolic meaning towards the West, you renounce that dark and gloomy potentate. What then did each of you stand up and say? I renounce you, Satan,— you wicked and most cruel tyrant! Meaning, I fear your might no longer; for that Christ has overthrown, having partaken with me of flesh and blood, that through these He might by death destroy death (Hebrews 2:14-15), that I might not be made subject to bondage forever.

Cyril of Jerusalem [Catechetical Lecture 19.4]

 

I hope that Satan stays away from you forever!

 

Dr. J. Clontz

 

Biblical text from “The Comprehensive New Testament.”