By Rev. Ronald Jansen
Remember those high school rivalries? I do. Turtle Lake had rivals in Prairie Farm, Shell Lake and Clear Lake. However, nothing matched the rivalry with Clayton just five miles down highway 63. I remember clearly the last-second-half-court-shot one of our players made that put us up by 10 points at half time. Hah, we knew it. Those Clayton Bears were no match for the Lakers. But alas, Clayton came back in the second half and won. Bill Gates, our Principal for over 25 years, railed in the Assembly next morning. “I can count the number of times Clayton has beaten Turtle Lake on one hand.”
Well, I think it was rivalry between Cana and Nazareth that caused Nathanael to say, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip had just told him about Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. Philip, who was from Bethsaida on the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee, wasn’t about to get mixed up in some local Galilean rivalry. He simply invited Nate, “Come and See.”
After talking with Jesus, Nate not only recognized that something good had come out of Nazareth, but that Jesus was the ultimate good. He confessed, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” Nathanael became the fifth of Jesus’ disciples.
Nathanael would also come to see that the Son of God would be lifted up on the cross for him. Above his head there would be a sign, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” Jesus of Nazareth is not only good for the Jews but for all humanity.
Lord, lead me like Philip to invite even the skeptics to come and see Jesus. Then lead those who have their doubts about you to confess you in faith as Son of God and King of all people. Amen -Rev. Ronald A. Jansen
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