Sometimes in the challenges of life, we ask ourselves, "Can anything good come from this?" This is not just true in the difficult passages of life such as catastrophic illness, loss of a job, or a break in relationship. Sometimes we ponder this question in the midst of our own failure and sin. Convicted of our wrong, we may wonder if indeed something good can happen when we have failed God again and again. It's a fair question in the context of the inconsistencies of our faith expressions.
After Jesus invited Philip to follow him, Philip found his friend Nathanael and told him that the One who had been promised from days of old had been found. Philip told his friend that the man's name was Jesus, and that he was from the small town of Nazareth. Nathanael was not impressed. "Can anything good come from Nazareth?", he asked. We don't really know what Philip's bias was toward Nazareth, but it is safe to say that he did not expect the promised One of Israel to come from what he believed to be so insignificant a place. Like Nathanael, we often make judgements about others and ourselves that sell them or us short. We are limited by our short-sightedness...hemmed in by our narrow view of life.
Philip counters Nathanael's hesitation by inviting him to "come and see." The Message relates this part of the text a bit more emphatically..."Come and see for yourself." It wasn't enough for Philip to tell Nathanael about it...he had to meet this man and make up his own mind about him.
During this season of Lent, there will be bumps, twists, perhaps even detours along your way. You may wonder to yourself, "Can anything good come from this experience?" All the while, the living Christ calls you to confession, repentance, and renewal...to come and see what He can do in your life. Aren't you just a bit curious about the possibilities?
Jim Abernathy
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