A Lens Adjustment

Sometimes doctors give you good news. This doctor’s appointment was not without good news.  In fact, it was without bad news.  But I had trouble focusing on that because of the Other News the doctor gave us.  Healing would come, he thought, with a little work, a little change and a little patience.  I didn't want a little work or change. I didn't want a follow-up appointment six weeks from now.  I just wanted this to be fixed.  So, even though there wasn't any bad news or expensive news, I left the office thinking only of the Other News: a little work, a little change and a follow-up appointment.

Be careful what you focus on. 

“Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth the son of Joseph.’ Nathanael said to him, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’  Philip said to him, ‘Come and see.’ Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, ‘Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!’  Nathanael said to him, ‘How do you know me?’ Jesus answered him, ‘Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.’ Nathanael answered him, ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God!  You are the King of Israel!’  Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe?  You will see greater things than these.’ And he said to him, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.’   John 1:45-51

Some of us see the glass half-empty.  I am one of those.  I focus in on details which signal things probably won’t end well and should be different.  So, when Philip informs Nathanael that he found the Messiah and then invites him to meet him, I identify with Nathanael’s response.  ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’  He is not convinced that this guy Philip is so excited about will amount to anything. Why?  He zeros in on the unlikely town of Nazareth.  I can’t blame him.  Israel had waited for the Messiah for 400 years.   Maybe Israel had strayed too far.  Maybe hope was out of reach.  The present didn't look good and the future didn't look better.  Nazareth?  No.  Maybe Help would not come.

But Nathanael follows Philip to Jesus anyway.  He probably thought of Nazareth the whole trip, listing all the reasons why it was the wrong place for anyone significant to be from.  Philip should have realized this.  Maybe Nathanael is even rehearsing his “I told you so” as they walk.  How could someone like Nathanael continue to hope?  Then, Jesus calls out to him as they arrive.  And Nathaniel asks, “How do you know me?” Jesus says that he has seen him underneath the fig tree.  He knows what went on there.  No one else knew.   And Nathanael believes! 

But, Jesus questions, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you wonder the fig tree,’ do you believe?  You will see greater things than these….Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.’”  After all the coming, seeing, telling, following and believing that has happened since Jesus came on the scene, why is He not completely satisfied with Nathanael’s belief? 

This was the passage.  This was the question I pondered on the day of the doctor’s appointment.  As I drove home, still grumpy about the Other News, I thought about Nathanael and Jesus some more.

Nathanael zeroed in on the amazing truth that he was known by Jesus as he could be known and understood by no other.  That is something to rejoice over!  But Jesus knew that Nathanael needed even more.  He needed a Savior, a Way to Life with God. So, Jesus refers back to Israel’s beginnings.  He zooms out and reaches far back in history.  He says, Nathanael, I know you.  Yes, that is important.  But don’t stop there.  Keep watching.  Like Jacob, you will see the heavens opened!  I am the Way to restoring the relationship with God that was lost.

Be careful what you focus on.

 Have I been looking through my zoom lens for too long? Is it possible that, when focusing solely on the presence or absence of small miracles and provisions in life, I run the risk of thinking God too small or relying on faith that is too weak?

Jesus knows our every thought and sees our smallest, most secret needs.  But Jesus invites me to look beyond those.  I am saved to Life beyond circumstances, Life with Jesus.  Not only does He know me, but I can know Him.  Making my way home, I decided.  I cannot do it myself, so I looked up asked Jesus to re-adjust my lens.

 ‘Lord, what do You want me to focus on?’  You will see greater things than these.