The Only Way
Posted by Karah
Pause
Take a minute before starting your devotion and sit quietly in God’s presence. Ask Him to speak clearly as you study His Word today.
Read John 1:43-51 in your Bible. Answer the questions that follow.
“Jesus responded to him, ‘Do you believe only because I told you I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.’ Then He said, ‘I assure you: You will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.’” —John 1:50-51
How did Jesus’ brief interaction with Nathanael show that Jesus knew Nathanael well? Explain.
The Gospel of John wasn’t written as a blow-by-blow account of Jesus’ activities; instead, this Gospel is focused on helping people understand the importance of discovering the kind of faith that would transform their lives.
How does Jesus’ interaction with Nathanael display that focus? Explain.
Now, concentrate on Jesus’ comments in verses 50-51. Turn back to Genesis 28:10-22 and skim over the details of Jacob’s dream at Bethel.
How does John 1:51 relate to Jacob’s dream? Be specific.
What was Jesus declaring about Himself in that statement to Nathanael? Explain.
Respond
Jesus declared that He was the only way to know the Father. Jesus’ entire discussion with Nathanael was a personal invitation to join Him. If Nathanael followed Jesus, he would have a relationship with God through Jesus, and he would be a part of God’s mission and work on earth. Jesus is still inviting people to know Him today.
Have you personally trusted in Jesus as the only way to know the Father? If you have, thank God for bringing you into relationship with Him. Praise Him for the way He personally called you. Record your prayer of thanks in your journal.
Jesus invited Nathanael to “greater things” for the kingdom. Ask God to reveal ways He is calling you to build His kingdom on earth. Thank Him for His leadership.
For further study, read Genesis 28:10-17 and John 14:1-6.
Behind the Story
Jesus’ comparison of Nathanael and the Jewish patriarch Jacob didn’t just begin in John 1:50. Jesus’ comment in verse 47, that Nathanael was a “true Israelite” with no deceit in him, also pointed to Jacob. Known as a usurper, Jacob had deceived his father and cheated his brother out of the birthright, not to mention his questionable dealings with Laban, his father-in-law. After an encounter with God in Genesis 32, God changed Jacob’s name to Israel, a reference to Jacob’s change in relationship with Him.
The Point
Jesus is the only way to have a relationship with the Father.
Posted in Boys, Devotions | Tagged Camp Ridgecrest Alumni and Friends, Camp Ridgecrest for Boys, Reprinted from ec magazine. © 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Used by permission., Weekly Devotions