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In the second part of our series Revealed and Recognized, pastor Harry Behrens leads us through John, chapter 1, verses 43 to 51. In part one, we saw Jesus publicly revealed by John the Baptist and personally encountered by his disciples. Now we see how scripture itself reveals Jesus working hand in hand with proclamation to point us to the true Messiah. This passage climaxes with Nathanael's confession Rabbi, you are the Son of God, you are the King of Israel, and with Jesus' promise that greater revelation is yet to come, today's message calls us to be a people grounded in the Word, abiding in Scripture and anchored in Christ. Here's Pastor Harry Behrens with today's teaching.

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Hello, welcome again to the Takeaway. I'm your host, pastor Harry Behrens, and today we're going to continue our series Revealed and Recognized. In Part 1, we saw Jesus revealed publicly by John's testimony and encountered personally by Andrew, simon, peter and others. Today, in Part 2, we turn to verses 43-51 in John 1, where Scripture itself points us to Christ, showing that the Word and proclamation work together to reveal Jesus for who he is. Now let's pause here and make this personal. Just as Jesus called Philip with a simple, life-changing command follow me. We need to ask are we ready to hear his voice when he calls? That readiness only comes when we are grounded in scripture, allowing his word to shape our hearts and sharpen our ears. If we are not anchored in the Word, we risk missing His summons and being left behind, wondering where he is. Scripture warns us that there will be some who hear on the final day. Get away from me, I never knew you, but those who abide in Christ, who are prepared, as a bride is ready for her bridegroom, will hear instead. Well done, good and faithful servant. So let us be a people who love his word, who live prepared and who are ready to move at a moment's notice when he calls. And with that thought in mind, john's gospel moves us forward again. He writes the next day, marking yet another step in this unfolding revelation of Christ. Let's look together at what happens on this next day.

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So, starting in verse 43, we read the next day, jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him follow me. Now, philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Now, once again, john marks time. The next day. We now see the sequence of days unfolding like a creation week, each day building on the last, preparing the way for something greater.

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On this particular day, jesus himself takes the initiative. He seeks out Philip and says follow me. There is no persuasion, no build-up, just a direct call from the Word made flesh. Philip doesn't debate, delay or hesitate, he follows. That's the power of Jesus' call. When he speaks, hearts are moved to obey. The power of Christ's call is ultimate, powerful, purposeful and absolute. Consider Paul on the road to Damascus blinded, humbled, transformed in a moment by the risen Lord's voice. Though Jesus' call to Philip seems subtle in comparison, it is no less effectual. The same divine authority that turned a persecutor into an apostle is at work here in drawing Philip to follow. And if you are a believer today, that same call has come to you. It has reshaped your life, turning you into a person who now desires to seek and know Jesus as he truly is revealed in the scriptures.

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Philip's obedience reminds us Discipleship begins with trust in the one who calls, and his call always accomplishes its purpose. And it doesn't end there. The ripple of obedience always spreads outward. Notice what happens next. Philip cannot keep the news to himself. His response to Christ's call naturally overflows into witness, which leads us to the next scene In verses 45 to 46,.

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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. Now Philip cannot keep his discovery to himself. He finds Nathanael and frames Jesus' identity with Scripture. We have found him, of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote. This is key. Philip points to the authority of God's Word. Jesus is not just his personal discovery. He is the fulfillment of God's promises through the Old Testament.

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Now Nathaniel, however, hesitates. His response drips with skepticism. Can anything good come out of Nazareth. Nazareth was an insignificant, obscure town. Now surely Messiah couldn't come from there? Nathaniel's assumptions cloud his vision, just as our cultural assumptions often do today.

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But notice Philip's response. He doesn't argue, debate or try to win with clever words. He simply says come and see. He trusts that scripture, proclamation and personal encounter with Jesus will do what arguments cannot. The true witness points to Christ through scripture. Philip didn't argue or defend. He simply invited Nathaniel to see the one whom the Scriptures had foretold, and this is a vital truth for us today.

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Jesus warned that his sheep hear his voice and follow him, but those who are not of his flock will not follow. That means we must know his voice clearly. And how do we know it? By being grounded in his word. Scripture is the written voice of God, the safeguard that keeps us from following false Christs and false teachers who seek to lead the sheep astray. The call to come and see is not casual. It is effectual. From the beginning, we were his waiting for the moment.

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Now let me read to you some of the very scriptures Philip alluded to In Deuteronomy 18.15,. We read the Lord, your God, will raise up for you a prophet like me, from among you, from your brothers. It is to him you shall listen In Isaiah 9. Verses 6-7, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness, from this time forth forevermore. In Micah 5, verse 2, but you, o Bethlehem Epitheth, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. Now. Each of these passages pointed forward to Christ, and now Philip sees them fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth. This is why Nathanael had to be shown and why we must be grounded in the scriptures ourselves to recognize him clearly, apart from the false voices of the world.

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And it is at this point, with scripture ringing in our ears, that we turn to Nathanael's personal encounter. John continues in verses 47 to 49,. Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said to him behold an Israelite, indeed, in whom there is no deceit. Nathaniel 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. Nathaniel answered him rabbi, you are the son of God, you are the king of Israel. Jesus sees Nathaniel and declares him, him an Israel in whom there is no deceit, someone honest, genuine, searching for truth. Nathanael is stunned how do you know me? And Jesus answers with supernatural knowledge Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.

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This moment transforms Nathanael. Skepticism melts into confession. Rabbi, you are the son of God, you are the king of Israel. The one who doubted now proclaims Jesus as both divine son and promised king. Scripture had foretold a son who would reign in Psalm chapter 2, 7 to 8. A king from David's line 2 Samuel 7, 12-13.

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Nathanael sees Jesus as the fulfillment of those promises. But this moment is about more than prophecy fulfilled. It is about a Savior who knows us personally. Nothing is hidden from Him. He sees our hearts, our motives and our private lives, just as he saw Nathanael under the fig tree. And what he longs for is honesty Genuine seekers who come to him with open hearts.

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Nathanael's sincerity set the stage for transformation and when he encountered Jesus, his doubt gave way to bold confession. If we will seek Jesus with the same honest intent, he will meet us where we are and radically transform our lives. And that transformation leads directly into Jesus' next words, where he promises Nathaniel and all who believe that they will see far greater things than this. So, moving on to verses 50 to 51, 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. Jesus challenges in Nathaniel's faith because I said I saw you, you believe you will see greater things.

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Then he points to something far greater, a vision rooted in Genesis 28, 12. This is Jacob's dream of a ladder reaching heaven. Jesus identifies himself as that ladder, the true connection between heaven and earth, the access point to God. To make sense of this, we need to recall Jacob's dream in Genesis 28, verse 12. Jacob, fleeing in fear, lay his head on a stone and saw a vision. And he dreamed and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. In that dream, jacob saw a glimpse of God's presence breaking into the world. For generations, the image of that ladder symbolized the hope of heaven touching earth.

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Now Jesus takes that familiar story and says in effect, I am that ladder. I am the connection you have longed for. I am the meeting place between God and man. This is not about literal staircase, it's about himself. He is the way into the presence of God. Everything Jacob longed for, everything Israel hoped for, finds fulfillment in Christ. This is not a private miracle, it is a cosmic reality. Jesus is the Son of man, the one through whom heaven is open and God is made known.

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Later, in John, chapter 14, verse 6, he makes the connection unmistakable. He says I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Just as Jacob dreamed of a ladder reaching to heaven, jesus declares himself to be the only way into God's presence. He is not one path among many, he is the path. Every hope of heaven, every longing for peace with God finds its fulfillment in him, and this ties directly back to Nathanael's confession. Nathanael declared Rabbi, you are the Son of God, you are the King of Israel, because he saw in Jesus the fulfillment of Scripture and the one who knew him personally. Now Jesus pulls back the curtain even further, revealing that he is more than King of Israel. He is the very bridge between heaven and earth. Nathanael confessed what he could see. Now, here is where Scripture and Revelation converge. The written word testifies, the proclaimed word invites and the living word fulfills. Jesus is the fulfillment of every promise and the bridge to the Father. Now this passage drives us to a crucial truth.

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Scripture and proclamation are not at odds. They are partners. John proclaimed, philip witnessed, nathaniel encountered and Scripture confirmed. Now, today, the same pattern holds true. Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. Romans 10, 17.

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But here's the danger Too many churches have abandoned this model. They replace proclamation with entertainment, scripture with motivational talks, christ with self-help. They build crowds but not disciples. They offer prosperity without transformation. They attract people to themselves rather than pointing to Jesus. Here's the piercing question Are you seeking a Jesus of convenience or the Jesus of scripture? Are you looking for a church that entertains or a church that preaches Christ crucified? The only foundation that will stand is the Word of God proclaimed. Faithfully, abide in the Word. Anchor yourself in a Bible-centered church that points to Christ, not itself. Build your life not on shifting sand, but on the rock of God's Word.

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Seek Jesus as he is revealed in Scripture the Lamb, the Messiah, the Son of God, the King of Israel, the Son of man. Remember Nathanael. He came with honest questions, but because he encountered the living Christ through witness of Scripture, his life was transformed. Scripture and encounter always work together and when they do, they lead to fuller revelation of Jesus. Only when you are grounded in him will you endure. Only then will you see greater things, only then will you know true life. Nathaniel moved from doubt to confession because scripture pointed to him, to Christ, and Jesus revealed himself personally. That is the pattern for us as well Scripture reveals, proclamation invites, encounter transforms and confession follows.

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Let's pray, father God, thank you so much for today's word. We thank you for the scriptures that you have given us that reveal Jesus to us. That we can know the truth, separated from the lies of this world. That when Jesus calls, we can hear and know that it is him and not some antichrist, not some false teacher. I pray that you would open the ears and the eyes of our listeners today, that we'd be grounded in the scriptures, knowing you, trusting you and hearing you. That we could be obedient to you, god, that we could live by faith and not by sight. So I pray that you continue to reveal the scriptures to us that we could be grounded in your truth always and forever in Jesus' name. Amen. Truth always and forever In Jesus' name, amen.

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Now, in our next episode, we'll step into John, chapter 2, where Jesus performs his first miracle at the wedding in Cana. We'll see how this sign reveals his glory and calls us to believe in him as the all-sufficient bridegroom. And, as always, I want to thank you for joining me today. I pray this episode has helped you take a step closer in your relationship with Jesus and that you now have a deeper understanding of just how much God loves you and wants you to know him. And before we go, I want to encourage you to send us any questions or comments you may have using the text us link in the episode description. Your input helps us shape future episodes that speak directly to your needs and help you grow in your faith God bless and we'll see you next time on the Takeaway.