Monday, August 7, 2023  

---

Today’s Scripture Reading 
John 1:43–51

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. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!” Nathanael asked him, “Where did you get to know me?” Jesus answered, “I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.” Nathanael replied, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” Jesus answered, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.” And he said to him, “Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.” (NRSV)

---

Reflection

Palacios, Texas — also known as “the City by the Sea” — occupies about 5.3 square miles. According to the 2020 census, its population boasts 4,395 residents. Tucked in along the Gulf Coast off Interstate Highway 35 (between Houston and Corpus Christi), the tiny city sits on the shores of the Tres Palacios Bay. If you’re not familiar with this part of Texas, you’d be forgiven for not knowing of its impressive reputation among birders for its grand diversity of species, or that tucked inside its bait shop/convenience store is a world-class Vietnamese restaurant celebrated by the late master chef Anthony Bourdain and known as the Point.

As I recall enjoying at the Point a few years ago the best bowl of pho I’ll probably ever eat, I appreciate how it helps me to relate to “the point” of John’s account of Jesus’ call to Philip and Nathanael. “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” is Nathanael’s snarky retort to Philip as he recounts his encounter with the Messiah. Story after story in the Bible demonstrates God’s unique designs in raising up the spectacular from the mundane, leaving us incredulous. Jesus, the Messiah, “read” Nathanael, defying his expectation, and compelling his testimony on the spot of Jesus as none other than the Son of God. Not only was it possible for something good to come out of Nazareth, but that “something” was one who called his disciples to proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God at hand.

Perhaps the most exciting aspect of our faith journeys is God’s capacity to bring forth the extraordinary from the ordinary. When you think about it, are there ever any “dull moments”?

---

Prayer
God of Defied Expectations, help us to trust in and celebrate your power to transform the mundane into the miraculous. Amen.

---

Written by Nancy Benson-Nicol, Associate Pastor for Caring Ministries and Spiritual Formation

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

Devotion index by date | I’d like to receive daily devotions by email