Disclaimer: At the request of a few of the congregation, I’m ‘publishing’ the text of my sermon ‘as written.’ I cannot guarantee that I will deliver the sermon ‘as written.’
Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see."
The various readings we have heard today take on our very human habit of making snap judgments on what we think we know. We all know that this habit causes problems, even in our relationship with God. In some cases, it is a matter of ignorance while in others, it can be a matter of prejudice.
Samuel, the young boy given to the service of the Lord's Temple at Shiloh, heard a voice at night. He assumed it was Eli, the priest, since “The word of the LORD was rare in those days; visions were not widespread.” He ran to Eli and reported in... twice! Eli, not the most effective priest ever, did know something about the ways of God and told Samuel to respond to the voice and not assume it was Eli calling. When Samuel heard the Lord calling again, he responded "Speak, for your servant is listening." and received a message of condemnation that would make our hair stand on end or as the Bible puts it, “that will make both ears of anyone who hears of it tingle. ”
In the Gospel, Philip and Nathanael have a discussion about Jesus and his message: 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?"
I don't know what the reputation of Nazareth was at the time, but it sounds like the reputation that certain places in any nation might hold. You know the places – the ones where every person coming from there is considered stupid, silly, or ridiculous. I know of a place in Canada that has such a reputation, but I won't mention it. I don't know about where all of you are from, but the place I was born had a similar reputation. It isn't true and folks there usually revel in the reputation. I always tell people it's a good place to be from.
Nathanael seems to judge Jesus based on where Jesus is from. He has a low opinion of Nazareth and those who hail from that town. It takes a special and rather obscure greeting from Jesus to change his mind and he changes it quickly.
Now there a difference between Samuel and Nathanael. Samuel misunderstood the call of the Lord. He was young and the revelation of God was not common in his time. As time went on, Samuel became a powerful prophet of the Lord, delivering the true Word of the Lord to the people and to the rulers of the people of Israel. He led the people in overthrowing the Philistine conquerors. Reluctantly, he anointed Saul as king of Israel and later anointed David as king to replace Saul as directed by God.
Nathanael's response seems to be based on his opinion of Nazarenes. (“How could the messiah come from Nazareth? Yuck!”) Yet he changes his mind for a reason that is not so clear, and Jesus goes on to say “You will see greater things than these."
For us, the lessons are simple and as usual with simple things, profound. Samuel needed Eli's help to understand that the Lord was speaking to him. Once he knew who was speaking and learned how to listen, his ministry as a prophet gained both power and grace. His messages are not always happy ones, but they are true. Anyone who hears the Word of God had best expect to be challenged and sometimes convicted. “Convicted” in this context means nothing less than coming to a realization of our own limits and even our own sinfulness. Samuel's experience also show us that we often need help to hear what the Lord is saying to us. A wise person will test what is being said to them by bringing it before at least one trusted adviser in the ways of God and God's grace. Knowledge of the Scriptures and often some common sense are of great help.
Nathanael's encounter with Jesus can lead us to avoid the trap of the old saying, “Consider the source.” Often, the Word of the Lord and the inspiration of the Spirit might come to us from the most unexpected place and at the least expected time. We may not want to hear it from that source and we might have to “filter” what's said to take out any malice or silliness or “baggage” that might be there. But if we're willing and open to it, wisdom and God's word might be there... even if it comes from Nazareth.
If we're willing to listen, God's word will come to us. That's been promised to us. It's not always clear and it's not always comfortable but, it will stir out hearts once it finds our hearts. What it might lead us to then remains to be seen. After all the young boy who listened to the call in Shiloh led the people and anointed two kings. Nathanael the scoffer is said in Christian legend to have preached the Gospel in Armenia and India. Who knows what God is calling us to?
One thing is certain, however. We ARE being called – at whatever age and in whatever circumstance, we are all called to bring Jesus' good news with us where ever we go. There we will see “greater things than these."
Please continue to pray for the sick of the congragation and to pray for our up-coming annual meeting.
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