You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet

Dec. 7

Read: John 1:19-51

You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet

“I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.” - John The Baptist (v.23)

God is using the people of God to “make straight the path” that brings the messages of Christ to others. When the people of God speak of Christ, declare his goodness, and glorify him in our words and deeds it sets the stage for those around us to respond. In this way, we are “witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Sumerian, and the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) When we find ourselves in the “wilderness of life” this is the best place and time to “cry out”… just like John The Baptist (JTB) !

When you read the section of scriptures after JTB’s declaration you see this truth unfolding. Person after person supernaturally responds to Christ. At this stage of the Gospel of John, Jesus has not yet worked any miracles or taught any teachings (according to the narrative). Yet, people all around him are supernaturally responding to the Jesus. JTBs declaration truly did “make a path straight” to the hearts of the people.

John saw the Holy Spirit land on Jesus as a dove, and had been told by the Father that this was how he would be able to identify him. (cf. v.29-34) In this way - even before Jesus’ ministry had really kicked off - John was able to identify him:

“The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.” (v.29)

The power of JTB’s declaration becomes clear the very next day when Jesus just walks by John, and John declares, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” (v.36) Look at what happens next…

Andrew and another one of John’s disciples LEAVES JOHN and begins to follow Jesus. Little did they know the adventure they were in for!

Andrew’s faith in Jesus precedes seeing all of the miracles and ministry of Christ… it is rooted in something deeper and more powerful… all he had to go on was the testimony of JTB. Andrew goes with confidence to his brother Simon Peter and tells him, “We have found the Messiah!” (which means Christ)” (v.41) He is convinced!

Maybe one of the most humorous moments could be the very next day when Andrew and Simon Peter see Nathanael. They share with Nathanael that they have met the Messiah, and Nathanael doesn’t believe… he scoffs at them. “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Nathanael declares. Simon Peter and Andrew do their own “making straight the path” and invite Nathanael to “come and see” Jesus. As Nathanael approaches him, Jesus says, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” (v.47)

Think about this for a moment… it is a pretty plain statement. It was a compliment - no doubt - but pretty straightforward nonetheless. Nathaniel understandably presses on Jesus…pushes back a little…maybe even challenging Jesus: “How do you even know me?” Jesus’ response is pretty classic, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” (v.48) Basically, Jesus says he saw him sitting over there under a tree. That is it. That is all it took. HA! What happens next is wild.

“Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” (v.49)

That was all it took!?! Jesus’ simple and basic answer… his underwhelming answer… his “I saw you sitting over there” answer… and that is what TRANSFORMED Nathaniel at a deep heart level! Even Jesus is surprised at Nathanael’s response. He pokes a little fun at him and says:

“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.” (v.49-51)

When we put the entire progression together, this is what we see:

• God appoints and sends his people to declare and bring the message of Christ coming before Christ comes.

• When Jesus shows up people follow… some come very quickly at just the mention of his name (think of Andrew right after John speaks) … others press back a little when they hear from others (think of Nathanael when Peter and Andrew approach him).

• In the end, Jesus himself speaks… often times in very small ways or around basic things at first (like saying he saw Nathanael under a tree). Even the most basic - almost “trivial” - words of Jesus carry tremendous “heart changing” power! (Think of Nathanael’s switch from sceptic to follower of Christ.)

• It is then that Jesus looks at those he has called to follow and basically says, “Buckle up! You ain’t t seen nothing yet!” These early supernatural experiences and transformations of heart prime us to experience the “greater things” that Jesus is up to!

Are you impressed… or caught off guard… by what Jesus says to you? Have you ever thought the Jesus may be watching you as you sit under the proverbial “fig tree” like Nathanael? He has plans for you as you follow him… and it all starts when he calls out to you and tells you who you are! Jesus has been defying our expectations from the beginning! Take for instance his choosing to come from Nazareth. God knew the world would not expect that anything good would come from Nazareth… and yet he sends his Son there! Jesus always comes from the least expected places. Think of how many people God sent ahead of Jesus into your life to prepare you for when Jesus himself showed up. Remember all those people who were “making straight the path and preparing the way”. Think back to all those “voices in the wilderness calling”. Recall when you were in your own “wilderness” and the Lord sent a voice there to call you to HIM! God uses the words of his people - like JTB - to set the stage for the supernatural and powerful response that comes when Jesus calls. How else do you