2/25/51

Scripture: John 1: 43-51.

Text: John 1: 47: ...“Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile.”

What fascination there is in watching the play of a good team! The basketball fans of our city had the thrill of watching, last Friday evening, while a team of high school young men, five at a time, under skillful coaching, worked their way to winning a game from another team of trained and skillful young men. Just a few years ago those fellows may have hardly known each other. They came from different homes in different parts of the community. Their interests and abilities differ. They will eventually enter different jobs in differing vocations. They do not look alike; they don’t all think alike.

But despite their differences, they have developed a common ability to play basketball together as an effective team. And all of them, each in his position, are good at it. One might refer to the apostles as the team of men whom Jesus trained to preach the good news which he had taught them. Jesus had a great many disciples -- that is, learners; listeners; pupils; followers; who believed in him and in his great message. They were people scattered all over Galilee and Judea and even in some distant places. But he carefully chose twelve disciples, who seemed to him to have promise, and ordained them, as it were, to the preaching of the message. They were not only disciples, hearers and learners; they were in turn to be teachers, preachers, and messengers.

They were by no means a team when he called them. They were a motley aggregation of fellows from differing occupations and different communities. Some were rough and ready; some were middle aged. Some were quick witted; some were slow. But they all became preachers and teachers of the good news, in a kind of team that eventually put a tremendous impress on the whole world.

We have seen, in the sermons of the last two Sundays, two of those who were called to be apostles. One was Andrew, a rank-and-file sort of man; a fellow who came from a family of fishing folk. He was steady, dependable. He was the kind of man who could, and did, introduce others to his Lord. Indeed it was characteristic of him that he introduced his own brother, Peter, to the Master.

The other was also a fisherman, of the same family. But he was fiery, impetuous. He was not always predictable, except that there was a sort of genuineness on which one might count. He could be equally stormy in his assertion of direction or in his denials when he was afraid. But the three years of teaching association with the Master, together with the testing of our Lord’s passion, made him one of the stars of the team.

Regarding them as raw material, I wonder if any of us would have seen the possibilities inherent in those two men. Who would have dreamed that they could become “first team” material for so important a mission as our Lord came to fulfill?

Now look at another of the candidates -- a man of whom not too much is said in the gospels, but who did become a vital member of the team. Nathaniel did not have the burry, blustery manner of Peter. He was probably a handsome fellow, who would have a better chance of getting our vote of approval than the other two. He walks with an easy grace. There is nothing effeminate about him, but he is gentle, refined, altogether a gentleman. Endowed with social graces, he makes an appeal to the attention of many. When he starts the day, it is not to take up the tools of a trade -- for he is not a tradesman. His hands are innocent of any of the calluses or blisters of the carpenter. He does not yoke up the oxen to work the fields.

He is a kind of dreamer. Peter Marshall remarks that Nathaniel is a “Ferdinand sort of man. He likes to smell the flowers.” But the kingdom of God needs both extroverts and introverts, those who buzz with activity, and those who dream dreams and see visions. Actually, it is well if each person has some of both kinds of temperament in his makeup. If there is to be a Kingdom of God on earth -- a good life for all -- we must both pray for it and work for it.

Well, how did Jesus come to call a Nathaniel to the exacting task of his apostleship? Peter was the kind of fellow who could excite folk -- stir them up. Who gets excited by a Nathaniel? Where did Jesus find him, anyway?

The gospel of John relates that, after Jesus had called Andrew and Simon Peter, he next called Philip who was of the same town as Andrew and Peter. Philip evidently knew Nathaniel. For the story goes that Philip went to find Nathaniel, with the tremendously exciting news that the Messiah they had awaited so long had come -- that Jesus was the Christ. He spoke of Jesus as a man of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. Nathaniel was well acquainted with many of the common sayings of his people. One of them was this expression: “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” [It was as if someone were to say, “Since when has any reformer come out of Hurley?”] Philip didn’t try to argue. He just said, “Come and see.” That is a good answer. It is the most convincing answer I know of. “Come and see for yourself.” Come and see how people’s hopelessness dissolves in the presence of Jesus Christ. Come and see how wounded spirits are healed. Come and see how optimistic many people become for the future after they have been in his presence for a while. Come and see the greatest kindness and compassion we have ever known, from the strongest soul we’ve even known.

As they came near Jesus, he looked up and saw them approaching. To those gathered around, Jesus said, “Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile.” Nathaniel was a bit puzzled and inquired, “How did you know me?” “Whence knowest thou me?” Jesus answered. “Before Philip went to get you, I saw you under the fig tree.”

What was Nathaniel doing under a fig tree? Eating fruit? Resting in the shade? Daydreaming? Canon Farrar says it was the custom of the pious Jew, a custom approved by the Talmud, to study the Crishma, or the office of daily prayer, under a fig tree. The conscientious Mohammedans take time, even today, several times a day, to kneel on a prayer rug and repeat their prayers to Allah. It is understandable that this conscientious Jew, Nathaniel, took his religious life seriously enough to study, meditate and pray -- even sitting under a fig tree to put himself in the mood of his spiritual fathers.

Jesus must have seen him there earlier, and marked and remembered him in his mind, for all his visionary tendency, as a man of sincerity. “Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile.” As for Nathaniel, though his first incredulous inquiry had been the old saw, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” he was willing to be shown, and so he went with Philip. And when he heard Jesus remark about him as he approached, he asked, “How and when have you known me?” And then Jesus said, “Before Philip went to get you, I saw you under the fig tree.” And Jesus must have known why he was there.

Nathaniel, like so many who have their first real understanding of Jesus’ compassion, understanding, friendliness, and challenge, said to Jesus, “Rabbi, Thou are the Son of God. Thou are the King of Israel.”

There are moments of grace that God stirs up, when one sees in a vivid moment of comprehension what hours and days of studious search might not hitherto have uncovered. It was in such a moment that Nathaniel understood that Jesus was the Christ, and so acclaimed him. At such a moment one may live a lifetime; or crowd the years into a brief hour. To this man without any streak of meanness in his soul; studious, visionary, and sincere, Christ’s reality came with sudden certainty. He was the man who could be shown. Philip took him to the Master and he was immediately convinced that here was the one people had wanted for so long.

Jesus told him quite directly that this was only a beginning for Nathaniel. What he should see later was to be like the opening of the heavens. He should have such an understanding grasp of the goodness of God in life that it would be as if he understood the angels.

Our world today needs the kind of evangelistic spirit that, like Andrew, will lead people to meet Christ, there to be transformed from groping, waiting, despairing existence, to confident, faithful, forward living. How shall folk know Christ unless those who already know him bring others to him by loving persuasion? In a very real sense, every Christian is called to be a missionary. Some few are called to introduce people in far off lands to the Christ. More - many more - are called to do the same in their immediate neighborhood.

Our world today needs the fire and zeal of a Peter. He may have needed a lot of his roughness polished off. He never got over being something of a scrapper; he was good for a fight. But once he had his feet on firm and righteous spiritual ground, he was the soul of enthusiastic persuasion. We need enthusiastic Peters -- many of them, in our time.

Our world needs the sincere earnestness of a Nathaniel -- the man of no guile, who was forthright in his first doubt and amazement, but could be shown. Once shown, he was a steadfast adherent to the good news proclaimed by Christ. He was not perfect -- none of those apostles were. Nor have there been any such in the centuries of Christ’s disciples and ministers since. But he had a vision of goodness that was dependable. His ethical standards could be counted on.

We live in a day of distressing expediency. Our nation has twice in a generation been engulfed in open, destructive, all-out warfare. As Judge Conway reminded his hearers in his address to the Women’s Association last Wednesday, we were first allied with Russia and Japan against Germany and Austria, in World War I. Then we were allied with Russia against Germany, Italy and Japan in World War II. Now we are lining up with Germany, Japan, and Spain -- about who would oppose Russia.

Are we really interested in something really right -- come success or disaster, tranquillity or suffering? Are our national policies directed toward an atmosphere of right for everyone at home and abroad, or are we interested more in self-preservation?

Someone has said that there is more hard liquor around in Washington DC than anywhere else in the Union. If that were only half true, is it not still a disturbing comment on the danger to keen judgment so solemnly needed in a historical hour of danger and responsibility?

In national affairs, in personal living, in the family, in our community; we need our Nathaniel people, without guile --- people who, having seen the inspired truth, can be depended on to adhere steadfastly and faithfully to that truth --- stick to it!

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Delivered in Wisconsin Rapids, February 25, 1951.

Also at Waioli Hui’ia Church, March 21, 1976.

[The following prayer was given with the above sermon at the Waioli Church on 3-21-76; it was also given on 4-23-72.]

Father of our spirits and giver of all things good, how could we seek Thee unless Thou hadst first sought us? Give us responsive hearts today. We cannot lift ourselves to any paradise of moral excellence where Thou dost dwell. We cannot invade Thy habitation. But we can rejoice that Thou dost come to us. We pray for no change in Thee, but in ourselves. Make us receptive to Thy presence. Make us sensitive to all that is noblest in lives through which Thou dost come to us. We have known splendid hours. Give us, for the reward of our worship here today, another hour of communion with Thee, from which we shall go forth knowing that we have been in Thy presence.

Speak to us through conscience. Let some authoritative word of righteousness come to hearts that need it. Startle us out of complacency. Summon us to ideals that we have forgotten. Refresh us with the memory of great hours when we dedicated ourselves to things worth living and dying for. O Spirit of the living God, challenge our consciences.

Speak to us through our ambitions. Shame us from low motives and self-centered ambitions. Help us to set our hearts, again, on what Christ stands for. Lift us to dream of nobler things for our world -- international brotherhood, industrial life dedicated to the service of man, community life of mutual respect and understanding. Send forth from this place of meditation and prayer some young life consecrated to the building of the Kingdom of God.

Speak to us through our loyalties. We thank Thee for our friendships, our families, the dear and sacred ties by which we are woven into the network of humanity. If we have been faithless, forgive us. If we have been inconsiderate and selfish, recover us. Dignify and hallow our nobler loyalties to home, country, church, to Thy Kingdom and to Thee.

Speak to us through our sense of gratitude. If we have clouded our own skies with whimpering and complaints, have mercy upon us. If we have clouded others with our selfish concern, forgive us. Remind us of all the gracious benefits and benedictions through which Thou hast shined to make our lives lovely. Recall to us recognition of our unpayable indebtedness.

Almighty God, because people everywhere pray, like us, out of their need to Thee, lift up the whole level of mankind’s moral life. Let there be a great surge in the desire for right. Especially do we pray that Thou wilt make Christians more Christian. Baptize us afresh with the spirit of our founding Christ. Touch us with the contagion of his wholesomeness and loveliness. Send forth people, men and women, into statesmanship; to do what Christ would have done. Send them into industry, into family life, into politics and into community ventures to be what Christ would have us be. Redeem us to fraternity and peace. Let no one of us be lost in Thy Kingdom’s enterprise. Let us dedicate our strength, control our lives, love our fellows, and live honestly with them and with Thee. We pray in the spirit of Christ.

Amen.

[Lord’s prayer].