No Guile

John 1:45-51

Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law and the Prophets: Jesus, Joseph's son, from Nazareth." Nathanael responded, "Can anything from Nazareth be good?" Philip said, "Come and see." Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said about him, "Here is a genuine Israelite in whom there is no deceit." Nathanael asked him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered, "Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree." Nathanael replied, "Rabbi, you are God's Son. 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! I assure you that you will see heaven open and God's angels going up to heaven and down to earth on the Human One."

When Philip told Nathanael that they had found the Messiah, Nathanael answered with a line that still makes people smile: "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"

I don't think Nathanael meant it as cruelty, though maybe a bit of snobbery. Nazareth was simply a tiny, unimpressive place close to his own hometown of Cana. It would be a little like someone here in Blount County saying, "Could anyone important really come out of Rockford?" Not hatred. Just skepticism. Familiarity.

And Nathanael did not hide his skepticism.

When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, He said, "Here is a genuine Israelite in whom there is no deceit." No guile. No manipulation. No fake spirituality. Nathanael said exactly what he thought, even when he doubted.

Ironically, the passage seems to point us back to Jacob in Genesis 28. Jacob, whose name became Israel, was famous for deception and manipulation. Yet Jesus describes Nathanael as a true Israelite without deceit. In other words, Nathanael stood in sharp contrast to Jacob's old reputation.

And here is what I love most about Nathanael: when evidence suggested he was wrong, he changed his mind.

He did not cling stubbornly to his first impression. He did not double down on skepticism just to protect his pride. When Jesus revealed that He had seen Nathanael under the fig tree, Nathanael responded immediately with faith.

That kind of honesty takes humility.

Some people refuse to question. Others refuse to believe. Nathanael did neither. He spoke honestly about his doubts, but he also remained open to truth.

That may be part of what Jesus meant by "no guile." A heart honest enough to question, and humble enough to change.

Prayer

Father, you know we can be both blind and stubborn. When we have doubts, encourage us to face them honestly. When we see the truth, support us in living it, even though it demands we change. Keep us in integrity. In Jesus's name, Amen.

This devotional was written and read by Donn King.

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